Alumni support is key to institutions' growth, ranking, says Panelists at LASU alumni inaugural webinar

Success Damian:

A combined team of season administrators and academic icons, who were speakers at the Lagos State University (LASU) Alumni Association Inaugural Webinar have agreed that the support by the Alumni Association of any higher Institution is key to its development, survival and global ranking 

The webinar was held via Zoom on Saturday, 24th July, 2021.

The president of the Lagos State University Alumni Association, Maj. Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd), welcoming all participants, was delighted to have everyone on the journey.

The Chief Host recalled how the association was enmeshed in some crises in the past and how the challenges were resolved."With this webinar, we will hear what alumni is all about, role of the executives, members, relationship with the Institution and more from the speakers. Thank you for being part of this adventure," he ended.

The Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Oyedamola Oke, in his opening remarks, outlined his own idea of Alumni Association as "to help in building relationships, mentorship, assist others build their careers, attract funds to the Institution, sustainable development and more".

Speaking further, Prof. Oke noted that the contributions of the Alumni are a factor considered in ranking of the Institution. He advised the LASU Alumni to bring into their fold the young graduates, adding that they have been excluded in the scheme of things. He wrapped up by thanking the Alumni for its contributions to the Institution and asked the body to do more.

The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Paul Idomigie, SAN, in his remarks asked if the vision and mission of the founding fathers of the university were still on course.

"LASU is ranked 2nd best University by Times Higher Education (THE), also, 1st among under 50 universities recently and Centre of Excellence in Africa. Those are achievements for me. Associating with LASU is noble, no wonder, We are LASU, We are proud slogan", the chairman said.

Speaking on the roles of the Alumni, Prof. Idomigie reeled out the functions to include organising matriculation, orientation for newly admitted students, networking, award of scholarships, mentorship, career support to students, amongst others, saying that the relationship between the university and the Alumni Association must be symbiotic. Thereafter, he declared the webinar open.

The Lead speaker, immediate past Vice Chancellor, LASU, Prof. 'Lanre Fagbohun, SAN, NPOM set the tone for the evening with his paper *"ALUMNI DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTITUTION, LASU IN CONTEXT"*.

 The Professor of Environmental Law set off by pointing out that crises would undermine the quality of research and the ranking of any Institution that worth its salt, so, stability is key for giant strides. He maintained that understanding what Alumni is all about would help the key actors of the Alumni to support the institution. 

Prof. Fagbohun went down memory lane and confessed that as the Vice Chancellor, LASU, he had no illusion as to the great help the Alumni could render.

"On frontier projects, the LASU Alumni responded well and when we started the LASU Career Development Centre, the association came handy.

The National Productivity award winner listed some of the functions of the Alumni as providing support for the Institution, building the institution's brand, marketing, acting as brand ambassador, nationally and globally, mentoring, providing internship for students, career opportunities etc.

He ended his presentation by enjoining the Alumni to avoid conflict of interest, personality clash and crisis, alluding that for the Institution to grow, the Alumni must respond to contemporary issues and act as partners of growth alongside the Institution.

On the part of Prof. Odion Odaman, he was of the view that the Alumni must help raise the profile of the Institution, assist to boost the reputation, constantly maintain membership, help to broaden the admission base, connect on Linked in, not only on television or radio as well as have robust engagement on social media platforms, in order to sustain relationships.

Furthermore, he admonished the Alumni to make use of the Instagram for pictures of events, create photo albums, provide information on events, collect data, celebrate achievements of members and students. He said all those actions would attract others to the Alumni and help the Institution to grow in leaps and bounds.

Next to speak was Amb Folake Marcus Bello, an alumnae of LASU. She tasked the association to bring everybody in, those with degrees, certificates and even short courses must be brought into the Alumni nest.

The one time Nigeria's ambassador to Zambia and Malawi advised the Alumni to incorporate a system that would bring every graduate in, right form graduation. On registration and how to raise funds, she insisted that all fingers are not equal and the stake should not be too high. She added that the Alumni must show members the benefits of being a member of the association.

"The Alumni should open a shop for ties, scarfs, pins and other materials. Alumni must hunt for egg heads and pay for their Ph.D programmes. It must support the university. The university Management must respect that the Alumni too is an entity on its own and not competing with the Management. We must look for people who have passion for this university", the principal legal practitioner at Folake Bello& Co signed off.

Prof. Omi Ujambi, Former Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ambrose Alli University said the duties of Alumni Association include endowment of chairs, awards to deserving members of staff, donations of books to departmental and faculty libraries, provision of networking opportunities to students, capacity building and others.

The Professor of Geophysics admonished that the culture of Alumni should be incorporated in the students in the system, so, that by graduation, it won't be new to them." 

The bond between university and Alumni should be organic and of mutual benefit", he wrapped up.

Another female contributor, Career Specialist, University of Houston, USA, Mrs Ayo Ogunye averred that the biggest organ of the university where she works is the Alumni Association. She said from her experience, the newsletter must be topnotch with great contents and the Alumni's website must be attractive, adding that the Alumni must take full advantage of technology to attract more members.

She stated "engagement is key. The Alumni must look after people, those who are out of jobs, how to connect them with members who are doing well. Also, those students who can't pay their bills, Alumni can engage high flying members to help in this regard. Lifetime membership will help to generate funds, which could be spread over the time. Lifetime membership will help members to be committed and always think of doing something for the Institution. Mentor/ mentee relationship is very important.

On a final note, the LASU alumnae voiced out that Alumni Association has to be territorial, saying what works elsewhere may not work here, a lot should be taken away from this webinar and hoped a working group would be put together to drive home all the submissions.

Adding his voice, the immediate Past President, LASU Alumni Association, Mr Lekan Ogunbamwo was excited the webinar was put together. He called on all members to show utmost interest in the happenings of the Alumni and be fully committed. 

"We just have to sit up. We need to set up an active secretariat in the university, employ capable hands to interface with the students, university authorities and other stakeholders. The Alumni must work with whoever emerges the next vice Chancellor of this great university", the former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Television posited.

The last speaker of the day, ace broadcaster and owner BISCOM, Mr Bisi Olatilo, on his part, commended the Alumni for the *LASUITE* magazine. He insisted that for any organisation to grow, peaceful environment is non negotiable. He gave the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fagbohun, a pat on the back for the feat and equally appreciates the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Oke for sustaining the momentum.

Mr Olatilo, an alumnus of LASU called on Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, the visitor, LASU to give the Governing Council a marching order to quickly select a substantive vice Chancellor for the university.

In his goodwill message, the Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, an alumnus of LASU, who was part of the Webinar, thanked all the speakers and the organisers. He believed the submissions would bring about greater development for the Alumni and the university.