LAGOS, Nigeria – The Faculty of Arts Alumni Association at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced the establishment of a N500 million Endowment Trust Fund to mark the Faculty’s 60th anniversary.
The fund, described as a landmark initiative, is designed to secure the future of the faculty by addressing critical needs. According to a statement from the Central Planning Committee, the endowment will finance scholarships for indigent students, support students with special needs, fund academic research and innovations, and power the “Light Up Arts Complex” solar project.
Francis Shonubi, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, stated that the endowment represents a significant step towards ensuring the faculty thrives for decades to come. “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 said.
He described the faculty as a six-decade-long “beacon of intellectual excellence, scholarship, and cultural advancement in Nigeria and across Africa.”
The anniversary celebrations, scheduled from October 19 to October 25, 2025, are themed ‘Humanities as the Tech Solution to Global Crisis in 21st Century Africa.’ The theme underscores the faculty’s commitment to applying humanities disciplines to solve modern challenges like climate change, artificial intelligence, governance, and sustainable development.
The Dean of the Faculty, Professor Akanbi Mudasiru Ilupeju, framed the anniversary as a “call to action.” He 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.”
The week-long event will feature a series of academic, cultural, and social activities, culminating in a Gala Night and Award Dinner on Saturday, October 25, at the Protea by Marriott Select Hotel in Alausa, Ikeja.
The grand finale will be chaired by High Chief ’Tunde Fanimokun, the Agba Akin of Lagos, with the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, as Chief Host. Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour.
The alumni association has called on its members, corporate organisations, and the public to contribute to the endowment fund. Shonubi urged support to “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.”
