GREAT IFE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GETS NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, PROMISES MORE COMMITMENT TO THE UPLIFT OF THE INSTITUTION

As part of activities marking the 24th Biennial Delegates Convention of the Great Ife Alumni Association, new Officers have been elected to steer the wheel of the foremost Alumni Association for the next two years. 

The election saw the emergence of the erstwhile Global President, Engr. Wale Olaleye as the new President for a second term in Office.This was contained in a release issued by the Alumni Association at the end of the 24th Biennial Delegates Convention held recently at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.According to the release, the following Alumni of the Institution emerged Officers and members of the Global Executive Council of the Great Ife Alumni Association;

Global President - Engr. Wale OLALEYE, FNSE, Vice President (SS/SE) - Barrister Fred ABURU, Vice-President (North) - Esv. O.J.A. SAIBU, Vice-President (S/West) - Evang. Adekunbi Akin-Taylor.

Elected as the Secretary is Professor Akinmade Timothy AKANDE, the 1st Asst. Secretary –is Mr. Fatai Moshood ABIOLA while the 2nd Asst. Secretary is Mr. Anthony O. RERRi.

Also elected were, Mr. Adelani Akintunde ADERINOLA, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Mr. Dom Nosike ATTAH, Publicity Secretary, Prof. Akeem Adekunle AMODU, Editor in Chief - Mrs. Ajibola Olubunmi FALODE.

Others are, Legal Adviser - Barrister Akin-Ayo Bolarinwa OLADIMEJI, Deputy Legal Officer - Barrister Babatunde OJO, Director of Social Welfare - Mr. Emmanuel Olajide ADEBAYO, Ex-Officio (SS/SE) - Mr. Rume Rueben ISHAKA, Ex-Officio (North) - Mr. Adeniyi ODUNEYE, Ex-Officio (S/W) - Mr. ‘Funso Olawale OJO.

In his acceptance speech, Global President who was re-elected for a second term in Office, Engr. Wale Olaleye FNSE urged the new Officers to brace up for the task of further positioning the Association as a foremost Alumni Association, stressing that the Great Ife Alumni Association would not relent in its quest to ensure that the University attain a status of a world-class citadel of learning.

Engr. Olaleye, FNSE. Stated that apart from assisting the University in undertaking some renovation projects to alleviate the suffering of the students and give our Alma-Mata its befitting status, the Association, under his leadership would provide scholarship support to  indigent students and the less privileged in the University through the introduction of an Alumni Subscription fee. 

Reeling-out the achievements of the Alumni Association during his first term in Office, Engr. Olaleye FNSE. said the following projects were undertaken by Branches, individuals and the National Executive Council of the Association;

Renovation and upgrade of Angola Hall by the Great Ife Mainland Metro (GIMM) Branch and friends; Renovation of the Health Sciences Lecture theatre  A and B by the National Executive Council, Renovation of AUD II by Osogbo Branch.

To alleviate the problem of shortage of water in the Institution, the Alumni body also undertook the following: Drilling and Reticulation of the Faculty of Arts’ Borehole by NEC Drilling of Borehole at the Alumni Hostel Drilling of Borehole at Mozambique Hall among others.

The 24th Biennial Delegates Convention of the Great Ife Alumni Association also witnessed the commissioning of the new third Chalet recently added to the Chalets at the Alumni Guest House and the donation of Reference Books worth N1.4million to the University by the Global President, Engr. Wale Olaleye.

Speaking during each of the events, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede said Alumni Associations are the now the lifeline for any institution to undertake developmental projects in view of the dwindling or absolute lack of regular subventions to Government Institutions, stressing that what the University takes as subvention can hardly take care of 20 percent of its overhead and developmental projects. 

He then charged the Great Ife Alumni body not to rest on its oars in its efforts at assisting Government in the provision of infrastructure in the University.Prof. Ogunbodede maintained that Tertiary Institutions must step out of their confines and position themselves to be part of the solutions to societal challenges through innovation and research. He encouraged the academia and the Alumni body to leverage on local talents and scale up their activities to build a better society through a knowledge-based approach.