NEWS
NEWS EVENTS
UI Alumni in the Diaspora Host Networking Dinner in London
April 26, 2025
The University of Ibadan Alumni UK Chapter hosted an elegant networking dinner in London, bringing together over 150 alumni from various professional fields. The event, held at the prestigious Hilton London Metropole, provided a platform for old classmates to reconnect and for new connections to be formed across industries like finance, law, tech, and healthcare
The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the UI Global Impact Fund, a new initiative encouraging alumni in the diaspora to contribute to development projects on campus. Guests were treated to live music by Nigerian-British artists and enjoyed a dinner of Afro-European fusion cuisine. The chapter promised to make the dinner an annual affair to foster stronger ties and ongoing impact.
UI ALUMNUS DR. ABIDEMI BABATUNDE BABALOLA WINS PRESTIGIOUS DAN DAVID PRIZE
JUNE 10, 2025
Dr. Abidemi Babatunde Babalola, a distinguished alumnus of the University of Ibadan’s Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, has been awarded the 2025 Dan David Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious history prizes, valued at $300,000. The Dan David Prize, administered by Tel Aviv University, recognizes researchers whose interdisciplinary work transforms our understanding of the human past
Dr. Babalola earned his BA and MA at UI before completing a PhD in Anthropological Archaeology at Rice University. Currently a senior research archaeologist with the British Museum and lead archaeologist on the Museum of West African Arts project in Benin City, he has reshaped global narratives by uncovering the independent development of glass production in pre‑modern West Africa. His research highlights how sophisticated material technologies emerged in Africa, challenging Eurocentric views and promoting innovation rooted deeply in West African traditions.
This award not only honours Dr. Babalola’s pioneering contributions to science and archaeology but also reinforces the University of Ibadan’s legacy of nurturing world-class scholars. He has also been recognized with the Archaeological Institute of America’s 2025 Conservation and Heritage Management Award for his preservation efforts at the Igbo Olokun glass site in Ile‑Ife. The UI Alumni Association congratulates him and pledges support for future alumni striving to make global impact.