Lagos — Good food and good music, supplied by a life band, were in abundance. The crowd was small, but its weight, heavy. The Guest of Honour was the Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Dr. Cecilia Ibru. President of NACCIMA, Chief John Adeyemi; Olorogun Sonny Kuku, other Managing and Executive Directors of Banks, Insurance and paint companies, were there. So were the principal officers of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Roger Makanjuola.

The dinner party was organised by two brothers, Messrs. Segun and Femi Aina for the alumni and friends of OAU, who, as the letter of invitation read, "have distinguished themselves in public life and brought great credit to the country."

Although the guests made merry, the theme of the party, 'Restoring the Beauty of Great Ife', showed it was not just about merry-making. The dinner, recently held at Segun Aina's Parkview Estate, Lagos residence, was in aid of the OAU Renovation Project.

In a power-point presentation, which included photographs personally taken by him, Makanjuola painted a picture of what was once described as 'Africa's most beautiful campus'. The summary, in his words: "Ife buildings are a disgrace."

He noted that, "Ife is renowned for the beauty of its horticulture and its architecture. The unique beauty and serenity of the environment has always been a major factor in attracting staff and students and in providing a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning. However, the beauty of its buildings is gradually being lost as a result of deterioration. They are desperately in need of renovation." The project is no mean task because it covers every one of the university's buildings.

The reputation of the university, the Vice Chancellor stressed, goes before it. The structures must therefore not be left to deteriorate any further. Beginning with the lap top computer that he used for his presentation, a locally-built Omatek brand, he said, OAU now buys only Omatek computers. The company's Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mrs. Florence Seriki is an Alumnus of the university. Ife also has to its credit, pioneered kidney transplantation in the country, separation of Siamese twins and development of new crop varieties. There are also the commercial and prototype yam pounders, while its Cassava Processing Machine, which produces 800kg of cassava flour an hour, won an award at the first universities fair, organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2004. OAU came an overall second both the 2004 and last year's fairs. It has also been designated as the foremost research university in the country by the NUC. Makanjuola said the university's Centra l Science Laboratory is the first of its kind in West Africa. By no means the least, the only Nobel Laureate that the country has so far produced, Prof. Wole Soyinka came from Ife and he is back there as Professor Emeritus. The school has also produced 12 National Merit award winners.

Makanjuola said the management was determined to build on these achievements through the Innovative Strategic Plan for 2004 - 2008, part of which is the renovation project.

The Plan includes "realistic strategies to promote excellence in the field of teaching and research and in the services we provide to the nation. Innovative financial strategies have been put in place to ensure that the university's financial resources are properly managed and that the institution becomes self-sustaining and less dependent on government funding."

He commended the Alumni's support for, among others, serving as watch dog over academic, moral and social standards; effective intervention in crises and developing the university, the most recent being the construction of a 250-capacity hostel for female students.

So far, the University, Oduduwa and Fajuyi Halls, Faculties of Education, Law, Social Science and Administration, Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, as well as the Biological (Health) Sciences block have been renovated. Makanjola, who reeled out the names of those who made these possible, including details of their contribution, ex tempore, added that all donors' names will be inscribed on a roll of honour.

But so much more still needs to be done. The other Biological Sciences buildings, Murtala Mohammed Postgraduate Hall and the one Makanjuola described as the 'most beautiful building on campus', the African Studies Building, among others, are all crying for at least a touch. He pleaded, "We humbly solicit for the help of every Alumnus and every friend of the university. The cost is great; (but) we will succeed with your support. We are determined.

On how this can be done, he said donors may select the building they wish to renovate. They can also award the contracts and make payments directly or give the university the money to do the job, using local contractors, including three paint manufacturers that university does business with.

In a brief remark, Mrs. Ibru commended the efforts of the university and its alumni, and pledged her bank's support for the renovation project.

Curiously, the chief host, Mr. Segun Aina is not an alumnus of OAU. The Second Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) attended the Universities of Lagos and Ibadan. He explained that, "First, I have had a lot of interaction with Ife, especially in the last 10 years. I am a native of Otan Ayegbaju in Osun State, where the university is situated. I am also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UNDP Human Development Fund for Osun State and we have invited the OAU Centre for Industrial Research to partner with us." Not only has the Fund appointed OAU its consultant on the development of Cassava, the Osun State government has also signed a memorandum of understanding on Agriculture with the university. Aina said he got involved when he became aware of the OAU renovation project and remains committed to any course that aims at the delivery of good education to Nigerians. The dinner was therefore organised to invite more people, including those who did not attend, to come forward and support the university. Former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wale Omole commended Makanjuola for his commitment to the development of OAU. Although his term expires on May 4, the Vice Chancellor, who is also not an alumnus (he read Medicine at the University of Ibadan) has shown great commitment to the development of OAU and is determined to see the renovation project through before his exit. He therefore called for support to help the VC achieve his goal.

Although most donors asked to remain anonymous, along with their contributions, funds raised at the dinner ran into millions of naira as guests made donations, either in their private or corporate capacities, or both.