Last Updated on October 10, 2026 by Adewole Oduwole
By Olaoye Oyewole & Joy Olabanji
What began as a nostalgic return to their alma mater has blossomed into a lasting gesture of giving back, as the 2011/2012 Civil Engineering (CVE) Set of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), donated 40 pieces of 2-seater chairs worth ₦2 million to the College of Engineering (COLENG).
The donation, according to the alumni, was inspired by a simple but powerful conviction: that those who once benefited from FUNAAB’s learning environment should also help make it better for those coming behind them. The gesture is therefore expected to provide immediate comfort for students, while reinforcing the culture of alumni contribution to the development of the University.
Presenting the items on behalf of the set, Engr. Sunday Adeyemo said the initiative was conceived as a practical way of contributing to the welfare of current students and improving their learning environment.
Recounting what inspired the donation, Engr. Adeyemo disclosed that his visit to FUNAAB the previous year left him concerned about the condition of the space, prompting discussions among members of his set on how they could make a difference.
According to him, the alumni subsequently raised ₦2 million to provide the chairs, stressing that the gesture was also a way of appreciating the lecturers who had equipped them with the education, knowledge and professional foundation that had shaped their careers.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, the Head, Quality Control and Assurance Unit, Prof. Saliu Amolegbe appreciated the alumni for the thoughtful intervention, noting that the gesture could become a model for other generations of FUNAAB graduates. He urged the initiative to serve as an inspiration for incoming generations to identify areas where they could contribute meaningfully to the development of their alma mater.
The Dean, College of Engineering, Prof. Adedayo Badejo, commended the 2011/2012 set for its commitment to the College, describing the donation as a valuable contribution towards creating a more conducive environment for teaching and learning. He expressed optimism that the initiative would be sustained and replicated in the future.
The Ag. Head, Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Igba Tobit, expressed appreciation to the alumni for taking concrete steps to support the students.
The event climaxed with the formal handover of the chairs to COLENG by the 2011/2012 Civil Engineering Set, leaving behind not only improved furniture but a powerful message of alumni responsibility: the best way to honour an alma mater is to help build a better future for those who come after.
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