BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The first lecture of the year for the Imo State University Alumni Association (IMSUAA) Lagos Chapter, which took place on Sunday February 23rd, 2025, at La Mango, Ikeja GRA, during the association’s first General Meeting, has given birth to a baby project tagged “Back-To-School”.
The “Back-To-School” project, which is an Educational Empowerment initiative designed at providing financial assistance to enable some Lagos Chapter members pay their children’s school fees with ease was the highlight of the lecture after Chief Enyioha Chris Anywanwu, a former National President of the association dealt extensively with the topic “Core Principles of Alumni Associations”.
Prior to having the lecture, the association started the programme of the day with a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland at the 11am Mass, where members worshipped, thanked God for coming together again for the new year, and drew spiritual inspiration before settling down for the session where the inspirational lecture was delivered.
While delivering the lecture, Chief Anyanwu highlighted nine key salient points which he expatiate to buttress on the benefits available to members of an alumnus, which can be summarized as bonding, networking, building relationships, supporting each other, transparency and accountability, philanthropic, professional development, effective communication, preserving institutional heritage and tradition, as well as leadership development.
The Back-To-School initiative was conceived during the interactive session after members discussed extensively on how best to encourage bonding in Lagos Chapter, before a formal motion was moved by this writer for the creation of the education empowerment programme, while Saran-Ify Oguike who is currently serving as the National Treasurer of the Association seconded the motion.
All who were in attendance during the session approved of the initiative and it was unanimously agreed that a committee be formally set-up to fine-tune the project so they can come up with clearly defined modalities on how children of members who need assistance can benefit from the project when it will be launched by September 2025.
While expressing delight on the development, a fascinated Lagos Chapter Chairman Dr. Prince Nwaulu whose joy knew no bounds about the initiative was full of adulation for the new project. He disclosed that though the executive never saw this coming ahead of the lecture, but they will do their best to nurture the project and make it a reality.
“We never talked about this or planned for it before this lecture” Dr Nwaulu said. “But it was while we were brainstorming following the outcome of the lecture on Core Principles of The Alumni” that the idea came up and we as the executive have no choice but to nurture it and ensure that we give it the best”.
“We shall set up a committee to fine-tune the terms of reference and give this project the best, and I am sure that we should be able to propose a partnership with the National executive council and see how best we can add more credence to the project” an excited Dr. Nwaulu concluded.
The session which lasted about two hours had the following members in attendance, Vivian Chukwuocha (Vice Chairman), Gloria Ejiofor (DOS), Ihezie Kizito( Secretary), Chika Egonu (Treasurer), Ama Agboado (Asst. Secretary), Edna Onyeanuforo (Welfare), Chima Olise(PRO) and Oluchi Ibeh(Provost).
Others who were also present during the session are Zeph Uche Nwanochie, Anslem Achunine, Ifeanyi Samuel, Kasarachi Ajaero, Vivian Overo, Ugochukwu Anemeje, Austin Ekwenye and Oburuoma Joy Ejims.
Meanwhile, the yet to be formed and inaugurated committee already has a mandate to deliver the first batch of beneficiaries by September 2025, while Chief Enyioha Chris Anyanwu has volunteered to serve as a member of the committee.
