The Faculty of Arts Alumni Association of the University of Lagos is launching a N500 million Endowment Trust Fund as part of events marking the faculty’s 60th anniversary. The fund is designed to transform the faculty’s capacity to support students, foster groundbreaking research, and modernise its infrastructure.
The initiative will channel resources into scholarships for students from low-income backgrounds, funding for research and innovation, support for students with special needs, and the “Light Up Arts Complex” solar power project, which aims to improve the faculty’s learning environment.
Francis Shonubi, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, described the endowment as a crucial investment in the faculty’s future. “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,” he said. Shonubi emphasised that the project reflects the alumni’s commitment to building a future where the humanities continue to shape society, culture, and knowledge across Africa.
The 60th anniversary, themed *“Humanities as the Tech Solution to Global Crisis in 21st Century Africa,”* underscores the faculty’s mission to place the humanities at the heart of conversations about governance, artificial intelligence, migration, climate change, education, and sustainable development. Shonubi noted that the theme reflects how the humanities remain vital in solving some of the continent’s most complex challenges.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Akanbi Mudasiru Ilupeju, said the anniversary is more than a celebration of past achievements. It is also an opportunity to redefine the faculty’s role in a rapidly evolving academic and technological environment. “This 60th anniversary is not just a celebration but a call to action. With the endowment fund, we will enhance our infrastructure, support research, and create opportunities that will empower the next generation of scholars,” he said.
The celebration, scheduled from Sunday, October 19 to Saturday, October 25, 2025, will feature a series of academic, cultural, and social activities that highlight the faculty’s contributions to knowledge and nation-building. The weeklong event will conclude with a Gala Night and Award Dinner at the Protea by Marriott Select Hotel in Alausa, Ikeja, featuring prominent figures from academia, politics, and traditional institutions.
Organisers are calling on alumni, corporate organisations, and the public to support the endowment and its vision for the future. “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,” Shonubi urged.
Beyond its immediate impact, experts say the N500 million fund could become a model for how alumni networks across Africa can strengthen higher education institutions. By creating sustainable funding streams, such endowments have the potential to close resource gaps, expand research capabilities, and ensure that the humanities continue to play a central role in Africa’s social and technological transformation.
