The University of Lagos (UNILAG), our shared alma mater, has once again been thrown into the national spotlight following revelations by the institution’s former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe. In a recent disclosure, he revealed that out of the 256 first-class graduates recruited as lecturers between 2015 and 2022, only 17 remain in the system. The remaining 239—brilliant minds groomed within our institution—have exited the university, largely due to poor remuneration, unconducive working conditions, and limited motivation.

This is more than a statistic; it is a wake-up call. If left unaddressed, the trend threatens the academic excellence, research output, and global competitiveness of the Faculty of Engineering and UNILAG as a whole.

The Funding Crisis and Its Consequences

Nigeria’s continued underfunding of education remains a major driver of this exodus. Federal and state allocations to the sector consistently fall below UNESCO’s recommended 15–26% benchmark, often staying under 10%. With salaries that cannot compete with global or even local private-sector opportunities, universities struggle to retain top-tier talent. The result is a widening skills gap, diminished mentorship for students, and a weakening pipeline for postgraduate research.

Why Alumni Must Intervene

As alumni of the Faculty of Engineering, we cannot afford to be bystanders. We know first-hand the quality of training UNILAG provides, and we also know the sacrifices that academics continue to make despite systemic challenges. Alumni networks worldwide—from Harvard to IIT Bombay—have demonstrated that sustained alumni support can bridge institutional funding gaps, retain talent, and strengthen innovation.

At our recent UNILAGFEAA retreat in Ijebu-Ode, we discussed strategies that resonate strongly with this crisis:

• Endowments and Professorial Chairs: A model already seeded by some of our alumni, which needs to be expanded to cover more disciplines.
• Infrastructure and Research Funding: Beyond buildings, alumni support must target laboratories, digital infrastructure, and competitive research grants.
• Mentorship and Diaspora Engagement: Alumni in industry and academia globally can mentor younger lecturers and postgraduate students, opening new pathways for growth.
• Innovative Funding Models: Public–private partnerships, diaspora bonds, and targeted alumni fundraising campaigns can complement government allocations.

Our Role in Preserving Excellence

The departure of 239 first-class lecturers is a sober reminder that the future of our university depends not only on government policies but also on alumni resolve. Every contribution—financial, intellectual, or advocacy—strengthens the faculty’s ability to attract and retain the best minds.

As engineers, we know the cost of inaction. Without intervention, UNILAG risks losing its edge as a centre of excellence, and future generations of students will be deprived of the world-class mentorship that shaped us.

Conclusion

UNILAGFEAA must stand as a bulwark against this tide of talent loss. Let us recommit ourselves—through donations, partnerships, mentorship, and advocacy—to ensuring that our Faculty of Engineering not only survives but thrives. The challenge is great, but so too is our capacity as alumni united by purpose.