All Roads Lead to Chicago as Great Ife 13th International Reunion Opens Friday

All roads lead to Chicago as Great Ife alumni from across the United States, Nigeria and other parts of the world converge for the 13th International Reunion of the Great Ife family, scheduled for September 4–6, 2026.

Held under the theme, “GREAT IFE — CHERISHING THE LEGACY, LIVING THE VISION,” the three-day reunion will feature fellowship, intellectual engagement, professional development, cultural expression, entertainment and a celebration of the traditions that have continued to unite graduates of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.

From left: Prof. Sola Aderounmu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics); Prof. Simeon Bamire, Vice-Chancellor; Great Ayo Adelugba, Chairman, Great Ife Reunion 2026; Hon. Adejare Bello, Pro-Chancellor and former Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly; and Great Ayoola Olajide, Chairman, Great Ife Illinois.

The reunion brings together Great Ife leaders and alumni for a programme designed to reconnect old friends, strengthen professional relationships, celebrate the institution’s heritage and explore how the Great Ife family can contribute meaningfully to society.

The leadership gathering underscores the broad participation expected at the Chicago reunion, as alumni reconnect around the institution that shaped their academic, professional and personal journeys.

Barr. L. B. Falode, Ph.D (Law), Notary Public and Global President, Great Ife Alumni Association.

As Global President of the alumni association, Barr. Falode is among the prominent figures associated with the wider Great Ife community and its continuing effort to maintain connections among alumni around the world.

The event is designed not merely as a social gathering but as an opportunity to strengthen the relationships and networks that have remained central to the Great Ife family over the years.

Friday: The Great Ife Family Arrives

Friday will set the tone for the reunion, with alumni arriving and reconnecting after years of living and working in different parts of the world.

A Jummat Prayer is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., after which participants will move into a Buka setting featuring food, music, friendship, games and memories of campus life.

The programme will include a DJ and Kegite performance, while alumni are encouraged to come in their regalia. Games, food competitions and dancing competitions will also form part of the day’s activities, with prizes for participants.

A major cultural and intellectual highlight will be an encounter with Prof. Wande Abimbola, the internationally celebrated scholar and authority on Yoruba culture and Ifa tradition. The session will offer participants an opportunity to explore his remarkable intellectual and cultural legacy and discover why he is revered as “Baba Lawo.”

Great (Dr.) Ayodeji Owoyomi, President, Great Ife North America.

The presence of the North America leadership further reflects the international character of the reunion, which brings together Great Ife alumni from different regions and generations.

Great Ayo Adeniyi, Chairman, Global Organizing Committee.

With preparations reaching their final stage, the Chicago gathering is expected to combine the warmth of an old-school reunion with a broader conversation about the future of the alumni community.

Dr. Olufunke Momoh, Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, Great Ife Reunion 2026.

The local organising team has been central to preparations for the Chicago event, ensuring that the programme accommodates both the formal and informal aspects of the reunion.

Great Ayoola Olajide, Chairman, Host Organizing Committee.

The host committee will oversee the local coordination of activities as alumni settle into the Chicago environment for what promises to be a memorable weekend.

Saturday: Knowledge, Professional Development and Celebration

Saturday will shift the focus toward intellectual engagement, professional development and discussions about the present and future of the Great Ife family.

The programme will include a business meeting and plenary session, alongside presentations addressing issues of professional and social importance.

Prof. Femi Job will deliver a lecture on drug-related issues, while AIBEN will make a presentation on real estate and property investment opportunities in Africa and beyond.

The discussions reinforce the idea that the reunion is not only about remembering yesterday, but also about examining today’s realities and considering what Great Ife alumni can accomplish together tomorrow.

Dr. Olusegun Apata, Chairman, Award Committee, Great Ife Reunion 2026.

Saturday night will provide another historic moment, with a live band performing at the international reunion for the first time. Live music, a DJ and the unmistakable Great Ife social spirit will combine for an evening hosted by MCs Bayo Bankole, popularly known as “Boy Alinco,” and Wale Adebayo, “Sango.”

Sunday: Thanksgiving and Chicago Experience

Sunday will begin with a Thanksgiving Service before participants embark on an organised Chicago city tour.

A bus will take alumni from the hotel to downtown Chicago for sightseeing and other activities. The programme will also feature the Aro tradition and a boat cruise, with a planned visit connected with the Obama Presidential Center and Library.

The final day will provide an opportunity for participants to celebrate the reunion while experiencing some of the attractions of the host city before departures.

