Date: 2022-01-27

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)'s Alumni Association has expressed delight at the appointment of one of its members, Dr Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa, as Director-General, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari and charged the new DG to fly the flag of the university with pride and sustained dignity.

The national president of the association, Dr Stephen Olawale Fasakin, who led members of his executive on a visit to Dr Adetifa at the NCDC headquarters in Abuja, also thanked President Buhari for appointing other distinguished members of the alumni association like the re-appointed Professor Is-haq Oloyede, as JAMB Registrar; and Mr Segun Adekunle, Board Chairman, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Dr Fasakin noted that a great citadel of learning is  marked out by the quality of its alumni and that this has an impact on the value placed on its degree in the society.

He expressed delight that the products of University of Ilorin, also known as 'The Better By far University' were distinguishing themselves in Nigeria and beyond, pointing out that this was as a result of the quality of education available in the institution.

The UNILORIN Alumni Association president said: "A great university is known by the greatness of its alumni and a strong alumni association makes a university strong and increases the value of its degree in the market place. This is what our association, under my leadership, stands to accomplish; to build trust and confidence in members of the association.

"Dr Adetifa has made us proud at this great citadel of academic excellence and in return, we are very proud of him. We have no doubt that he will surpass the achievements of his predecessor. We wish him a successful tenure in office."

He explained that the association existed to help former students "stay connected with the university and to one another, wherever you are and whatever you seek. The association is there for you for, be it university's events and connection in your hometown, an excuse to come back to the campus for re-union, a job lead or a mind expanding magazine tour that will get you connected with people. There are many platforms for the operations of the association; it can be either by year of graduation or by course of studies."

He added that "our administration has in our plans to bring as many alumni members to the university's notice, at least, once in a year, particularly, during the convocation ceremony of the university. This will afford members the opportunity to see the level of development in the university after so many years of graduation. Also, we are working on a project to identify not less than 100 most illustrious alumni members all over the world."

Dr Adetifa graduated from Ilorin in 1997 and, until his recent appointment, was an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.