Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan
The President of the Senior Staff Club of Nigeria’s Premier University, Dr. Dele Dahunsi today rolled out activities marking the 60th anniversary of the Club slated for April 13th to 20th 2018.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the series of programme outlined for the celebration, Dahunsi said the Club has over the years been a place of integration, socialisation and a strong pillar that has foster unity among the staff in the university community.
The President was accompanied at the briefing by the Chairman, 60th Anniversary planning committee, Prof. Aderemi Raji Oyelade, a multiple awards winning literary icon, Chairman, Publication and Publicity Committee, Prof. Ayo Kehinde among other executive members of the club.
The president stated that N100 million would be raised during the celebration that would be expended on equipping the clubhouse with additional facilities as well as putting in place some sporting equipment including a gym house, a badminton field, a volleyball court and a handball court for the recreational and sporting needs of the members.
Dahunsi noted that there are several members of the Club who have over the years contributed to the progress and feat recorded by the club to date who would be recognised. He added that the effort would also look into the larger society to identify people who have contributed positively to the growth of the country and honour them duly.
Speaking on the importance of the club, the President noted that many members of the club who had made breakthroughs on issues and topics, particularly in their fields of research and findings conceived their ideas at the club as the place provides the opportunity for many of the retired staffs to relate with their peers and others in putting body and soul together.
Explaining the roles the club has been playing over the years that necessitated the celebration, Oyelade noted that the Senior Staff Club remained a very important decimal in the social and academic life of the institution pointing out that it is the only unit or department that never close down but run for 24 hours, seven days a week irrespective of the situation within and outside the university community.
Describing it as a home for the young, old, male, female, academic and non-academic, Oyelade said the club has been key in unifying and providing a platform to foster better interaction and rapport in the university community and which had in-turn oiled the wheel of progress of the institution.
He added that with the clubs records of producing distinguished scholars and administrators for the university as well as other universities within and outside the country and the continent as a whole, the former Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the premier institution maintained that, celebrating the club as it marks its 60th years of existence is not out of place.
According to Oyelade, some of the activities lined up for the week long commemoration include exhibition, film show, symposium cultural night, visitation to three motherless babies Homes and anniversary lecture/public presentation.
Additionally, he said a special night christened Tombola Night is also slated for April 18 with the grand finale of the events including an anniversary dinner/award of recognition where the fund raising is slated for 20th April.