The University of Ibadan (UI) Department of Economics Alumni Association has unveiled plans to launch a ₦20 billion endowment fund and honour about 200 distinguished alumni.
The homecoming and reunion, scheduled for December 3 to 5, 2026, is expected to attract over 500 participants, including alumni from the department’s inception in 1956 to the 2025 graduating set, government officials, captains of industry, academics and development partners.
Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Alumni Liaison and Linkages, Professor Adeola Adenikinju and Chairman of the Homecoming Planning Committee, Otunba Michael Sekoni, disclosed this during a meet-and-greet session with alumni in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
They also disclosed that the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and other eminent Nigerians have been invited to the landmark event, although attendance remains subject to confirmation.
Adenikinju said the gathering formed part of a nationwide mobilisation exercise ahead of the homecoming.
According to him, similar engagements had earlier been held in Lagos and Abuja to update alumni on preparations for the event and secure their support.
He explained that the Ibadan meeting also provided an opportunity to inspect facilities for the homecoming and interact with departmental and faculty leadership.
“The purpose of today’s meeting was to brief UI alumni in Ibadan on our plans for the homecoming, which will hold between December 3 and 5, 2026. We also sought their support, endorsement and addressed questions they had regarding the programme,” Adenikinju said.
He described the homecoming as historic because it would, for the first time, bring together alumni from every graduating set rather than focusing on a single class.
“We are expecting a minimum of 500 participants. Alumni from the department’s inception in 1956 up to the 2025 graduating set are expected to participate,” he added.
Adenikinju said distinguished personalities invited to the event include Vice President Shettima, the SGF, Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, Dr. Diran Fawibe and several other eminent alumni.
He noted that enthusiasm among graduates had been overwhelming and expressed confidence that the event would be a resounding success.
Chairman of the Homecoming Planning Committee, Otunba Sekoni, an alumnus of the 1987 graduating set, said the nationwide engagement was designed to carry alumni along in the planning process and encourage them to contribute ideas towards making the reunion successful.
He said one of the major highlights of the homecoming would be the launch of a ₦20 billion endowment fund to support the long-term development of the department.
According to him, proceeds from the fund will be used to improve infrastructure, support current and future students, provide scholarships and grants, finance educational materials and examinations, and strengthen academic excellence within the department.
Sekoni also announced plans to inaugurate the department’s Alumni Hall of Fame, during which about 200 distinguished graduates who have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy and the global community would be honoured.
“Our alumni have served as commissioners for finance, economic advisers to presidents, leaders in the banking and energy sectors, as well as heads of departments and deans in universities across Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
“We believe it is important to recognise these outstanding achievements because they reflect the enduring legacy and global impact of the Department of Economics,” he said.
Sekoni added that participants from the public and private sectors, academia and the development community were expected at the homecoming.
“We have also invited senior officials of the Tinubu administration. While we are still awaiting confirmation from some of them before making their names public, we are confident that this will be a memorable and impactful event,” he said.
Present at the meeting included Prof. Oluwakemi Okuwa, Dr. Victoria Foye, Adebayo Adeyemo, Ademola Adegbusi, Aremu Oyeyemi, Dolapo Lawal, Taiwo Phebe Fadiran, Esther Ojo, Favour Odia, Divine David, Favour Mustapha, Oyeyemi Aremu, Mariam Zakariyah, Olusegun Adeboye, Roseline Ozegbe, Esther Oguntoyinbo, Heritage Oserieten and others.