The Vice Chancellor of the Nigerian premier university, the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, over the weekend welcomed members of the Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Association (EXUIFA) who paid him a courtesy visit prior to their 8th annual World Reunion.
Professor Adebowale, in company of the University top management team, heartily received the Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Association, led by their President, Mr Edwin Evbie, the chairman Board of Trustees, Mogaji (Prof) Olusegun Adekunle, and the Vice Chairman, Dr.Abiodun Salami, who is the immediate past Director of Sports in the University of Ibadan.
In a very light hearted meeting, the EXUIFA explained their plans to help resuscitate football in Nigeria’s citadel of learning by working with the sports council, building of a 5-A-side stadium and partnering with a US Tech Foundation to train 300 female students in computer tech skills such as UI/UX design, Web development, Agile, Product Development, AI, Machine Learning and Digital Marketing amongst others.
The VC who expressed his profound happiness with the EXUIFA plans and their conviviality stated that he was highly impressed that EXUIFA has close to two hundred members which cut across different generations and many of whom are in the diaspora.
According to the VC, ‘’I am very glad to meet you all, and I am impressed that you have over one hundred and fifty members scattered across the world and still waxing strong. It is the plan of my administration to make the Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan stronger than what it is presently and your plans of future projects and programs has simply shown your Association is very much in line with the plans of the University of Ibadan’’.
The Vice Chancellor promised that his administration shall explore the synergy between the school and EXUIFA that will help grow the Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan and also help UI maintain it’s standard.
After the courtesy visit to the VC, and as part of their 3 -day reunion plans, the Ex University of Ibadan Footballers Association, also visited an Orphanage in Ibadan where they interacted with staff and children of the Orphanage and later donated cash and gift items.
On the final day of their 2022 reunion program, the Ex players played a football game amongst themselves at the UI sports stadium with two ex Super Eagles stars – Mutiu Adepoju and Ike Shorunmu as special guests of honour. The three day event ended with a dinner party at The Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan, where various awards were given to deserving members and others who have served the Nigerian Nation meritoriously in the past.
The award recipients include Ike Sorunmu, former Super Eagles goalkeeper and present goalkeepers’ Coach, ex Super Eagles star Mutiu Adepoju, DCP Kunle Olusokan, Capt. Atanda Abiodun, Ajadi Abiola and Victor Uzoho who came in from Finland.
