Balancing Innovation with Responsibility: UNILAG Alumni Association Spotlights Tech Governance at 12th Babatunde Sofoluwe Memorial Lecture

The Jelili Omotola Multipurpose Hall buzzed with excitement on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, as the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association, Lagos State Branch, hosted the 12^th Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe Memorial Anniversary Lecture.

Themed: Tech Governance in 2025: Balancing Innovation with Responsibility, the lecture brought together eminent personalities, academics, and industry experts, many of them proud UNILAG alumni, to discuss the complexities of technology governance in modern societies.

Opening Tributes

The event commenced with a welcome address by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Professor Aderonke Samuel, who underscored the dual purpose of the lecture: to engage in meaningful discourse on technology and to reflect on the impactful life of late Professor Sofoluwe, the 10^th Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Kayode Oladele, described the gathering as “not just a ceremony to recall the memory of a distinguished scholar and visionary leader, but the celebration of a life defined by service, innovation, and unyielding commitment to education.”

“The symposium we hold today is not merely a ceremonial remembrance. It is an intellectual compass, a platform for dialogue, for exchange of ideas, and for recommitting ourselves to the values that Prof. Sofoluwe championed,” he added.

Vice-Chancellor’s Remarks

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS commended the Lagos State Branch of the Alumni Association for their consistent support in sustaining the memorial lecture series. She reserved special praise for the Branch Chairman, Hon. Owoeye Adedeji, describing him as “a pleasure to work with.”

Expressing gratitude to both the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru, and Hon. Kayode Oladele for their participation, she said: “You both embody the spirit of your Alma Mater, In Deed and In Truth, and we are grateful that you created the time from your busy schedules to be present with us.”

She stressed the timeliness of the theme, noting that “the world is speeding ahead, democratising the knowledge and capacity to do good and bad in equal measure. Governance issues about the responsible use of technology have therefore become critical.”

Guest Lecture: Innovation with Responsibility

The highlight of the event was the lecture delivered by a renowned lawyer and financial instruments expert, Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru. He emphasised the importance of responsible technology use, particularly in education.

Dr. Bashiru, who is the current National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declared that, “Every Nigerian, regardless of geographical or sociological status, should benefit from the technological revolution in education.”

Key points from his lecture included:

The Role of Technology in Education: “Technology is a veritable tool for learning enhancement and improvement of educational outcomes”, he said.
Cybercrime and Fake News: Dr. Bashiru warned on the dangers of misinformation and cybercrime, with global costs estimated at $10 trillion annually.
Responsible Tech Governance: He called for a balance between innovation and responsibility, ensuring that technological advancements serve the greater good.

Alumni Giving Back

In his goodwill message, Comrade Owoeye Adedeji (OVO), Chairman of the UNILAG Alumni Association, Lagos State Branch, reiterated that the best way to celebrate Professor Sofoluwe’s legacy is through giving back to the university.

His words, “We have mourned Professor Sofoluwe; now is the time to celebrate him – and the way we do that is by giving back to the university that he led very creditably.” He encouraged members to adopt departments and faculties, and announced new sponsorship commitments as follows:

Faculty of Social Sciences: ₦2million donated by Alhaja Ganiatu Abiola-Ulom, CEO of Mary Queen International Group.
Faculty of Education: ₦5 million by Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru.
Faculty of Science: unspecified donation by Hon. Kayode Oladele, with an additional ₦1 million support from Dr. Bashiru.
Faculty of Arts: ₦3million donated by the Chairman of Odi-Olowo Local Council Development Area.

One of the donors and CEO of MaryQueen Int’l Group, Alhaja Abiola-Ulom, gave a goodwill message. She described Professor Sofoluwe’s memory as “a blessed one, which has continued to attract goodness to the University of Lagos.” She urged members of the audience to live intentional, impactful lives.

A Legacy of Vision and Service

The Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe Memorial Anniversary Lecture is an annual event of the UNILAG Alumni Association, Lagos State Branch. It honours the late 10^th Vice-Chancellor of the University, an accomplished Computer Scientist and educational administrator, by fostering dialogue on issues of national and global relevance. He died in active service on Saturday, May 12, 2012.

This year’s edition reinforced his legacy of vision, integrity, and commitment to excellence, while pushing the frontiers of Nigeria’s technological development.