By Oghenero Orovwuje
University alumni associations in the country have been charged to continue to support their alma maters towards the development of the schools.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, gave this charge during the quarter 3 global executive meeting and annual lecture of the Great Ife Alumni Association world wide, held in Asaba.
Ukah, who was the Chairman of the occasion, stated that education endowment funds could be established by wealthy individuals who finished from the universities.
He said it would help the institutions to fund various academic research activities that would impact positively in the education sub sector of the country.
Ukah, who is a product of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife said the administration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa would ensure that the state universities were well funded so they could compete favourably with top class universities around the world.
He expressed delight that the annual global meeting of Great Ife was held in Asaba, stating that it was an opportunity for the visitors to savour the beautiful city of Asaba and also the peaceful disposition of the state.
The Global President of the Great Ife Alumni Association, worldwide, Engineer Wale Olaleye, said the association had intervened on some projects on the campus of the university which, he listed, to include renovations of the lecture theaters, provision of water and water reticulation to the halls of residence and faculties, donation of books to the library and provision of drugs to the health centres, among others.
He further explained that the association had created awareness for their members all over the world and had improved on the facilities at the alumni centres as another four-room guest chalet was commissioned at the last convention in 2021, while work was at advanced stage on a new four-room chalet to increase their guest house to twenty two
The Chairman of the Association, Asaba Branch, Chief Tumbo Brodrick, described the global president as a great administrator and manager of resources, who had brought peace and love to the association for the past four years and implored all branches to support and contribute to the accelerated development efforts of the president.
He thanked members of the association, Asaba Branch, for their efforts towards the progress of the association and urged them not to relent.
A lecture was presented by Professor Ben Nwanne with a call on stakeholders to support the educational sector in order to make a better generation.
The ceremony featured presentation of awards to personalities, including Chief Ukah and the state President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Patricia Elumeze, among others.