More Than a Reunion

The Great Ife reunion represents more than a gathering of former students. It is a celebration of an enduring family whose members have distinguished themselves across medicine, engineering, academia, law, technology, architecture, business, public administration, ministry, media and numerous other fields.

Their collective professional experience and global reach represent a significant pool of human capital, with the potential to contribute to society and national development.

The message behind the 2026 theme is therefore both reflective and forward-looking: cherishing a legacy means remembering it, while living the vision requires action.

GNA TV & News Special Coverage

GNA TV & News will provide special coverage of the reunion, featuring interviews with key reunion officials, distinguished alumni and other personalities attending the Chicago gathering.

The coverage will explore their Great Ife experiences, professional journeys, contributions to society and perspectives on Nigeria’s development.

GN Olusina Ojewola, Director of Public Relations, Great Nigerian Assembly (GNA), USA, who will also participate in GNA TV & News’ special coverage of the 2026 Great Ife 13th International Reunion in Chicago.

Several members of GNA’s senior leadership, Global Advisory Council, Global Board of Trustees, professional groups and other structures are Great Ife alumni.

They include GN (Dr.) Kayode Elusoji, Executive Director, GNA; GN (Dr.) Olufunke Momoh, member, HAN Professional Group, Chairperson, GNA Indiana State Chapter and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee; GN (Dr.) Ademola Raji, Vice-Chairperson, Indiana State Chapter; GN Olusina Ojewola, GNA Public Relations Director, USA; GN Adetunji Adeleke, member, GNA Global Advisory Council; GN (Rev.) Amos Ladipo, member, Ife LG GNA CAA Governance Model; GN (Dr.) Olusegun Apata, member, GNA Global Board of Trustees; GN Gbenga Fabamigbe, member, Global Feed Our Nation Initiative Professional Group; GN (Arch.) Simbo Akinola-Odusola, member, Global GNA Pacesetter Award Committee; GN (Dr.) Wole Ajifolokun, Chairman, Great Ife Illinois Advisory Council; Great Ismail Longe, former Chairman, Illinois Branch; and Great (Pastor) Doyin Owobamirin, Reunion 2026 Media & Publicity Chairman, among other Great Nigerians attending the reunion.

GNA CAA Governance Model

The reunion also provides an opportunity to highlight the GNA CAA Governance Model, an innovative, technology-enabled framework designed to strengthen good governance, accountability, transparency, the rule of law and constructive citizen participation.

The model provides a credible, transparent and evidence-based platform for documenting community needs, infrastructure, development activities and government performance.

Through organised and responsible engagement, it seeks to create a non-confrontational connection between communities and political office holders.

Structured reporting, photographic evidence, infrastructure documentation and verification are used to create measurable Records of Performance.

The philosophy is straightforward: performing office holders should have their achievements documented and recognised; genuine community needs should be properly recorded; citizens should participate responsibly without partisan politics; and public conversations should be based on evidence rather than rumours or political sentiments.

Its implementation across the Ife Local Governments makes the initiative particularly significant. Ile-Ife, the home of Great Ife, is therefore positioned as a starting point for a governance innovation with potential for wider adoption.

From Great Ife to Greater Nigeria

The Great Ife story is ultimately about people who once walked the same campus roads, attended lectures, debated ideas, studied, celebrated and dreamed together.

Today, those same people are professors, physicians, engineers, architects, technologists, entrepreneurs, public servants, clergy, community leaders and professionals making an impact across the world.

Chicago brings them together again emotionally, intellectually and socially.

Friday will be about reunion and friendship. Saturday will bring knowledge, networking and celebration. Sunday will offer thanksgiving, fellowship and the opportunity to experience Chicago.

The Great Ife Reunion Chicago 2026 is gracefully sponsored by AIBEN, a leading property development and estate management company headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria.

GN (Dr.) Kayode Elusoji, Executive Director, Great Nigerian Assembly (GNA); Chairman, GNA TV & News · GNA Weekly · GNA Global Pacesetter.

Great Ife alumni are arriving from across the world, and the atmosphere is already coming alive in Chicago!

Beginning tomorrow, old friendships will be renewed, great memories rekindled, and new connections created. GNA TV & News will be there to capture the excitement, the people, and the unforgettable moments.

Great Ife Reunion 2026 — Chicago, here we come!

Great Ife! Great!

GNA TV & NEWS

Special Coverage of the 2026 Great Ife 13th International Reunion

September 4–6, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois