On Friday, February 20, 2026, the Engineering Design Studio at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) became more than a venue — it became a meeting point for memory, momentum, and mission. In a historic first, the Department of Biomedical Engineering hosted its inaugural Alumni Get-Together, drawing graduates from undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts into one room to reconnect, reflect, and reimagine what the next chapter of Biomedical Engineering at UNILAG can look like.

The gathering was anchored on two powerful ideas: honour the foundation and build the future. And in a field evolving as rapidly as healthcare technology, the “future” theme wasn’t abstract — it was urgent.

Reconnecting the past to power the future

In his welcome address, the Acting Head of Department, Dr. Olurotimi Adeleye, framed alumni engagement as a “symbiotic relationship” — one that strengthens lifelong ties, improves student outcomes, and expands the Department’s influence through industry linkages and practical opportunities.

At the centre of his message was a tribute to the Department’s early builders, particularly Professor Oluwole Adegbenro, recognised as the pioneer Coordinator of the Biomedical Engineering Unit at the College of Medicine in 1993, when the programme began as a technical course.

From humble beginnings to global collaborations

In his opening remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Samson Adeosun, reflected on the programme’s formative years and the dedication of its early champions. He also acknowledged the role of external institutional support — including financial backing from Northwestern University (USA) — in strengthening the programme’s growth trajectory.

Crucially, the Dean challenged alumni to view an alumni platform not as a ceremonial body, but as a strategic mechanism for aggregating opportunities — for students, graduates, the Department, and the University.

“AI or be left behind”: the keynote wake-up call

The keynote address, titled “Emerging Technologies and Innovations in Biomedical Engineering,” was delivered on behalf of Dr. Clare Omatseye, Founder/CEO of JNC International (JNCI), by Engr. Falola Fakolujo (Manager, Technical Services).

One line captured the room’s attention and became a rallying cry: “If you are not in Artificial Intelligence in 2026, then you’re not anywhere.”

Beyond the soundbite, the keynote positioned AI as a practical “capacity multiplier” in healthcare — especially in diagnostics, clinical decision support, and the growing expectation that medical technologies should be connected, data-driven, and continuously improving.

The presentation also spotlighted a wider frontier of innovation now shaping Biomedical Engineering globally — from wearables and remote monitoring to bioelectronics, 3D bioprinting, regenerative medicine, CRISPR and synthetic biology, nanomedicine, and robotics-enabled surgery.

Just as importantly, the keynote did not ignore the “real-world” barriers: bias and validation challenges in AI, interoperability and cybersecurity in digital health, and the engineering and regulatory hurdles that determine whether promising innovations truly reach patients at scale.

Confronting the “Equipment Graveyard” reality

A high-energy panel session brought industry-grounded perspectives into the conversation. Panellists included:

• Mr. Charles Osuagwu (Biomedical Engineering Manager, NEST 360◦)
• Mr. Obioha Chima Anthony (Biomedical Engineer, Massey Street Children Hospital, Lagos)
• Engr. Adeniyi Ololade (State Hospital, Ota)
• Mr. Benjami Ewheh (Sales Manager, Patient Monitoring and Life Support, Mindray)

Among the most striking contributions was the “Equipment Graveyard” phenomenon — the troubling reality of abandoned medical devices sitting idle, not because they are beyond repair, but because the system lacks enough trained biomedical engineers to maintain them effectively.

The discussion returned repeatedly to curriculum for an industry-practice orientation. Reinforcing this, Prof. Peter Oluseyi (Head of the Department of Electrical/Electronics Engineering) referenced the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), noting that universities now have up to 40% flexibility to integration into teaching and course delivery.

A pioneer reflects — and a new structure is born

One of the most moving moments of the event was the formal honouring of Professor Oluwole Adegbenro for his foundational role in establishing Biomedical Engineering at UNILAG. He spoke with humility and optimism, affirming that today’s leaders are building “better and bigger” on what came before.

He also commended the UNILAG Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association (UNILAGFEAA) and encouraged Biomedical Engineering alumni to draw inspiration from its structure and sustained commitment.

To close the gathering with clear next steps, Dr. Adeleye announced the constitution of the Department’s Inaugural Alumni Committee — a formal mechanism to coordinate engagement and sustain the momentum generated by this first historic meeting.

What this moment means — and what comes next

This inaugural get-together was not just a reunion. It was a statement of intent: that Biomedical Engineering at UNILAG is ready to shift from competence to influence, and from influence to impact.

For alumni, the pathway is clear and practical:

• Mentorship: structured career guidance across clinical engineering, medtech, AI, product development, and research.
• Industry linkage: internships, placements, and live projects that expose students to hospital environments and device ecosystems.
• Capacity building: targeted upskilling in AI (with healthcare use-cases), digital health interoperability, device maintenance, and quality systems
• Closing the “equipment graveyard” gap: partnerships with hospitals and OEMs to train more hands, improve maintenance culture, and keep equipment operational.
• Sustainable support: coordinated alumni giving for labs, tools, and innovation initiatives — not as charity, but as strategic investment in Nigeria’s healthcare capacity.

The past laid the groundwork. The present is consolidating it. And with alumni now organising deliberately, the future is being engineered — in every sense of the phrase — at UNILAG Biomedical Engineering.