Director of Centre for Advancement and Linkages
Benue State University, Makurdi
The reputation of an educational institution lies on the shoulders of its students – Past and present. The reputation grows when it keeps producing successful graduates continuously i.e. intelligent, innovative and effective in their fields. Recently, Alumni members have helped institutions’ sustenance through their donations and voluntary help. Alumni members are helpful in providing valuable financial, intellectual and human resource base for their alma mater.
In the post covid-19 era where resources for research and infrastructure development of Universities were affected directly, it is generally agreed by stakeholders that if a big chunk of money that Universities require comes from alumni, it will help in the area of competitive quality education. Therefore, so many Universities have re-engineered and positioned their Alumni Associations for effective service delivery in funding research and critical infrastructure. The Advancement and Linkages or Advancement and Global Affairs offices have focused their attention to identify, mobilize and provide enabling environment for past students’ support to their alma mater.
Unfortunately, Benue State University Alumni Association has passed through turbulent times over the years. This has denied Benue State University the opportunities therein her past students, affecting the increasing quest for the role of the Alumni Associations in the development of the University in the 21st century University governing system. As a result, the global metrics in rating Benue State University is also affected by the activities of the Alumni Association.
Comparatively, Benue State University Alumni Association today is more promising to be robust in policy and actions if managed efficiently. One conspicuous fact is that, the University is growing and progressing extraordinarily in terms of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies. This means that the population has also astronomically grown at the moment. This population increase therefore, translates to the increase of the membership of the Alumni Association. With large membership, the activities of the Alumni Association should have also been visible in terms of home-coming/reunion, scholarship/support to students, career mentorship/opportunities for Alumni members, fundraising and contributions to the University’s infrastructure and policy drive.
Unfortunately, at no time the resourcefulness of the Association is harnessed. There has been proliferation of national officials, all scavenging for the financial subscriptions of fresh graduates. Instead of seeking for support from graduates of the University to contribute immensely to the development of the university, they rather scramble for the little resources that fresh graduates raise for the Association’s intervention to the development of the University. In other Universities, funds raised by fresh students are used for a particular project and credited to such a graduating class. In University of Jos, fresh graduates raise funds from every graduating student and put it in what they refer to as a “legacy project”. In Benue State University, the Alumni Association struggle over the funds raised by fresh graduates for their personal benefits. Regrettably, the desperation of members of the factions have not only mortified graduates that are highly placed in the society but have also brought the University to disrepute. While Degree is awarded in character and learning, some graduates have disappointedly shown lack of character in their quest to gain access to fresh graduates’ funds in the guise of involvement in the Alumni Association. Sadly, Benue State University has so many court cases that are instituted by these factions. They have also at different times, blackmailed and assassinated the character of Vice Chancellors and sometimes, other members of University management. It is regrettable that some past Vice Chancellors are still appearing before the court over issues of Alumni which are largely, driven by the personal interests of some past members of the Exco.
The office of advancement and linkages where I superintend is greatly affected by the crisis in the Alumni Association. Recent outings by some factions are not aimed at building our university’s reputation and brand, securing donations and funding but are targeted at tarnishing the image of the University and this must be resisted by well-meaning graduates of Benue State University. Press releases and media campaigns by these groups are continuously carried out against the Vice Chancellor and University in the past one week. This is not healthy for the recent efforts of the advancement and linkages office in bringing graduates of Benue State University together for the development of the University’s infrastructure and scholarships to students. The advancement and linkages’ efforts are targeted at reaching out to responsible former students who have not adequately participated in the activities of the Alumni to come together and develop the University just like past students of other Universities. Some of these past students though highly connected and blessed with resources to impact on the University are apathetic to the activities of the Alumni Association. This is largely because of the embarrassing outings of the factions in the Alumni. This has affected class reunions, Alumni week, homecoming, in-person social events, alumni chapter meet-ups, and networking opportunities where funds could have been raised for the development of the University. It is interesting to note that none of those who have claimed to have loved the Association and are on rescue mission has brought innovations on how to source for funds for the development of the University.
Benue State University will be celebrating thirty years anniversary of existence along 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th combined convocation ceremonies. During this time, some Benue State University graduates that have distinguished themselves in their chosen career will be celebrated too. This is what Benue State University wants from its graduates. Those that are good ambassadors will be celebrated while those that have deviated from the character upon which their degrees were awarded can be called to order. Some members of a particular faction has even threatened to stop the convocation from holding. This the height of it and security agencies should be made to watch out for the members of the faction. Universities have zero tolerance for falsehood. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho withdrew the certificate a graduate for spreading falsehood. Kwara State University, Abia State University and Enugu State University of Science and Technology have all taken such steps in the past. Therefore, it is important for graduates of Benue State University to be of good character to account of themselves as graduates of Benue State University and not the spread of falsehood against the Vice Chancellor and Benue State University. Those who wish to lead the Association should think outside the box for the development of the University. They can consider so many approaches including the following;
Scholarship/support to students
The recruitment of members into the activities of Alumni begins at the level of studentship. Those students who benefit from the activities of their former students can become more committed to the Alumni after graduation. There are various ways through which the Alumni associations impact on their students and it could be through Department and Faculty Scholarship programmes, support in getting them to settle down as new students, interventions in their utility needs on campus and several others.
Career mentorship/opportunities for Alumni members
An alumni association brings former students together to maintain a connection with their university and fellow graduates. Fresh graduates get connected with professionals from their former schools. Without Alumni network, reunion and home-coming activities, these opportunities are lost. Our Alumni is still lagging behind on this situation.
Fundraising and contributions to the University’s infrastructure and policy drive
University alumni can make strong contributions to the welfare of their alma mater but one of the most important ways they contribute is through financial donations. Last year, the University of Lagos Alumni Association attracted a massive building to their alma mater. We have seen Ahmadu Bello University Alumni, University of Ibadan Alumni Association raise huge amount of money for their Universities through their members. This is what we also expect from those that want to lead the Association in Benue State University.
Alumni Network and Annual Week: Home-coming/reunion Activities
Benue State University Alumni Association can introduce a homecoming event that will bring all the former students back to the campus. Both alumni, students, and friends will participate in the many festivities that will take place on campus in every December. The aim will be to connect former students back to the university where they can have some fun, be a part of something bigger than themselves, and stay connected to their University family.
Alumni Scholarship/support to students
Cultivate the policy of enlisting students who are prospective Alumni members into the benefits of the Association even as students. Members of the Alumni who are doing well in their chosen carriers can be encouraged to institute scholarships and tuition support in the Departments and faculties. Alumni can institute career guide and mentorship sessions for the students where members of the Alumni will feature from time to time to engage the students. These interventions will knit the alumni members together with the students and the benefit therein will continue to sustain the bond and in turn will contribute to the development of the University generally.
My dear Benue State University graduates, Benue State University needs all of you for critical infrastructure development and scholarships to students. We will reach out to you soon for your cooperation in setting up an enviable robust Association. As a link person between the University and Alumni, I assure you that we will achieve success with Unity. Benue State Alumni Association must rise above local sentiments. We must flourish as a vehicle that will drive development in Benue State University, Makurdi.
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