YABATECH urges alumni to back university transition

The Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Lagos, has called on the institution’s global alumni network to rally behind its ongoing transformation into a University of Technology and Vocational Studies.

The Chairman of the Council, Prof. Funsho Afolabi, described the alumni’s support as a critical catalyst for the success of this historic transition.

Prof. Afolabi made the appeal during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the YABATECH Alumni Association. The event, which brought together education stakeholders, industry leaders, and development partners, was held at the Alumni Building on campus.

Represented by Dr. Maruf Adebakin, the Governing Council Chairman emphasized that Nigeria’s premier higher institution has reached a defining milestone.

He noted that navigating this phase successfully requires the collective commitment, expertise, and structural influence of its graduates.

According to Prof. Afolabi, the college is already execution-focused, implementing strategic measures to guarantee a seamless upgrade. However, he maintained that the process demands institutional resilience, continuous innovation, and deep stakeholder collaboration.

“The college stands at a critical point in its history, and the support of the alumni association has become more important than ever,” Prof. Afolabi stated. “We need an alumni association that will deploy its intellectual resources, professional expertise, national influence, and global networks to support the institution.”

He further urged the alumni to leverage their strategic positioning across government agencies, academia, and the private sector. This influence, he noted, should be used to attract high-impact partnerships, secure key interventions, shape favourable policies, and donate developmental projects to accelerate the institution’s growth.

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The Council Chairman also charged the general assembly to protect the prevailing peace within the association, warning against internal divisions that could derail progress.

He reminded the audience of YABATECH’s unique position as Nigeria’s premier higher institution, which has produced generations of industry giants. He assured stakeholders that the school remains fully committed to maintaining its legacy through quality teaching, technological innovation, and tight alignment with national development goals.

Echoing this stance, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, described the college as a vital national asset.

He pointed out that the 2026 AGM theme—”Food Security, Drug Safety and National Prosperity: The Strategic Role of Tertiary Institutions and Alumni Bodies”—is incredibly timely.

The rector challenged tertiary institutions to step up and provide practical, homegrown engineering and vocational solutions to Nigeria’s current socioeconomic challenges.

In response to the institution’s calls, the leadership of the alumni body confirmed they are actively repositioning the association to face these emerging responsibilities.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Wing Commander Solomon Olawale Ajayi (Rtd), highlighted recent internal reforms. These include strengthened governance structures, active standing committees, and a revitalised “College of Elders” designed to ensure long-term continuity and professional engagement with the school management.

Corroborating this, the National President of the Alumni Association, Yemi Osinbajo, explained that the AGM was intentionally designed as a platform for immediate corporate action.

To provide practical backing for the university transition, Osinbajo announced the launch of the “Pick A Project” initiative.

This campaign is structured to pool alumni funds directly into critical areas, including: Infrastructure development and modern lecture halls, student welfare and safety systems, as well as entrepreneurship incubation and research grants.

Osinbajo reiterated that YABATECH possesses the academic pedigree, research strength, and industrial relevance required to seamlessly operate as a world-class University of Technology.