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Public faculties, notably, major and secondary faculties, are going through insufficient infrastructure, and poor instructing and studying surroundings problem.
With much less monetary sources dedicated to those academic centres, the way forward for training is at stake. However alumni associations within the nation are coming to the rescue, writes IYABO LAWAL.
The wall of the varsity advanced is weather-beaten and light. Its corrugated roofing sheets fly within the air, hanging precariously to their wood assist, simply by a nail or two. The home windows have misplaced their covers, leaving gaping retailers for some unruly college students to sneak out and in of the varsity.
Inside a few of the school rooms, the concrete flooring have given strategy to embarrassing ‘holes’ begging to be stuffed. A few of the desks have misplaced a leg or two and are supported by blocks. It’s the identical with the lengthy benches.
Just a few metres away from the constructing is the workers frequent room, with its ramshackle door, unhinged, torn and soiled curtains dancing shamelessly by the home windows.
The varsity is lower than 50 years, nevertheless it seems to be on the perimeter of modernity and near extinction. This isn’t a faculty in any poor nation in Africa or Asia. It’s in Nigeria.
Faculty furnishings donated by 1969 alumni of Lagelu Grammar Faculty, Ibadan, Oyo State<br />PHOTO: Courtesy of edugist.com
Regardless of the federal government’s repeated dedication to fund training within the nation, faculties have been left to their destiny. The duty of working faculties has been deserted by alumni associations, who’re pressured to avoid wasting their alma maters from extinction. There are dozens of such public faculties throughout the size and breadth of the nation.
Public commentators and analysts say because the failure of federal and state governments to maintain information acquisition in public major and secondary faculties by funding in infrastructure, alumni associations have taken up the duty of saving public faculties.
Stakeholders admit that these associations have develop into an essential construction within the academic sector, as they play a significant function in creating the system. They are saying so many graduates from universities and secondary faculties have taken up the duties of saving their alma maters, as worthy initiatives are frequently launched into by them.
They function nationwide and state chapters, with many former college students freely becoming a member of to contribute their quota to the frequent objective.
Complete Excessive Faculty, Igbodo, Ika North East Council, takes supply of units of college chairs and desks from the outdated college students’ affiliation of the varsity PHOTO: Courtesy of Google.com<br />
Chairman, Affiliation of Nigeria Universities Alumni, Dr Wale Fasakin, stated:
“We come collectively each quarter of the 12 months to overview actions of associations and discover options to issues recognized in relation to school communities and training system.”
He stated these “associations rely largely on subscription rendered by graduates, which is grossly insufficient to do a lot. Regardless of that, lots has been executed by varied presidents and their executives by way of endowment funds, donations to worthy causes, the constructing of constructions and awarding scholarships to college students.’’
Fasakin, nevertheless, advised that presidents of such associations in universities be made members of their college’s governing board to get acquainted with the challenges of the establishment in finances implementation, and to present associations perception into how they’ll help their establishments.
The Guardian gathered that intervention of outdated college students associations helps to bridge funding gaps, their actions mirror a robust response to governments’ clarion name to help faculties, as they can not sort out the challenges alone due basically to misapplication of sources.
Most significantly, outdated college students embark on the help schemes as methods to present again to the society that has so blessed them, crediting their basis of successes to their alma maters.
Whereas interesting to alumni to rise to the problem of offering funds, a college lecturer, Prof Suleiman Ambali, at a reunion dinner of Authorities Secondary Faculty, Afon, Asa Council of Kwara State, stated they need to assist facilitate efficient administration, coverage drive, voluntary profession mentoring, function mannequin, provision of scholarship, making certain dedication and effectiveness amongst academics to avoid wasting training from collapse.
He described alumni associations as alternatives to socialize and improve horizons, enumerating advantages derivable in reunion, which embrace relieving good recollections, facilitating job placements, enterprise alternatives and political patronage as different technique of funding training.
Additionally talking on their roles in public faculties, ex-presidential spokesman, Segun Adeniyi, stated: “They assist their alma mater by assuaging its monetary burdens by donations.
