The alumni of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) have expressed their preparedness to support the government in ensuring that the institution becomes one of the most outstanding universities in the country when it is eventually converted to a university of technology and vocational studies.

The National President of Yaba College of Technology Alumni Association, Builder Yemi Osibajo, stated this at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the association held at Emmanuel Unachukwu Hall, Alumni Building, located on the school premises in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

Osibajo said the theme of the AGM, ?Alumni Unity and Synergy for Exponential Development,? is apt in the sense that it is not just a theme, but a call to action.

He said, ?A united alumni association is a powerful force ? capable of transforming institutions, influencing policy, driving innovation, and spurring national development.?

Dwelling on the planned conversion of the institution, he said, ?We are also thrilled to share with you that our great citadel of learning, Yaba College of Technology, is on the cusp of a historic transformation ? its conversion into a University of Technology and Vocational Studies. This monumental shift requires not just celebration but strategic collaboration.

?We must rally together ? alumni, friends, corporate partners, public institutions, and the entire Nigerian society ? to support this transition. The future of technical and vocational education in Nigeria rests in no small part on the strength of what we build together today.?

He said strategic plans were underway for Yabatech Alumni Association to align with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alumni association as a benchmark.

He added, ?Yabatech Alumni Association intends to position itself as the best University in Nigeria, when converted to a university of technology and Vocational Studies.

?The rationale for benchmarking with MIT is that it has similarities with Yabatech in what both represent to their countries. More importantly, MIT?s achievements are unique and position it as one of the best Alumni Associations in the world.?

In his goodwill message and charge to Yaba College of Technology Alumni Association, the Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Funso Isolaowa Afolabi said, ?This is not just another AGM. This is a defining chapter in the legacy of our great institution. It is a time of reflection, visioning, consolidation, and strategic action. And you, the Alumni Association, are at the very centre of it all.

?Let me begin by congratulating the Association and the College on the notable progress recorded so far, particularly the recent and commendable efforts that have culminated in the presentation of a bill at the National Assembly for the conversion of Yaba College of Technology into a full-fledged Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies.

?This conversion, I must say, is long overdue. As Nigeria?s first tertiary institution and consistently ranked the best Polytechnic in the country, Yaba College of Technology has paid its dues. The Federal Government?s decision to grant this conversion is not an act of kindness, but an acknowledgement of long-standing excellence, consistency in academic distinction, and an institutional culture that has bred some of the best professionals, innovators, and leaders in every sector of our national life.?

For the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Yaba College of Technology Alumni Association, Wing Commander Solomon Olawale Ajayi (rtd), the gathering is unique and historic because it comes at a time when the Federal Government has declared its intention to convert Yaba College of Technology into a University of Technology and Vocational Education.

He said, ?This is not just a change of name?it is a rebirth of purpose. This development calls for celebration, but even more so, it calls for action. The journey to becoming a university of global repute will require our full alignment, unshaken loyalty, and unwavering support. (The Guardian)

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