982 UNILAG Students Receive Endowment Scholarship Awards

The event, organised by the Office of Advancement, UNILAG, was held under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rahamon A. Bello, FAEng; ably assisted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor Duro Oni; Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Taiwo F. Ipaye, MNIM; Bursar, Mr. Lateef Odekunle; Dean, Students Affairs Division, Professor Tunde Babawale  and Professor M.C. Isiekwe who represented the Chairman, Advancement Board.

The Endowment Scholarship Awards Ceremony was initiated by authorities of the University to encourage hard-work and zealousness among students in their academic activities. The awards which are in various categories attract various monetary values. The categories are as follows:

1. Students with academic distinction
2. Students with distinctive leadership qualities
3. Physically challenged students,
4. Indigent students, and
5. Outstanding sportsmen/women.

In his opening remarks at the awards ceremony, the Chairman of the University of Lagos Advancement Board, Mr. Mac Ovbiagele who was represented by Professor M.C. Isiekwe expressed profound appreciation to the University endowment partners whose support have contributed to improving facilities on the campus and assisting students in their academic work.

He disclosed that funding of the Endowment Scholarship was derived from interests generated through investment of the UNILAG General Endowment Fund, which is a pool of all cash donations received from Alumni, friends, parents, students, contractors, staff and other benefactors.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rahamon A. Bello, FAEng noted that the Endowment Forum initiated in 2006 is the first of it kind in Universities in Nigeria. He said it was aimed at promoting academic excellence among UNILAG students. Below is the full text of the Vice-Chancellor’s address at the event:

It is indeed a special honour and privilege to address this gathering for the formal presentation of the 2012/2013 Endowment Awards to deserving students of this great University – “The University of First Choice and the Nation’s Pride”.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the University of Lagos Endowment Award Scheme, introduced by the Governing Council in 2006 is the first of its kind by any University in Nigeria and has the multiple advantages of rewarding and encouraging Academic Excellence, Leadership Qualities, Outstanding Sportsmen and Women, as well as providing the much needed financial assistance to the Indigent and Physically Challenged Students.

As you all know, the University of Lagos has since inception, been engaged in student friendly activities that helps in enhancing the academic performance and overall well-being of its students.  Some of these notable schemes include Work Study Programme, Sponsorship on Exchange Programmes, Counseling on various aspects of student life such as academics relationships, finance, career etc. These Awards are given to deserving students to ameliorate their financial difficulties in the pursuit of their academic careers in the University. The award cannot fully take care of the needs but should go a long way in ameliorating them.

For the year 2012/2013 awards a total of N41, 450,000.00 is to be disbursed to 982 students, who qualified, and that is why we are having this ceremony. Out of these 67 are for Academic Excellence (students with CGPA of a 4.5 and above) with the sum of N 50, 000 each, 8 are for students with Leadership Qualities in the sum of N 25,000 each, 61 are for outstanding sportsmen and women at N 25,000 each, 173 are for needy (indigent) students collecting N 25,000 each while 64 are for the physically-challenged in the sum of N 25,000 each. In all, awardees must be in good standing.

We would like to appreciate the Council of the University, through the Chairman, Professor Jerry Gana, for giving us the go-ahead to disburse these awards before the end of the Session. We assure future awards will be earlier in the Session to make the funds more readily applicable.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it may interest you to note that the funding of the Endowment Awards is derived from the interests generated through the investment of the Unilag General Endowment Funds.  This is a pool of cash donations received from alumni, friends, parents, students, contractors, staff and other benefactors.

At this junction, I want to implore today’s Beneficiaries to please make judicious use of the funds from this Award, and you should also not forget to give back, no matter how small, to your Alma-Mater, when you leave the University.  By doing so, the continuity of the Endowment Awards is guaranteed.

This address may not be complete without appreciating our valued Endowment Partners, who in spite of the economic meltdown, have continued to support the University through cash donations and donations of strategic projects.  Recently, three (3) of such strategic projects namely: Central Research Laboratory Building – donated by Dr. Daniel K. Olukoya; UNILAG Alumni Jubilee House – built in partnership with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc; and Biodun Shobanjo Multi-Media Centre of Excellence Building – donated by Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, were commissioned by the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR during the 2013 Convocation Ceremonies.

Finally, I want to use this unique opportunity to appeal to our alumni, Friends, parents, staff and other benefactors to continue to support the University of Lagos in its endowment drive.  No amount is too small and we assure you that your contributions will be judiciously utilized towards the achievement of the objectives of the University.  Interested Donors should please contact or direct all enquiries to the Office of Advancement, located at the Top Floor, Unilag Bookshop Building or visit the website: http://advancement.unilag.edu.ng.

Once again, I congratulate today’s Awardees and wish you all the best in your various academic pursuits. Thank you for your kind attention