“In Nigeria, the place the federal government will proceed to seek out it more and more tough to satisfy up with its duties, alumni associations ought to play a significant function in offering help to those establishments. An alumnus’ perspective is essential on the board of college administration as a result of an alumni supervisor has understanding and a way of belonging to the varsity. Alumni affiliation members are in place to supply recommendation on the relevance of the curriculum to the demand of the skilled office.”
For the President, Alumni Affiliation of the Federal College of Know-how Owerri, Imo State, Ndubuisi Chijioke, the goal of each affiliation is to create a group of graduates with lifelong relationships to assist themselves and their alma maters.
In keeping with the World Publicity Secretary, OAU alumni affiliation, Akeem Amodu, the union’s goal is to advertise the educational curiosity of their alma mater and community for private and collective growth.
He stated: “Nice Ife alumni have existed for over 5 many years and contributed to the event of the establishment by way of infrastructure and creating an surroundings conducive to studying. The platform and particular person members have contributed to the event of the well being centre, halls of residence, boreholes, set up of electrical energy, and photo voltaic panels within the college. We’ve generated funds by the alumni centre that has been ploughed again to the establishment in varied areas of educational, administrative, or infrastructural wants.”
He defined that there have been financial, social and political empowerment methods achieved by seminars, and workshops to coach and expose members to native and world alternatives.
Former Vice Chancellor, Federal College of Know-how, Akure (FUTA), Prof Joseph Fuwape, stated with the dwindling sources for the funding of training, the contributions and involvement of alumni associations have boosted universities’ core mandates of instructing, analysis and group growth.
Fuwape added that lasting legacies could possibly be constructed when alumni companion with faculties in areas of the endowment of prizes, funding analysis, donations of bodily amenities, tools in addition to giving materials assist. An opinion, which was additionally canvassed by Dr Segun Amusan, an govt member of St Gregory’s outdated pupil’s affiliation.
Amusan stated many academic establishments owe their survival and growth to the vibrancy and enthusiasm of those associations. He famous that they may function entities in advertising and marketing academic establishments and selling the most effective pursuits of their alma mater, including that additionally they engender a spirit of belonging and unity, which is a vital ingredient in surmounting the challenges going through the sector.
“Alumni assist their alma mater by assuaging its monetary burdens by donations. In Nigeria, the place the federal government will proceed to seek out it more and more tough to satisfy up with its duties, alumni associations ought to play a significant function in offering help to those establishments.
“Alumni’s perspective is essential on the board of college administration as a result of an alumni supervisor has understanding of and a way of belonging to the varsity. Alumni are in place to supply recommendation on the relevance of the curriculum to the demand of the skilled office.
“In addressing the decay in our training system, we should always draw sources from alumni associations. The best way issues stand in our nation immediately, the assist of alumni associations is vital to the conceptualisation, in addition to efficient implementation of training reforms.”
The President, of Baptist Academy Previous Boys affiliation (BAOSA), Akin Fatunke, stated a laboratory, ICT centre, and fashionable library had been enhanced alongside a multipurpose sports activities corridor presently being constructed.
He famous that awards got to academics and deserving outdated college students to compensate for his or her laborious work and yearly, graduates of earlier years each dwelling and overseas, have been awarded scholarships to assist indigent college students and oldsters.
He stated: “We offered some medical cleansing amenities and taught college students the significance of hygiene. We’ve tried to inculcate values of integrity and chivalry into the kids. Additionally, we assist the outdated and retired amongst us.”
The Principal of Baptist Academy, Lagos State, Bosede Ladoba, who spoke at a reunion dinner of the 1976/81 set, on the platform of the Baptist Academy Previous College students Affiliation (BAOSA), additionally referred to as on outdated college students to rise to the problem of remodeling their alma mater.
Ladoba stated outdated college students should not lose contact with their alma mater however ought to search for methods to present again to their faculties.
He stated: “Generally, when outdated college students come round, they are saying to us, this isn’t our college. Our faculty was very lovely. It was as if we have been abroad however due to the transition from authorities to mission and to authorities, there tends to be a change in issues. They have to not overlook their alma mater, the supply of their success.”
