Great Ife (OAU) Reaching for Loftier Heights of Excellence – Part 2

ON THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE REUNION AND 5-YEAR $100 MILLION ENDOWMENT FUND.

Day 3 (Alumni General Meeting – cont’d): Wole Olaoye on Role of Alumni in University Development:

The Midmorning Session was opened by Mr. Wole Olaoye, President, Nigerian Chapter, Great Ife Alumni Association, who gave a simple but very thought provoking call, when he spoke on the Role of Alumni in University Development. Calling out to all Alumni members worldwide, Mr. Olaoye stated that our commitment to OAU should be lifelong. Our Heritage is Great Ife. Our involvement with Great Ife should not be fundraising alone but we should all serve as goodwill ambassadors of OAU. We must all as members of the same family, become bridges through which OAU could win more friends. He reminded us that it is pertinent that we help in giving the present generation something to be grateful for in the future. He ended by quoting Professor David Lodge a graduate and Honorary Fellow of University College London and Emeritus Professor of English Literature at the University of Birmingham who once said that “Universities are the cathedral of the modern age…”. This is indeed a direct call from the Alumni president in our actualisation of this laudable project of achieving $100million Endowment Fund.

Dr Olajide Awosedo on Real Estate Business in Nigeria:
To round off the mid morning session, Dr Olajide Awosedo, President/CEO of Grant Properties, who also is an Alumnus; gave a presentation on Real Estate Business in Nigeria. Calling on all Nigerians in the Diaspora to look back home, he encouraged them to invest in the worthwhile Real Estate Business in Nigeria.

Debo Sodipo on World University Ranking and Endowments:
To round up the Alumni General Meeting, Mr. Debo Sodipo, member of the SFBA Alumni Strategic Planning Committee, gave during the afternoon session, an excellent two pronged talk on “The World University Ranking and Endowments – A Historical Perspective” and “Strategic Plans Towards a Top 200 World University Ranking”. Above are the inner essence of the 2008 Great Ife Reunion, and he did it justice. Reminding us again that OAU was ranked 68th in Africa and 7,703 in the 2007 World Web metric Ranking, he launched into a detailed explanation and breakdown of how OAU could break into the top 200 Universities. Explaining that the Endowment Fund was crucial in OAU gaining financial autonomy, he gave a detailed and convincing 18 point proposal to move OAU into the top 200 World University Rankings. These include paying financial and insightful attention to areas of: Technology; Website; Facilities Management; Lab Equipment; Procurement; Books & Periodicals; International Student Exchange Programme, International Faculty Exchange Programme; Accommodation; Faculty Training Retention and Recruitment; Centres of Excellence; Feeder Programmes of Alumni into other top 200 universities; Quality of Student intake; Campus Security; Summer School; Branding etc. Lastly Mr Sodipo gave a very impressive and convincing breakdown of how the $100million Endowment Fund could be achieved in a detailed Great Ife Alumni Endowment Plan Summary, which he distributed to delegates present.

As the afternoon was all spent, the round table discussion was deferred to the Brainstorming Session that was later held during the San Francisco Aquarium of the Bay Tour, and Dinner Cruise (sorry I missed this but was told that it was very successful).

ALUMNI BANQUET DINNER
Sunday, 30th August was the Peak of the Reunion. The Alumni Banquet Dinner and Distinguished Alumni Awards were held in pomp and gaiety. It was a colourful event and rather than describe the setting and people, I have taken the pains to post some photos on the AL Community Pages.

