Reports

UIAA GUEST HOUSE EXTENSION PROJECT
The UIAA operates a non-catering Guest House located behind the Alumni Centre building. The bulk of the Association's revenue is generated from the Guest House of 7 rooms, which also assists the University community in several ways. The Association is currently making efforts to operationalise the Phase II of the UIAA Guest House Project with additional block of 12 rooms. This is the time for individuals and corporate organisations to assist the Association.

UIAA NEWSLETTER
Before 1974, when the Alumni Newsletter was first published in year 2000, there was no regular publication. The gap in communication amongst Alumni and with the Alma Mater spurred the Sir Philip Edorhe - led UIAA Newsletter. An Editorial Board was appointed to ensure regularity. Like the ones earlier published, its objectives were: to disseminate news to Alumni; to publicize Branch activities; and to highlight developments in the University. With Volume 1 No. 1 released in June 2000, it has been published regularly bi-annually since then. The newest issue, Vol. 4. No. 2 December 2003 - June 2004, had just come off the press.

The UIAA Newsletter has also become a welcome source of revenue for the Association. The strategy was to launch each issue as appropriate, during NEC meetings, or at other times in some States. For example, the first major launching was done at the 114th NEC meeting in Makurdi on Saturday 24 March 2001. Alumnus Governor George Akume was largely instrumental to a fund-raising effort which fetched the UIAA N1.7 million. Moreover, on Saturday, 28th September, 2002 at the second major launching of Vol. 3 No. 1, UIAA Newsletter at Akure, a handsome sum of over N3.2 million was raised in cash and pledges due in large measure to the active support of the erstwhile Alumnus Governor Adebayo Adefarati, and several eminent Alumni/Alumnae in Ondo State.

The funds realised from these and other launchings were largely devoted to the construction of a 10-Bedroom Extension Project on the UIAA Guest House. As at December 2003, the First Phase of 4-Bedrooms had been completed. It was declared open by the erstwhile Alumnus Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Olugbenga Kaka in 2003.

The Dunkwu-led NEC, which came into office on Saturday 24 July 2004 at a UIAA Election Congress plans to continue publishing the UIAA Newsletter, and to progress and expand the Phase II of the UIAAQ Guest House of additional bedrooms. All Alumni/Alumnae would be expected to assist UIAA accomplish these projects in the next two years, whenever the NEC comes calling.

THE BOOK SUPPORT PROJECT
The Project, which had been a major focus of the Association, is still being sustained by the current National Executive Council. It had earlier been conceived by the Chief Folasade Ogunlade-led NEC, in order to ensure the availability of essential books in the Kenneth Dike Library. Efforts have continued to collect books and other educational materials from individual Alumni/Alumnae, UIAA Branches and Chapters. Books worth several millions of naira were donated to the University in the recent past, while a donation of One Million Naira (N1.0m) by the UI Ventures Ltd., to the Association in December, 2003 was handed over to the Kenneth Dike Library to purchase books and other educational materials. The Association shall continue to do more.

UIAA STUDENT'S HOSTEL PROJECT
This Project is to be a major focus of Chief P.A. Dunkwu-led NEC. It is conceived in order to contribute meaningfully to the on-going institutional reforms in the provision of the well-structured, balanced and comfortable Halls of Residence for students within the University of Ibadan campus. This product is highly capital intensive, but this NEC strongly believes that with our vast potential resources through the Alumni/Alumnae it is a task that can be accomplished.