The Guardian gathered that alumni associations additionally play an advocacy function. Sylvester Ekwenuya, president of Adaigbo Secondary Faculty, Ogwashi-Uku (previously St Michael’s Faculty), Delta State, stated it has not been simple making certain that the varsity returned to its former glory.
Ekwenuya stated: “The reality is, the federal government has, over time proven steady lip service to the event of our college, we will maintain reaching out to them till their hearts are touched, sometime. Giving up isn’t an possibility right here.”
Talking with The Guardian, he famous that the areas the place help is required embrace, “Deserted NDDC undertaking – Block of 20 school rooms; provision of an ordinary gate for our college; renovation of our dilapidated science block; no laboratory within the college and no pc room or know-how division.
“Phrases would possibly betray me in expressing my profound gratitude to a few of our members in Diaspora which have determined that our alma mater won’t be within the mud bin of historical past.”
He listed a few of the areas that the affiliation had intervened to incorporate, together with solar-powered lights within the college, 24 hours of safety, fantastically renovated school rooms with chairs and tables and the gatehouse, which is coming quickly.
“These are modest achievements. We are able to construct on these, therefore, the decision to each member to return and help.”
He famous that the varsity used to have a mini stadium. There was a chance for the scholars to excel in observe and subject occasions corresponding to, shot put, javelin, excessive leap and pole vault, in addition to having a hockey pitch, garden tennis courtroom and a desk tennis corridor.
The varsity’s dizzying top in sports activities noticed it produce the primary silver medalist within the Olympic Video games for Nigeria in Los Angeles, United States of America, in Peter Konyegwachie (Peter Okay).
Additionally, the varsity produced Nigeria’s first silver medalist on the World Indoor Athletics Championship in Sevilla, Spain, in Paul Emordi.
The St. Anthony’s Faculty, Ubulu-Uku Previous boys Affiliation (SACOBA) in Delta State, as soon as appealed to the state authorities to return to the help of the faculty, particularly asking the authorities to renovate dilapidated buildings and supply potable water.
The Chairman of the affiliation, Dr Phil Nonyeh Ofulue, famous the years of neglect the varsity had suffered by the hands of the federal government. The varsity based by the Roman Catholic Church in 1956 has no befitting construction.
In view of this, the Asaba Department chairman of the affiliation, Anthony Ifeanyi Uzogo, stated: “Consequently, our affiliation has resolved to set as our signature undertaking the supply of a borehole, reticulation plant and a 30KVA energy capability producing set for the varsity.”
On her half, Anne-Funmi Fatusin stated alumni associations now have interaction in ‘Give Again’ to their alma maters, by donating instructing and studying instruments, whereas others practise the ‘Previous Boys community’ as they assist each other’s youngsters to safe gainful employment.
She famous that they’ve come to remain and must be recognised as companions within the growth of training in Nigeria.
FORMER Chairman of Convention of Previous College students and Alumni Associations of Western Nigeria, Prof. Delana Adelekan, confused that outdated college students have “to be non-partisan and function with a excessive stage of transparency.”
On his half, Chairman of United Nigeria Airways, Obiora Okonkwo, on the conference of Archbishop Heerey Secondary Faculty, Ogidi, Previous Boys Affiliation, Obiora Okonkwo, stated they need to additionally look past the supply of infrastructural amenities and give attention to the restoration of moral values.
He stated: “As we speak, our society is confronted with a myriad of issues which can be instantly related to failed moral values than they’re with lack of training infrastructure. That is the place I feel, and imagine, alumni associations must also flip their consideration. We’d have achieved nothing if we construct and equip the most effective of colleges however end up youngsters completely bereft of ethical values and ethics.
“I agree that alumni associations ought to play completely different roles to make sure that faculties are outfitted and libraries have the present version of books and different instructing aides, nevertheless it mustn’t finish there. A key a part of this by means of alumni assist is extra hands-on mentoring. Alumni ought to undertake college students and even complete lessons and mentor them, hopefully for all times, not simply on skilled growth, much more importantly on values and moral residing,” Okonkwo stated.
The Publicity Secretary, College of Lagos Alumni, Lagos State chapter, Mr Adekunle Onikoyi, stated the key focus is to propagate the picture of the colleges, assist members and any course, undertaking, or programme of their universities, which wanted funding not offered by the federal government.
