A former Vice Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University ,Ede Professor Debo Adeyewa has identified poor communication, absence of impact report, weak governance, transactional relationship, institutional barriers to engagement, zero engagement after graduation, lack of recognition and lax accountability as some of the reasons while alumni of institutions show little or no interest in the affairs of their alma mater. He spoke at a virtual seminar for Executives members of the Federal University of Technology Akure FUTA Alumni Association organized by the University Advancement Centre, UAC on Thursday, 30th July 2026.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Mobilizing Alumni support for Academic Excellence and Infrastructural Development”, Adeyewa who previously served as Deputy Vice Chancellor ,Development in FUTA defined alumni contributions as the voluntary support, resource, expertise and service that former students provide to their alma mater to promote its growth, development and long term success through donations, mentorship, advocacy, networking, volunteering and other initiatives aimed at advancing the institutions’ mission and development. He said because of some of the problems highlighted there is some disconnect between alumni and their institutions reducing their level of contributions to its growth and development.
Professor Adeyewa said Nigerian institutions can and should learn from best practices of alumni engagement in world class universities around the world. He suggested shifting from the annual fundraising to permanent endowment culture, engagement of alumni as innovators, members, investors, and industry partners and positioning alumni as catalyst for technology transfer and national development and celebrating tradition while investing in modern infrastructure and academic excellence.
He also recommended the application of the APEX model which will go a long way at improving alumni engagements. Adeyewa noted that APEX is not fundamentally about alumni but about institutional stewardship, which means that institutions should look into the internal error before asking alumni to look into their wallets .He itemized the six foundational principles of APEX as stewardship before solicitation, partnership before philanthropy, value before value capture, relationship before resources, impact before income and legacy before transaction. According to him prioritizing service, value creation, and institutional development above personal gain fosters stronger commitment, deeper engagement and a culture of giving back. Professor Adeyewa maintained that by embracing these principles ,alumni association would become more united ,effective and better positioned to support the growth and advancement of the university.
In a second lecture titled, the strategic role of Alumni in shaping FUTA’S future, a retired Chief Advancement officer, FUTA, Mr. Enoch Ajayi stated that Alumni play strategic role in shaping the future of an institution by serving as ambassadors who uphold and promote its values, reputation and achievement, through mentorship, networking, opportunities and career guidance. He stated that their experience and accomplishments too also provide valuable insights that can influence academic programs, research priorities and institutional policies.
According to Mr. Ajayi , beyond advocacy alumni contribute significantly to the growth and sustainability of their Alma Mata through philanthropy, partnership, and resource mobilization, stating that their continued engagement ensures that the institution remains competitive, financially resilient and well positioned to meet emerging challenges while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
He maintained that roles and impact of Alumni in FUTA, requires retention, recognition, and a clear pathway to donor ship whereby Alumni who volunteer are more likely later. Institutions like FUTA should intentionally connect volunteering to give. He called on University Management to treat alumni as strategic partners, by integrating them into governance, curriculum development and institutional planning while strengthening the University Advancement Centre to coordinate alumni engagements worldwide. Mr. Ajayi urged members of the FUTA alumni worldwide to embrace active participation in shaping the future of the Federal University of Technology, Akure through volunteering mentorship and strategic partnership.
In a welcome address the Director, UAC, Prof Vincent Ajayi, said the seminar themed Mobilizing Alumni Support for Academic Excellence and infrastructural development reflects shared commitment to bond FUTA and its alumni across the world, and also provide opportunity to learn global best practices in Alumni engagement strategic fundraising, partnership development and sustainable alumni relationship management geared towards advancing FUTA.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Taiwo Amos, commended the steadfast support and invaluable contributions of the alumni towards the realization of FUTA vision of becoming a world class University of Technology and Centre of excellence in teaching, research, innovation and community service. According to the Vice Chancellor, FUTA continues to distinguish itself as a leading institution of excellence in Technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and cutting edge research. She stated that these accomplishments reflects the dedication of staff, student’s alumni and core stakeholders to the University vision of becoming a world class institution.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the alumni are more than just graduates, of this institution, but long-life partners in the shared mission of excellence. She further stated that their continued engagement is indispensable to FUTA’S future, emphasizing that together FUTA can build a stronger institution, enhance the quality of teaching and research, expand infrastructures, foster innovation and ensure that the institution remains at the forefront of technology education and national development for generations to come.
The conference brought together FUTA alumni executives from across the globe on a virtual platform to discuss strategies for strengthening the association, enhance alumni engagement and promote sustainable support for the university’s growth and development.
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