BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The Imo State University Alumni Association (IMSUAA) 2025 Homecoming/Convention mascot, designed by Mr. Franklin Ogbusu, embodies the themes of love, unity, and cultural diversity. According to Ogbusu, a former Director of Socials of the Abuja Chapter of IMSUAA, the mascot’s design reflects the current administration’s efforts to bring all factions together.
There will be showers of love, renewal of friendship, unity, and strengthening of ties when the IMSUAA 2025 Homecoming/Convention tagged Heartland 2025 kicks off from August 14th to 17th, 2025. Ogbusu disclosed this in a chat with this writer, that the love which the current administration is exploring in bringing all aggrieved parties together was strongly considered while designing the mascot.
“The symbol of love in the mascot represents the heart,” he started. “And with the map of Imo State embedded inside the heart symbol which represents love, it conveys the message of love on the fertile and rich land which Imo State has, and that is how the two concepts of ‘Heart’ and ‘Land’ bring us to HEARTLAND.”
The white contours represent the roads connecting all the state’s three geo-political zones together, and these roads will lead all Imo Stars to the venue of the convention. The leading mantra of the current NEC of the alumni, which is love and inherent in the mascot, is manifested in the recent moves made by the National President, Dr. Charles Nwosu, in trying to bring together all the aggrieved factions of the alumni who had been away from the association.
The flamboyant mascot, which has nine colours, represents the diverse culture and tradition of the people who attended IMSU and now find themselves in different walks of life. However, the “alumni love,” which happens to be the main culture of this administration and is held in high esteem by the Porpor-led administration will bring everyone together during the homecoming for unity and strengthening of ties. The nine colours used in the design of the mascot also include the three official colours of Imo State (Blue, White, Red).
The text “The Eastern Heartland,” which comes in white with a shade of black, gives the text a background that makes it balance. Meanwhile, the background of the mascot, which has a gold colour, indicates the rich golden accomplishments Imo State has made in sports in Nigeria, with the likes of Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah, Emmanuel Amuneke, Mobi Oparaku, Celestine Babayaro, Emmanuel Babayaro all from Imo State helping Nigeria win her first-ever gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics which came in track and football event.
The Heartland 2025 mascot also features a range of other colours, such as green, which shows the agriculture and vegetation Imo is known for. While the wine colour, which symbolizes celebration and toast to the good things in life, will come in sparkling glasses when Stars gather during the homecoming in Owerri next month.
The homecoming which will provide a platform for welcoming all Stars from across all geo-political boundaries will also afford the newly created Anambra and Delta Chapters to make their debut in an official convention of the IMSUAA family.