ONLY, not too long ago, alumni of the College of Jos (UNIJOS), Rivers State chapter, reunited with certainly one of their very own, Mr Minabelem Hilary, who had been mentally unstable for over 20 years.
They met him within the streets of Bakana within the state and took him to a psychiatric hospital in Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt.
The South-South Zonal Coordinator, UNIJOS Alumni Affiliation, Tonye Dagogo, stated members visited Hilary within the psychiatric dwelling to current a cheque of N1 million to him for his rehabilitation.
Dagogo famous that the affiliation had additionally invested in human and infrastructural growth by giving again to their alma mater.
In keeping with Dagogo, contributions have additionally been made to the continued alumni centre undertaking within the college, including that they mediated when there have been points, such because the Jos disaster.
Dagogo additional added that entrepreneurship programmes have been organised for younger graduates and unemployed members for ability acquisition in paint making, confectionaries, ornament, aquaculture and knowledge and communications know-how, with the distribution of starter packs.
Onikoyi stated the alumni affiliation of UNILAG had offered scholarships for good indigent college students and attracted funds for the constructing initiatives of laboratories and hostels.
“We carried out free medical surgical procedure not too long ago for workers, college students and members of UNILAG alumni. Over 100 surgical procedures have been carried out with over 500 eyeglasses distributed amid different well being packages.”
On his half, Tony Edwards, an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo College (OAU) stated that they had supported initiatives, awarded scholarships to undergraduates and offered internship alternatives.
He famous that there are mentorship programmes for college kids, which haven’t been held for a while now as a result of ongoing strikes by the Educational Workers Union of Universities (ASUU).
His phrases: “Graduate and undergraduate internship programmes are promoted by the alumni and members who personal companies or are in prime positions in company organisations are inspired to soak up graduate members and undergraduates who want industrial expertise.”
He added that initiatives such because the rebuilding of the college gate, workers lodge, books donation to the library and an alumni scholarship programme with a money incentive of N100, 000 to the most effective college students have been equally executed.
The Oyo State authorities additionally not too long ago handed over administration, operation, and growth of 93-year-old Authorities Faculty Ibadan to its outdated boys’ affiliation. This adopted the earlier investments of over N2 billion in 2017 and a partnership with the state authorities to rebuild the varsity.
The varsity had witnessed the inauguration of multimillion-naira initiatives executed by three units, which included the rehabilitation of physics and chemistry laboratories and a block of school rooms.
Moreover, 12 pupils received scholarships by Dereck John Bullock Basis and the affiliation, as well as, established an N250 million-intervention fund to assist the varsity.
Nationwide president, Eko Boys Excessive Faculty Previous College students Affiliation (EKOBA), Kayode Eliot, stated except outdated college students and alumni associations are a part of the revamping of the training sector, restoring the glory of Nigeria’s educational excellence will stay a mirage.
“I’m satisfied the surest strategy to restore the glory and pre-eminence of our training sector is to successfully harness the large dimension and fervour of our outdated pupil associations. A real alumnus is at all times a proud ambassador of his alma mater and shoulders the duty of selling and advancing the reason for his old-fashioned.”
Mr Adeyemi Adefulu, on the fortieth Founder’s day of St John’s Anglican Excessive Faculty, Abeokuta, stated faculties ought to make it a matter of precedence to construct high-performance alumni associations that will transcend stereotype social celebration and focus extra on the event of professionalism, intellectualism entrepreneurship, capability constructing and personnel growth.
To safe the long run, Amusan stated outdated college students should not relent in giving again to society.
He reminded us that alumni associations are vital stakeholders and should companion with the federal government to make sure sustainable change within the system.
Profitable alumni may be very influential function fashions to present college students of their alma mater due to the bond they share as former college students, and having gone by related challenges that present college students could also be going through. Years of data and life experiences that alumni have gained professionally and personally shared with college students might make a pivotal distinction of their lives. Alumni might, due to this fact, be a significant supply of profession and character steerage, and in addition assist to transmit the essence of college spirit, tradition and beliefs from one technology of scholars to the subsequent.
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