The Chairman of the University of Lagos, Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association (UNILAGFEAA), Engr. Dideolu Falobi led the executive members of the association and the faculty management on a courtesy visit to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde on Thursday 29th April 2021 at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
During the reception by the Governor, Engr. Dideolu expressed the purpose of the visit to include a show of appreciation by the delegates for the giant stride the Governor was making in the governance of Oyo State aside from thanking him for his presence as keynote speaker at the 1st Hooding Ceremony of the Faculty, his donation of the MAKON Laboratory to the faculty as well as his support towards the 3rd Faculty Alumni Lecture which held on December 12th, 2019 and where a commitment to the endowment of a Professorial Chair in the Faculty was announced on behalf of the Governor. All these were considered as an expression of the love and commitment of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde to the “Best Faculty of Engineering in the University of First Choice in Nigeria.”
Furthermore, Engr. Falobi especially highlighted and acknowledged the commendable delivery of his Excellency’s mandate as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, with the successes rubbing on all Alumni of the Faculty positively for various reasons, some of which are:
i. As an Ambassador of the University of Lagos in governance.
ii. As an Ambassador of all Nigerian Engineers in the corridors of power.
iii. As an Ambassador of all technocrats and professionals in the corridors of power.
He particularly commended His Excellency’s “Masterful, innovative and courageous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ENDSARS protests and the security challenges that have reared their heads in the past one year”

Engr. Falobi further noted the performance of that these giant strides of Gov Makinde would surely “Encourage other professionals and technocrats to participate in politics and governance and as such increasing the critical mass of non-career politicians in the polity.”
The other reasons for the courtesy visit were also highlighted to include:
– Bringing to fulfillment the endowment of Professorial Chair in the Department of Electrical Electronics and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos.
– Appointment of Gov Makinde as Co-Chair of the 25 – Man Special Project Committee of the Alumni Association with a mandate to raise the sum of N500, 000,000:00 for the execution of various projects jointly identified by the Faculty Management with the Alumni as challenges to qualitative education in the Faculty.
In closing the Chairman of UNILAGFEAA, Engr. Dideolu Falobi assured His Excellency of the willingness of the Alumni Association to continue to support his administration in whatever way he may deem fit, including making available the Alumni website for use at no cost to the state in disseminating information on his laudable projects and achievements.

The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde in his response thanked the Alumni Association and Faculty Management for the visit. He again made a strong case for the restructuring of the country and the decentralisation of its economy, stating that this will afford all states the opportunity to develop their resources at their own pace. The governor stressed that though restructuring may not be a “Fix-all” solution, it would address the major challenges facing the country, including tertiary education in particular where access is becoming very challenging to teeming youths and arresting the growth of the sector. The Governor aligned with the Alumni Association in that its objectives were noble by asking for past students to come and contribute to the school in form of endowments, adding that “your reach will determine what you will get.”
Furthermore, Governor Seyi Makinde accepted to co-chair the 25-man Special Project committee with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and promised that they would “Roll up their sleeves together and ensure that the target of N500 million is achieved.”
In addition, he also promised to activate the professorial chair he earlier endowed at UNILAG immediately.
Governor Seyi Makinde added that his government has always remained receptive to the idea of collaborating with academia and the industries to engender development in the state. He equally hailed the alumni association’s offer to showcase his government’s developmental efforts in Oyo State on its website and called for feedback from such in order to improve on the state’s administration. He also requested the faculty and the alumni association to feel free to offer a partnership with the state in terms of collaboration on research where needed. On the Governor’s team that received the Alumni Association are the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Adeosun, Commissioners, Directors of Agencies, and Special Advisers.

Accompanying the Chairman of the UNILAGFEAA, Engr. Dideolu Falobi on the courtesy visit to Governor Makinde are:
Engr. Prof. O. M. Sadiq – Dean Faculty of Engineering
Engr. Dr. L. O. Osoba – Sub Dean and Secretary UNILAGFEAA
Engr. A. Ogunnoiki – Chairman NSE Lagos State Branch & Treasurer UNILAGFEAA
Engr. O. Oyelola – Ex- Officio UNILAGFEAA
Engr. O. Arawole – Social Secretary UNILAGFEAA
Engr. A. Oyedepo – Ex- Publicity Secretary, UNILAGFEAA
Engr(Dr.) Lekan Shittu – Member
Engr(Dr.) Folake Akintayo – Member
The visit came to a close with an exchange of gifts and photographs.