Alumni Associations Can Facilitate Nigeria’s Development — Don

A senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Sunny Mbazie, has stated that alumni associations of educational institutions in Nigeria can assist to facilitate development in the country.

Prof Mbazie stated this on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital while delivering a lecture at the 37th anniversary celebration of the ‘Class of 1988’of the Enitonia High School Old Students Association (EHSOSA), with the theme: ‘The Role of Alumni as Tool for National Development’.

“Granted that this is development, a tool is anything that can facilitate something. In this case, alumni association can help a nation such as Nigeria to facilitate development by investing in its alma mater in terms of infrastructure, equipping the library, laboratory, awarding scholarship and assisting to pay an retain quality teachers/lecturers; they are ensuring quality education which is development.

“By empowering its less privileged and members, it is reducing poverty in the society; by mentoring the students, assisting its old and new dedicated teachers including fellow alumni, it is acting as catalyst to human capital development; by providing career services, offering support to members, it is tackling poverty.

“By engaging in community services, for example, eradicating polio and other health issues, it is ensuring stable health care and what have you; by engaging in political support, solidarity, welfare of members, networking, building relationships among members, it is engaged in participatory social development,” he said.

In his welcome address, outgoing EHSOSA ‘Class of 1988’ Chairman, Chief Ibimina Ibama, said through the years, the association has grown from few members to over a hundred active alumni across the country and beyond.

Ibama said, “Through the years, our association has grown from a handful of members to over a hundred active alumni across Nigeria and the diaspora. Together, we have supported one another in times of need, given back to our alma mater, and uplifted our community.”

Also speaking, the incoming chairman, Chief Doubra Luwei, assured members of the association that his leadership will be inclusive, consultative and forward-looking.

Luwei said, “As I assume this role, I pledge to give nothing short of my very best. My leadership will be inclusive, consultative, and forward-looking. Everyone will be carried along, and every voice will matter. Together, we will elevate the aims and objectives of this association to new achievements and milestones.”

He further pledged commitment to stewardship of “our collective potential with wisdom, strategic insight, and the discipline required to usher in a new era of success and greatness.”