The Chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology, Professor Funsho Afolabi, has appealed to alumni of the institution across the world to play an active role in supporting its planned transition into a University of Technology and Vocational Studies.
He described the support of former students as a vital part of the institution’s efforts to achieve what he called a historic transformation.
Professor Afolabi made the appeal during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the YABATECH Alumni Association held at the Emmanuel Unachukwu Hall, Alumni Building, within the college in Lagos.
Represented at the event by Dr. Maruf Adebakin, the Governing Council Chairman said the college had reached a defining stage in its history and now needed the collective strength, experience, and influence of its alumni to successfully achieve its vision.
According to him, the institution has already begun implementing key strategies designed to prepare it for a smooth transition into a University of Technology and Vocational Studies. He noted that the journey would require commitment, innovation, and strong collaboration among all stakeholders.
He stressed that the Alumni Association now has an even greater responsibility to contribute its professional knowledge, intellectual capacity, national influence, and international connections toward the growth and development of the institution.
Professor Afolabi also encouraged alumni members to make use of their positions in government, the private sector, industry, and academic circles to attract meaningful partnerships, secure developmental support, influence positive policies, and initiate projects that would further strengthen the college.
He further urged members of the association to preserve the unity that currently exists within the alumni body, warning that internal divisions could slow the progress of both the association and the institution.
Reflecting on the college’s legacy, he said YABATECH holds a special place in Nigeria’s educational history as the country’s foremost higher institution, producing generations of professionals whose contributions have continued to shape national development.
In his goodwill message, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, described the college as a national treasure and a leading centre for technological education. He said the institution has consistently produced innovators, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals who have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the YABATECH Alumni Association, Wing Commander Solomon Olawale Ajayi, retired, said the institution was approaching an important milestone in its history. He added that the alumni body was repositioning itself to effectively respond to the opportunities and responsibilities that would come with the proposed transformation.
The National President of the association, Builder Yemi Osinbajo, said the Annual General Meeting was designed to encourage meaningful collaboration among members while promoting ideas and collective efforts that would support education, innovation, and national development.
