By Obike Ukoh
Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki has been commended for initiating Alumni Lecture Series, which would boost academic standard and overall development of the university.
Stakeholders who made the commendation in separate interviews in Abakaliki, also noted that the action was in line with global practices, stressing that it would offer opportunities to the old students to participate in the affairs of their alma mater.
Dr Joseph Chukwu, an old student of the EBSU described the alumni lecture series as a phenomenal initiative that would greatly reposition the university in terms of learning and infrastructure development.
Chukwu, who is the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI) also said that the initiative was a product of vision and foresight which is worthy of emulation.
“This alumni lecture series is phenomenal and worthy of emulation, it is a product of vision, foresight and I commend the initiators.
“This is exactly how it should be; successful alumni should be celebrated while they should as well provide human and material upliftments of not only their institutions but their teachers.
“Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) motto says it all; if you can write your name, thank your teacher.
“Academic engagements like this contribute to the growth and global reputation of tertiary institutions and I’m certain Ebonyi State University will gain a lot from the lecture,” Chukwu said.
On his general expectations from the lecture, the don who bagged his Masters and Doctorate degrees from the institution said that the lecture series would no doubt rub off on the institution.
“EBSU will not remain the same at the end of this lecture. The students and other alumni will be motivated and will be scratching to take the next turn.
“I am excited and I applaud the innovation; in future, it should be centralised to ensure that all alumni not only in the Humanities and Social Sciences are given the opportunity,” he added.
Dr Eugene Otu, while commending the EBSU for the introduction of the alumni lecture series noted that such innovations would assist in marketing an academic institution.
Otu, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science in the university said that the alumni associations remained an important subset of any tertiary institution.
He said that academic engagements, such as alumni lectures, helped to equip students, staff and management of universities with relevant information needed to engender the best academic practice.
“In some advanced societies, alumni associations take over the running of the institutions; here, in EBSU, the hospital in the permanent site was built by the alumni association.
“Mr Francis Nwifuru, the governor of Ebonyi who is the Visitor to the university, is also an alumnus. We have created a lot of impact since 1999 that the institution was established,” Otu said.
He said that the pioneer Keynote Speaker, Dr Chima Anyaso, also an alumnus of the institution would speak on entrepreneurship to encourage students of the institution to work harder to make it in life.
“He did not study entrepreneurship, he studied English and Literature; so, his life will serve as an encouragement to both staff and students of the university,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Paulinus Okoro, an ex-student who graduated from the Department of Philosophy said that he was looking forward to the event which he noted would signal the beginning of a new dawn for the university.
Okoro, a former councillor in Ivo Local Government Area Legislative Council urged the authorities of EBSU to centralise the lecture series and make it an annual event in order to harvest from the pool of talents it has created.
“I’m so happy to be an alumnus of EBSU; and I have confidence that many of the products of the institution will be attending this august event from around the globe.
“The event will chart a roadmap for academic and infrastructure development of the university and I have no doubt in my mind that the keynote speaker, Dr Chima Anyaso will motivate other alumni to start looking back to the institution that nurtured them to greatness,” Okoro said.
Dr Paul Okorie, an alumnus of the institution and former Commissioner for Works and Transport, said that the alumni body was essential in enhancing academic and infrastructure excellence in their alma-mater.
Okorie, who obtained doctorate degree in the state owned university commended the institution for initiating the alumni lecture series and urged the university to ensure continuity.
“Well-meaning alumni members of institutions always give back to the society by establishing endowment funds to help the less privileged students in their former institutions.
“Some go as far as building classroom blocks, offices and other infrastructure projects for the schools.
” I hope that this alumni lecture series will provide a needed platform to make former students of the university start thinking about what to do to foster academic and infrastructure progress in the institution,” Okorie said.
The alumni lecture series is a flagship initiative of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, headed by Prof. Nkechi Emma-Echiegu.
The July 10 lecture will serve not only to honour Anyaso’s accomplishments but also to provide a platform for him to share insights, experiences, and leadership lessons with students, faculty and members of the public
The theme for the lecture series is: “From Classroom to Boardroom: The Power of Education in Shaping Destiny.”
The theme would reflect Anyaso’s journey from his early days as an undergraduate in the Department of English and Literature, EBSU, to an influential businessman.
