By DAYO ADESULU
The YABATECH Class of 1986 has returned to Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) four decades after graduation, investing approximately N100 million in the rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities at the institution.
The legacy project, undertaken by the Accountancy Alumni Association ’86, was commissioned on Friday, October 2, 2026, as part of activities marking the alumni set’s 40th anniversary.
The project focused on the former School of Management and Business Studies, now known as the School of Financial Studies, and was designed to provide improved learning and research facilities for current and future students.
YABATECH Class of 1986 Transforms Former School Building
The rehabilitation covered several critical areas of the building, including windows and doors, plumbing systems, toilet facilities, drainage, gutters and water infrastructure.
In addition, the alumni refurbished Accountancy classrooms and a resource centre and equipped the facilities with modern computers, a printer and internet access.
The intervention is expected to improve the teaching, learning and research environment within the School of Financial Studies.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology, Prof. Funso Isolaowa Afolabi, described the occasion as more than the commissioning of a physical project.
According to him, the event represented “history, friendship, gratitude, reunion and enduring institutional loyalty.”
Afolabi commended the Class of 1986 for returning 40 years after graduation to create a legacy that would benefit generations of students.
“Forty years is a remarkable milestone. It represents four decades of memories, accomplishments, personal growth and professional contributions by the members of the Class of 1986,” he said.
The Council Chairman said the project demonstrated the alumni’s appreciation for YABATECH, which provided them with knowledge, skills, discipline and the foundation for their professional careers.
He also noted that the decision to mark the anniversary with a legacy project demonstrated that the celebration was not limited to reunions and ceremonies but included a commitment to institutional development.
Council Urges Alumni to Sustain Support
Afolabi said tertiary institutions could be strengthened not only through government and management efforts but also through contributions from alumni who remained connected to their former institutions.
He said the renovated facilities would serve as a reminder to present and future students of the long-standing relationship between YABATECH and its alumni.
He also encouraged the Class of 1986 to maintain its relationship with the College through mentorship, engagement and continued support.
The Council chairman congratulated the alumni on reaching the 40-year milestone and praised their unity and commitment to leaving a lasting footprint at their alma mater.
Rector: Class of ’86 Has Returned as Builders
The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Abdul, described the project as an investment in the future of the institution and generations of students yet unborn.
Abdul said the alumni had returned not merely as former students but as builders who had transformed their appreciation for YABATECH into a practical contribution.
“Forty years after walking through these gates as young men and women determined to master the discipline of accountancy, the Class of 1986 has returned as builders,” the Rector said.
He praised the alumni for turning their memories and affection for the institution into a physical legacy.
“You have converted memory into monument, affection into architecture and loyalty into lasting impact,” he said.
According to the Rector, the former School of Management and Business Studies was restructured as the School of Financial Studies to provide a clearer academic identity and specialised training in finance and related disciplines.
He explained that the School of Management and Business Studies would focus more specifically on management education, marketing and business leadership.
Rector Calls for More Alumni Intervention
Abdul called on other alumni associations, corporate organisations and friends of YABATECH to emulate the Class of 1986 by supporting the development of the institution.
“The College still has needs, and our students still require better facilities, stronger mentorship and greater exposure. Together, we can contribute to meeting those needs,” he said.
The Rector also urged staff and students to protect the rehabilitated facilities and ensure that the investment produces meaningful academic benefits.
He challenged students to uphold excellence and integrity while using the facilities.
“Let excellence be your standard, integrity non-negotiable, and let these spaces produce graduates who will one day return to leave Yabatech better than they met it,” Abdul said.
Why the YABATECH Class of 1986 Project Matters
The President of the Accountancy Alumni Association ’86, Mrs. Itunu Omotayo, said the project was conceived to make the 40th anniversary more than a reunion.
She explained that members asked themselves what they could leave behind for the institution after the celebration.
The alumni subsequently pooled their resources, expertise, networks and time to rehabilitate the facilities.
The extensive intervention included repairs to windows and doors, plumbing, toilets, gutters, drainage and water infrastructure.
The Accountancy classrooms and resource centre were also refurbished and equipped with computers, a printer and internet access.
For the Class of 1986, the project represents the culmination of a journey that began when members entered YABATECH as young students in 1981 before graduating in 1986.
“We came, we learnt, we left, we grew, and we returned to give back,” Omotayo said.
Legacy Project Valued at N100 Million
The Chairperson of the 40th Anniversary Committee and chairman of the Legacy Project, Alhaja Simiatu Shittu, disclosed that the project was valued at approximately N100 million.
She said the project was funded through contributions from members of the set, donors, friends, corporate supporters and professional networks.
According to Shittu, the alumni deliberately chose a project that would provide a tangible and lasting benefit to current and future students.
She urged students to make responsible use of the renovated facilities and called on the College community to maintain them properly.
Class of ’86 Hands Over Renovated Facilities
The anniversary ceremony culminated in the formal handover of the legacy project to Yaba College of Technology.
The symbolic project key was presented to the College leadership, followed by the commissioning of the rehabilitated building.
The event also featured the unveiling of a plaque containing the names of members of the Class of 1986.
The plaque was unveiled by the Class President, Mrs. Itunu Omotayo, marking the formal completion of a project intended to preserve the alumni set’s connection with YABATECH.
Four decades after leaving the institution, the YABATECH Class of 1986 has therefore returned with more than memories of their student years. Their N100 million intervention has left behind renovated classrooms, improved infrastructure and upgraded learning resources for another generation of students.
Why This Matters
The YABATECH Class of 1986 project highlights the potential role of alumni associations in supporting infrastructure, learning resources and institutional development in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
It also demonstrates how milestone anniversaries can be used to create projects with benefits that extend beyond the alumni themselves.
FAQs
How much did the YABATECH Class of 1986 invest in the project?
The legacy project was valued at approximately N100 million, according to the 40th Anniversary Committee.
What did the alumni renovate?
The project covered classrooms, a resource centre, windows and doors, plumbing, toilets, drainage, gutters and water infrastructure. Computers, a printer and internet access were also provided.
When did the Class of 1986 graduate?
The alumni set entered YABATECH in 1981 and graduated in 1986.
What is the former School of Management and Business Studies now called?
It has been restructured as the School of Financial Studies, while the School of Management and Business Studies now focuses on management education, marketing and business leadership.
What was the occasion?
The project commissioning formed part of activities marking the Accountancy Alumni Association ’86’s 40th anniversary.
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