Computer Science Old Students Donate Lab Equipment to OOU

Some old students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye have donated sets of computer science hardware equipment to assist the institution in its quest to deliver quality education. The equipment included seven Desktop Computers, seven units of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), two Interactive Smart Boards and two Projectors. The donors, under the aegis of OOU Computer Science Alumni Association (1994 Set), disclosed that the items cost about N2.1million, adding that more facilities would be provided for the University in due course towards enhancing teaching and learning for both staff and students. President of the Association, Mr. Saheed Adebule, who led some officers and members of the Association on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, said the donation was part of the 2020 Reunion Programme of the Association and the desire to give back to the University. Mr. Adebule, who recalled memories of his student days with nostalgia, observed that the University has made tremendous progress since his set finished in 1994. He said members of the Association were determined to be part of the success story of OOU, stressing that “our desire to do something for our University is very strong.” His words: “I must admit that the University has made tremendous progress. When we started at the temporary campus over there, this place was like what the Yoruba would call Igbo Irunmole. It was a jungle. But coming here now and seeing what has been done, in fact, we were amazed. It was like all these infrastructure just ‘germinated’ because we couldn’t imagine that the University would have grown to this stage now.”

Members of OOU Computer Science Alumni Association (1994 Set) in group photograph with the Management Staff during presentation of some hardware equipment to the University Adebule, who stated that the Association has members scattered all over the world, said efforts were ongoing to bring them together and chart a collective course. He said, “One of the major pillars of our objectives is to give back to our University and we are just starting. We know this is a drop in the ocean but, as they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. So, our desire is that we are going to have a big impact on the development of this University but we want to start with this token. We recognise the fact that the University may not be able to provide all the equipment they might need to compete with other Universities around the world but we can also bridge that gap.” The Association President said he hoped the Interactive Smart Boards and other equipment donated would improve the institution’s Computer Laboratory and help students achieve their potentials. “Back then,” he recalled, “we had a computer lab but the facilities were not adequate. We take turns, in fact we struggled with one another to get to the lab. It appeared we were even taking tally numbers to get to the lab and we knew what that meant even at that time ICT was not at the stage it is now.” Adebule further explained, “We knew how that set us back and we had to learn the hard way and we wouldn’t want such experience for successive students. If we had made anything today, it’s because we stood on the shoulders of some other people who were ready to help us to achieve our potentials and that is how life goes around.” “So, you are going to be seeing our faces more and more because this is our home. We can’t erase it from our lives, it is what we make of it that we’ll be proud of. Because we don’t want the University to go through any sort of trouble, we have brought the equipment with people who can install it so that the University would start using it immediately.” “The donation is just a drop in the ocean, all these things cost about N2.1million. As I said, we are going to do more by the Grace of God. The University being our alma mater, we feel whatever pains and successes you have, we want to be part of it and God will help us.” Other officers who accompanied Mr. Adebule on the historic visit included Mr. Aderinto Adetunji (Ex-officio), Mr. Lookman Oseni (Treasurer), Mrs. Oladunni Sulaimon Assistant Secretary), Major Florence Oloyede (rtd), and Mrs. Titi Ibode. Receiving the old students on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Deji Agboola, commended the thoughtfulness and selflessness of the donors. He noted that their gesture would go a long way in aiding the academic pursuit of students of the University. His words: “It’s not the amount that matters, it is the gesture, which shows that you actually have the University at heart and it shows clearly that you are going to do better than this in the near future. We also appreciate the team because this is a pandemic era when people are struggling to make ends meet. That you can still remember us during this period shows that you love your University.” The Vice-Chancellor said, as administrators try their best to nurture and develop the University, old students must also lend a hand and provide the much needed moral and financial supports for it to be more successful. He pointed out that the institution had now become very competitive due to measures taken by management to endear it to well-meaning Nigerians. He assured that OOU would continue to accord due recognition to its alumni as important stakeholders and partners in progress. The Vice-Chancellor stated further that the interactive boards were donated at the right time when schools need to comply with advisory protocols towards curtailing the spread of coronavirus. “The University is planning to have so many interactive boards because we know that during this pandemic, we need to comply with the Presidential Task Force directive which stated that up to 60 percent capacity of the class should go online. So, having interactive boards is one of the best things we can think of,” he added. Also speaking, the Registrar, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju, appreciated the donors, saying they have complemented the efforts of the school management in making it a great citadel of learning. Ogunwomoju said several former students and alumni across Nigeria and abroad have been donating facilities over the years and making invaluable contributions to advance the course of the University. According to him, old students have no excuse not to develop their alma mater. He said, “We can’t thank you enough for coming today, we appreciate your kind gesture. The most fascinating thing is that nearly all of us graduated from this University, and we have no excuse now for not making this University great because we are running it by ourselves. So, our destiny, our fortune are in our hands and it’s very interesting when we have alumni coming in segments like this and in various groups. It’s a good idea and we implore you not to rest on your oars. We still need more equipment and more facilities.” “As you could see, this is not the University that we left, it’s getting better everyday and with your help too, I’m sure it would still get better.” The donation by the OOU Computer Science Alumni Association came on the heels of recent visit of an alumnus, Dr. Segun Oyebolu, who announced his intention to build an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hub for the University.