Unilag Alumni UK Empowers Students
Mary Nnah
The University of Lagos Alumni UK organised an American Auction at its end-of-year party in December 2023 to support current Unilag undergraduates. With the help and support of the alumni present at the event, it was a huge success, raising a significant amount of money that was quickly distributed among the students.
The UK alumni then engaged the students in a 5-week mentoring project to add value to the cash gifts given to 17 University of Lagos undergraduates. This initiative provided financial and professional support to the students and helped them achieve their academic goals.
During a recent visit to Lagos, the UK alumni’s Social Secretary, Mr. Toye Akinosi, who is a well-known surveyor in the UK, met with the Vice-Chancellor and President of the Alumni Worldwide, Eng. Oyedele, to discuss potential areas of collaboration. The meeting focused on exploring new opportunities for the alumni to support the University and its students in various ways. The discussion centred around how they can work together to create a brighter future for the university and its community.
Mr. Sam Onigbanjo, Vice President of Unilag Alumni UK Chapter, spearheaded a program with the theme “Getting Job-ready and Worthy in 2024 and Beyond.” The program aimed to equip students with essential skills for the evolving professional landscape.
From January 24 to February 21, 2024, students participated in diverse topics, including crafting effective CVs, cultivating a visionary approach to work, team collaboration, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace, and the significance of strong social skills in professional success.
The programme’s positive impact was evident from the feedback received from its participants. Ayodele Michael, a 200-level Arts student, expressed his gratitude towards the mentorship program team for putting together a valuable experience. He further mentioned that the program helped him learn the art of crafting an effective CV and emphasized the importance of personal development. The program was successfully delivered by Ms Tokunbo Sonowo and Dr Bisi Esuruoro.
Babalola Margret, a 100-level Arts student, shared her appreciation, saying, “I’m grateful for the enriching 5-week program on job readiness in 2024. Under Mr. Sam’ Onigbanjo’s guidance, I learned about AI for advertising and gained a passion for innovative thinking.”
Lampejo Temilola, a 300-level Social Sciences student, emphasized the versatility of AI technology, stating, “A key factor that stood out to me was how versatile AI technology is and how to utilize it to make a possible income.”
The Unilag Alumni UK Chapter is committed to helping the next generation. They’re making sure students aren’t just prepared for jobs, but are all set to excel in the changing job scene of 2024 and beyond. As the mentorship program ends, it’s like a helpful guide for learning that links what we learn in school to useful skills. The UK Alumni Chair and Exco are delighted with the outcome of this programme and plan to repeat it soon.
Some of the individuals who were designated as executive committee members responsible for facilitating the event include Mr Afolabi Phillips – Chairperson; Mr Sam Onigbanjo – Vice-Chairperson; Mr Mayowa Oluyede – Welfare Coordinator; Ms Josephine Appiah –
Membership Coordinator; Mr Chilaka Emmanuel – Finance Coordinator; Ms Tayo Oyefeso – Finance Coordinator; Mr Toye Akinosi – Social Coordinator; Dr Oluwole Adeniyan – General Secretary and Mr Yinka Afinni-Jegede – Founding Chairman.
