Yabatech alumni pledge support for varsity conversion
By Adeola Ogunrinde –
The alumni of Yaba College of Technology have pledged to work with the government to ensure the institution becomes one of the most outstanding universities in the country after its planned conversion to a University of Technology and Vocational Studies.
National President of the Yaba College of Technology Alumni Association, Builder Yemi Osibajo, made this commitment at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the association, held at Emmanuel Unachukwu Hall, Alumni Building, within the school premises in Yaba, Lagos.
Osibajo described the AGM theme, “Alumni Unity and Synergy for Exponential Development,” as a call to action. “A united alumni association is a powerful force — capable of transforming institutions, influencing policy, driving innovation, and spurring national development,” he said.
He noted that the planned conversion of Yabatech marks a historic transformation requiring strategic collaboration among alumni, corporate partners, public institutions, and society. “The future of technical and vocational education in Nigeria rests in no small part on the strength of what we build together today,” he added.
Osibajo disclosed plans to align the association’s strategic direction with that of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Alumni Association, with the aim of positioning Yabatech as the best University of Technology and Vocational Studies in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of the College Governing Council, Prof. Funso Isolaowa Afolabi, described the AGM as a defining chapter in the institution’s legacy. He congratulated the college and alumni for progress made, especially the bill at the National Assembly seeking to upgrade Yabatech into a full-fledged federal university.
Afolabi stressed that the conversion was long overdue, noting that Yabatech, as Nigeria’s first tertiary institution and consistently ranked best polytechnic, has earned the recognition through decades of academic excellence and contributions to national development.
Chairman of the Alumni Board of Trustees, Wing Commander Solomon Olawale Ajayi (rtd), described the gathering as unique and historic, coinciding with the Federal Government’s declaration to convert the college into a University of Technology and Vocational Education.
