DMV (USA) OAU Alumni Renovates Students Hall of Residence
R-L, Mr Oluwole Akinyede (President, DMV Branch USA), The VC, Prof. Simeon Bamire, Mrs Juliana Adesopo, (Moz Hall Warden and other Management Staff at the event.
In demonstration of the spirit of giving back to its Alma Mata, the Great Ife Alumni District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia States (DMV) Branch, United States of America, recently renovated Block L of Mozambique Hall, of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife in Nigeria, with a view to improving the quality and living conditions of the students.
At the official commissioning ceremony of the project held on Tuesday, August 25, at Mozambique Hall, both staff and students were unanimous that the intervention couldn’t have come at a better time.
The ceremony which had in attendance key university management including; the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, Professor Adesola Aderounmu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic; Professor Emmanuel Akinfala, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration; Professor Adeolu Odedire, the Dean of Student Affairs; and other Principal University officials, alumni and residents in attendance.
The university Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, expressed appreciation to the alumni and other supporters for their commitment to the development of the University, describing their contribution as that of a valued partner in progress which is helping to sustain the legacies of the university as a collective effort of all stakeholders. “We are blessed with an alumni that is very passionate about our institution as they keep engaging and partnering us in different areas needing intervention,” Bamire said.
The Vice Chancellor further stressed the importance of a good maintenance culture of the renovated building, urging students to ensure the responsible use of the facility and commit to the highest standards that has made the University one of the most prestigious public institutions in Nigeria over the years. “Now that this place has been renovated, the only way we can make sure that those who committed their resources into this initiative, is to ensure we put the appropriate mechanism in place to preserve and protect our amenities. Each of the hostels, residents, must have active Block Representatives to work with the Hall Exco and management for proper monitoring and continuous maintenance of this place”, he emphasized.
Prof. Bamire pointed out that the critical role played by the alumni has informed the University’s decision to strategically strengthen its engagement with the alumni as part of efforts aimed at addressing the challenges facing the institution. “We set up machinery through the Office of Advancement to enable us maximize our robust alumni body and today we can see the evidence as it keep yielding positive results like this” he stated.
In his remarks, while speaking on the significance of the project, the President of the Great Ife Alumni Association, DMV Branch, Mr Oluwole Akinyede, noted that except alumni members stay connected to the University, many will not understand what is going on in the system. We believe from our time back in the days that Mozambique Hall was the abode of Beauty and Brains and it was something of pride.
In his words: “If we wish to sustain the prestige of our Alma mater, we need to reconnect with it and the values. Though we did not really know much about what was going on here, we relied on insiders who sent us some pictures of the state of the hostel and it was difficult to comprehend the level at which the facilities have degenerated, we couldn’t come to terms with how students were living in that kind of condition, it was simply pathetic for our beloved Mozambique Queens.”
The Maryland Branch USA based Alumni President, further added: ‘We believe that education is the most powerful tool for societal transformation. Therefore, for students to thrive academically, they require an environment that fosters comfort, focus, and inspiration. As such, this project is supporting the University’s efforts to provide a conducive living and learning environment for students.”
Akinyede also expressed appreciation to the Hall Warden, Mrs Juliana Adesopo, the University management, the Project Committee and members of the Association for their contributions to the successful completion of the project. He urged the residents of Mozambique Hall to take ownership of the facility and treat it with care, saying, “As you reside here, remember that you are part of a legacy of excellence”
The Hall Warden, Mrs Juliana Adesopo expressed immense gratitude to the Great Ife Alumni DMV USA Branch for their positive intervention and helping to improve the living conditions of the students in the renovated block.
She recalled that the process started in 2024 when she resumed and met the state of the hostel in a very terrible condition. Then she reached out to her alumni network some of whom had help bring succor to residents of Alumni Hall through their renovation efforts appealing that they extend a similar gesture to Mozambique Hall.
A resident of the newly renovated Block L, Nifemi Omoniyi, (Part 1 Sociology and Anthropology), said: “Though the renovation came as an impromptu notice, as it was towards the end of our first semester exam, it was a pleasant welcome development that we loved because when we first got to the hall, the place was like a refugee camp.”
The renovation included detailed interior and exterior works with provision of fans, lightings, plumbing systems, toilet fittings, flooring and tiles as well as painting, giving the building a comprehensive face lift.