The Highlights of the evening include:
1. Keynote Address:
Wole Soyinka, Nobel Lauret’s Keynote address titled “Lessons For the Irukere (horsewhip)”. This was presented via video link. In his usual fashion Professor Wole Soyinka gave an esoteric and highly symbolic speech on the use of the “Irukere” in making a Plea for the Aesthetic in Campus Life. Using innuendos and conjectures, Professor Soyinka launched into issues of Pan Africanism, and mentioned some clowns of African Leadership e.g. Mobutu to highlight the need for visionary leaders. Using the symbolic “Irukere”, Wole Soyinka gave examples of the numerous valuable uses of the “Irukere” vis-à-vis for Authority; as a soft and swift pestilence agents disposal; as a sensible aesthetic accessory/instrument which can inspire or douse inspiration. In his self same fashion of speaking frankly, using vivid words to portray stark realities, and with highly witty remarks, Wole Soyinka described what the Symbol of the Irukere was to e.g. Mobutu (absolute power), Aguye Ironsi (protection), Bokassa (weapon of evil use), Marwa (recognition), Jakande (who built cattle pens and goat sheds and called them “schools”; and Tinubu. The overall message in Wole Soyinka’s address was that the Irukere should become not just an instrument of power, but also a symbol of empowerment to all Great Ife Alumni.

2. Special Guest and Chief Launcher:
Donald Duke, Past Governor of Cross River State, in his humble and quiet fashion gave a brilliant presentation titled “Endowment Fund, Imperative for National Development”, and then formally launched the O.A. U. Endowment fund. First he explained why he would always be a Great Ife at Heart, if not in reality. Using a fable about A king, An Eunuch and A Beautiful Maiden with many suitors, Donald Duke taught the house why its important to get our S>H>I>T together (Skills, Health, Infrastructure, & Technology). Speaking about the Endowment Fund, Donald Duke explained that it is important that Universities (OAU in particular) has something to fall back on. While tuition cannot be increased, government funding is non existent. The Endowment target of $100million could be achieved via: Personal Donations; Partnerships; Skills Donations e.g. Voluntary Teachings; Equipment and Teaching Aids; Getting More Involved in Public Service. Giving a Donald Duke quote “The Enlightened should lead societies, and not be critics of societies” he advised that the Endowment Fund should be perpetual. Lastly he won the day, launching the O.A.U. Endowment Fund by pledging an annual sum of $100,000 for the next 10 years, much to the surprise and delight of the house. He received a well deserved standing ovation.

3. Special Awards:
Special Awards were given to Mr Eddy Olafeso, Professor Wole Soyinka, The OAU VC, Professor Faborode, Ex Governor Donald Duke, and last but not the least, Chief John Odeyemi.

4. OAU Alumni Award for Excellence:
The Evening ended on a very high note with the Presentation of OAU Alumni Awards For Excellence, first to Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa in the Management and Public Administration Category, and Secondly to a very Great Ife Medical Pride, DR OLUYINKA OLUTOYE, a Texas Pediatric Surgeon. Please check him out on the following links:

http://www.texaschildrens.org/CareCenters/FetalSurgery/Olutoye.aspx
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/06/evening news/main4161410.shtml

After the Dance, Alumni and guests shared contacts and bid the 5th OAU Alumni International Reunion farewell.
Diary Date: The 6th OAU Alumni International Reunion is slated for US Labour Day Weekend in 2010, at Washington DC.

Note from Omotaylor
As stated in part 1, my main purpose of writing a full report on the 5th Great Ife International Reunion and the $100million Endowment Fund, is to serve as a clarion call to all Great Ife Alumni in Nigeria and the Diaspora. As an Alumnus, I am appealing to all Great Ife Alumni worldwide to collectively and individually be worthy partakers of this major and great project. We have been well nurtured by our Alma Mater, we were lucky to enjoy good funding and a very educationally serene environment during our University days. OAU needs our support financially and morally. Nothing we do is deemed to small or too feeble. All fingers are not equal, but remember that little drops of water, makes the mighty ocean. Please hold Great Ife Great in your heart at all times. You can contact the University direct or any of the Alumni Associations in your area. Please spread the word round, send this write up to Great Ife Alumni members, friends and family. The assistance you give now will be remembered by posterity. GREAT IFE, Forever Great. Great Ife, We are moving on, Moving on to Greater Heights. Thank you all.