… says alumni paving way for more development.
National President, Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Alumni, Dr. Ibrahim Khalil says the association is working assiduously to contribute positively towards the development of the educational system in Nigeria.
He made this known to journalists as he opened up on the forh- coming Annual General Assembly and other pressing national issues.
“We bring ourselves together in such a way that we will be able to move the association in the most important way. Move forward towards the development of education in Nigeria.” He said.
According to him, he took over the association’s mantle of leadership not long after the COVID. The COVID coupled with some other unfavourable situations on ground have contributed in slowing down the pace of progress. Even at that, some successes have been recorded.
“I took over just after the COVID. And with the present economy situation and problems all over the country, and quite a number of issues which have made it difficult for us to have a much more well withal and strong way of making our presence all over the country, we were able to have quite a number of meetings and activities.
On the effect of ASUU strike. He said.
“The ASUU strike has impeded in many directions, the way and manner the universities are run as well as the federal government trying to modulate and see what they can be able to do. In the last 6, 7 months ASUU is on strike notwithstanding the earlier warning strike they gave. Up till today things are moving on very slowly.
Expatiating further on what they are doing in order not to allow the name of the institution to sink being one of the acclaimed universities.
He described the whole thing as a very sorry situation saying, the alumnia association has intervened.
“The best the alumni is able to do is to create room for dialogue because there must be a way to end it in the best way possible. We have engaged branch of ASUU lately. We sat with them. We were able to find out few things from them and they were so happy. He stated.
“However, based on the constitution of ABU alumnia association, it is mandatory on us to have our annual general assembly and that annual general assembly is coinciding with 60th anniversary, that is, diamond jubilee of ABU Zaria.
The President commended the role of Ahmadu Bello University in its efforts to strategize way forward.
“ABU has well withal in the aspect of all the human transient especially in terms of production of the manpower in this country. Graduates of ABU have done so much and can be attested to.
So also, contributing by and large to the development of human being not only in Nigeria but also outside Nigeria.
He noted that the general assembly is going to take assessment of recorded achievements within the past one year plus with a view to taking note of the grey areas.
Part of the activities will include a lecture on funding of tertiary education which is considered a very germaine issue.
He informed that this year’s AGA has a difference as NEC is proposing to provide a succor to the students by giving the sum of a hundred thousand naira to the best graduating student of each faculty.
In his appeal, Dr. Khalil called on all and sundry to come together and contribute to salvage the country’s educational system because the government cannot do it alone.
Dr. Khalil however is optimistic that with the vibrant papers to be presented during the event, there is going to be a reshape and redirect of the educational system in Nigeria.
The National Financial Secretary, Dr. Haruna Muhammed Jumare, enumerating the association ‘s achievements said the association has recorded quite a number of progress which are reflected in the areas of advocacy, including mobilization of members
“From our observation when we came on board, we realized that there is apathy on the part of awareness by members of the alumnia association. Originally as you are graduating from the university, you are supposed to be registered as a member of the university and on convocation day, the vice chancellor will hand over all the students to the president of the association as bonafide members of the association.
Before you collect your certificate, you are supposed to register as a member of the association but you find that after leaving the university, most of the alumnia members don’t remember alumnia matters.
“So, we feel it is a duty on our part to visit all the 36 branches of the federation and FCT Abuja to mobilize our members, get them together, meet as a family to discuss the problems of the university and what we can do to contribute our quota towards the progress and development of the university.
According to him , their efforts have yielded measurable results as successes have been recorded towards moving the association forward.
“In doing so, we are able to establish 36 branches across the country, including FCT. We were able to inaugurate elective executive members of the branches. By the provision of our constitution, all branches are members of the association and they are represented by the executives of their branches during our annual general assembly.
By so doing, we were ably to inaugurate almost 20 out of the 36 states of the federation and we are hoping that they are going to attend the 15th general assembly coming up on Saturday, 8th October, Insha Allah.
The Alumnia he said is into the construction of students hostels saying, aside those hostels built by government since the 70’s no additional hostels have been built. The association thought it wise to assist the government.
“We feel we should come in to assist the students who are our products to get them accommodated instead of them roaming about within the villages and going outside Zaria.
Enumerating further on their achievements.
” We also have a secretariat built, the pedestrian overhead bridge within the campus was a contribution of one of the alumnia member. We also had workshops for the Deans, duty Deans, faculty officers, for them to know the rudiments of public service, financial regulations and how best they would handle the activities of the students in making sure there is quality education in the university.
In terms of reaching out to members spread across the states and globe during the forthcoming assembly, he had assured of smooth participation of all members because apart from the provision made for the physical participation there is the virtual participation through zoom.
“We have our website, very active and functional. Our President is no longer national president but now worldwide.
We have international branches. Sometime back in 2019, we were in US and United Kingdom to visit our members. Infact Everybody will be carried along. Either physically or virtually. We will be there physically and at the end of the AGA, we intend to issue certificate of attendance to those who have attended both physically and virtually.
The 2 day event which will kick start on Friday, 7th of October, 2022 and chaired by the Minister, of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. will attract quite a number of dignitaries.
Aside the host governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, is the governor of Kano state, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, Minister water resources, Engineer Suleiman Hussein Adamu, Chairman, governing council, university of Abuja and others.
Cov/Adamu Yusuf