OWERRI— PRESIDENT of Imo State University Alumni Association, Prince Ezeala Ferdinand Akano has reeled out some of the programmes and activities of the association which is of immense benefit to the state, students and members of the public.
He said the “association supports all development initiatives, plans and programs going on in the Imo State university and the state towards advancing the cause of learning and research and the creating of conducive environment for academic excellence among students and staff of the university.”
In a press briefing in Owerri, Imo state capital on Tuesday, Akano said on the area of sports, the association has plans to build a sports complex in the institution.
According to him, “One of the key resolutions of the Alumni at its last Annual General Meeting is to build a befitting sports complex in order to enhance the infrastructure in the institution. By the mandate of the Convention, the National Executive Council has approached the university management, which has graciously allocated an expanse of land to the Alumni Association for the development.”
He noted that the last administration of the association has made efforts to encourage education by granting scholarship to some students. He said “the Alumni through its students support program mobilized members of the Alumni to award scholarship and tuition support to the best graduating students in each of the departments. This is geared towards encouraging studiousness and meritocracy.”
On engaging the state government to attract more infrastructural development in the school, Akano urged well-meaning individuals in the state to assist the association in its development drive.
He said: “The Alumni Association serves as a development partner and critical stakeholder in that direction. We have constantly raised the consciousness of government to that duty. Furthermore, we call on Imo citizens not to leave that duty for the government alone.
“We can boast of well meaning Imo sons and daughters who have resources and who can plough those resources into funding Professorial seats, Doctoral Research Grants, Post Graduate and undergadute scholarships. We have Imo people who can build hostels, establish sports facilities, sink boreholes, set up ICT centres to aid the development of the university. We call on these citizens to partner with the Alumni Association and the Government to help the university development.”
He also mentioned that the annual leadership training and entrepreneurship development by the Alumni “will be pursued with renewed vigour and improved reward package to provide a start-up kit for our willing undergraduates.”
Akano added that plans are at advanced stage to attract one of the biggest IT firms in Nigeria as technical partners with the Alumni Association in the pursuit of IMSU Alumni Digital Arena (ADA).
He disclosed that the National Executive Council of the Alumni “has awarded the hosting rights for the next Global Convention of the Imo State University Alumni Association to the city of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.”
“The Convention is expected to come up in the first week of August 2020. It is usually a three day fiesta that highlights the talents, beauty and pageantry of the members of the Alumni Association from across the world. It affords members the opportunity to reunite, network, brainstorm, exchange ideas on ways to improve their wellbeing and that of the university. It also affords an opportunity to take stock and project for the future. The Association also holds her Annual General Meeting during the Convention.
“We call on the media, corporate organisations and development institutions to partner with the Alumni Association in terms of sponsorship and strategic engagement for the Convention. It promises to be filled with quality content and value addition,” Akano asserted.
