The Faculty of Arts Alumni Association of the University of Lagos is set to unveil a N500m Endowment Trust Fund as part of activities marking the Faculty’s 60th anniversary celebration.

According to the Alumni Association, the fund will be dedicated to supporting students with special needs, funding research and innovations, providing scholarships for indigent students, and implementing the “Light Up Arts Complex” solar project.

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Francis Shonubi, said the initiative represents a major step towards positioning the Faculty of Arts for the future.

“This endowment will support students with special needs, fund research and innovations, provide scholarships for indigent students, and implement the ‘Light Up Arts Complex’ solar project,” Shonubi said.

He added, “The Faculty of Arts has achieved so much with limited resources over the years. This is the time to ensure it receives the support and funding it needs to thrive for another 60 years.”

Shonubi described the anniversary as a landmark celebration of the faculty’s enduring impact on education, culture, and society.

“The Faculty of Arts has stood as a beacon of intellectual excellence, scholarship, and cultural advancement in Nigeria and across Africa for six decades,” he said.

This year’s celebration is themed ‘Humanities as the Tech Solution to Global Crisis in 21st Century Africa.’ Shonubi explained that the theme reflects the Faculty’s commitment to applying the humanities to tackle pressing challenges such as governance, climate change, artificial intelligence, migration, education, and sustainable development.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Akanbi Mudasiru Ilupeju, said the anniversary provides an opportunity to not only reflect on the faculty’s achievements but also chart its course for the future.

“This 60th anniversary is not just a celebration but a call to action,” Ilupeju said.

“It is time to position the humanities at the centre of conversations on technology, development, and nation-building. With the endowment fund, we will be able to enhance our infrastructure, support research, and create opportunities that will empower the next generation of scholars,” he added.

The anniversary celebration will run from Sunday, October 19 to Saturday, October 25, 2025, featuring academic, cultural, and social activities to showcase the Faculty’s legacy and vision.

It will culminate in a Gala Night and Award Dinner at the Protea by Marriott Select Hotel, Alausa, Ikeja. The event will have High Chief Tunde Fanimokun, Agba Akin of Lagos, as Chairman of the Day; Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, as Chief Host; Professor Akanbi Mudasiru Ilupeju, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, as Host; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, as Special Guest of Honour; Dr. Elvis Labode, a New Jersey-based lawyer, as Keynote Speaker; HRM Oba Abdulsemiu Orimadegun Kasali, Adeboreuwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, as Royal Father of the Day; and Hon. Kafilat Moyosore Ogbara, Member of the House of Representatives, as Mother of the Day.

Shonubi called on the alumni, corporate organizations, and the public to support the project.

“Together, let us honour 60 years of scholarly distinction and humanistic values while committing to a future where the arts are no longer underfunded but fully empowered to shape society,” he urged. (The PUNCH)