A renewed call to harness Nigeria’s vast but underutilised potential will take centre stage in Ile-Ife as policymakers, academics, and industry leaders converge for the 2026 Annual Reunion Conference of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA).
The three-day gathering, scheduled for May 8 to 10 at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, is expected to draw over 300 delegates, including diaspora participants, in what organisers describe as a strategic platform to interrogate Nigeria’s development trajectory and propose practical solutions.
At the heart of the conference is a keynote address by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, who will speak on the theme, “The Potentials Within Nigeria.” His lecture is anticipated to frame the broader national conversation around repositioning public mindset, governance accountability, and citizen engagement as catalysts for growth.
The event will be chaired by Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, Managing Director of Matrix Energy Ltd, signalling a deliberate attempt to bridge policy discussions with private sector realities. The Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Adebayo Simeon Bamire, is billed as Special Guest, while UNIFEMGA Board of Trustees Chairman, AbdulRafiu Ebiti, will serve as Chief Host.
Beyond ceremonial engagements, the conference is structured as a working forum, with sessions designed to confront Nigeria’s economic stagnation, youth unemployment, and innovation deficits. Organisers say the goal is not just dialogue, but actionable outcomes.
A key highlight is the UNIFEMGA Investors’ Forum 3.0, a pitch-driven session modelled after the globally recognised Dragons’ Den format. Entrepreneurs will present business ideas to a panel of potential investors, in what is seen as a practical intervention to stimulate enterprise development and access to capital.
The forum will also host a panel on building value-driven enterprises in Nigeria—an issue increasingly viewed as critical amid concerns over corporate governance, sustainability, and ethical business practices.
Other notable participants expected include legal scholar Yusuf Olaolu Ali; University of Ilorin Vice-Chancellor Wahab Egbewole; Summit University Vice-Chancellor Musa Aibinu; and Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun Vice-Chancellor Akeem Lasisi, alongside religious and community leaders.
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The programme also includes a Jumu’ah service, courtesy visits to institutional and traditional authorities—including the Ooni of Ife—and a range of community-focused activities such as scholarship awards, medical outreach, and youth empowerment initiatives.
In a statement, UNIFEMGA National President, Mohammed Buari, underscored the urgency of the moment, describing Nigeria as “a nation rich in resources and talent, yet constrained by underutilisation and systemic challenges.”
He said the conference represents “a call to action” for stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and embrace collaboration as a pathway to unlocking national prosperity.
Analysts say the timing of the conference is significant, coming amid ongoing debates about Nigeria’s economic reforms, institutional capacity, and the role of civic responsibility in national development.
With its blend of policy dialogue, investment engagement, and grassroots initiatives, the UNIFEMGA reunion is positioning itself not just as an alumni gathering, but as a microcosm of the broader national search for direction—one that seeks to translate potential into measurable progress.
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