The Abia State University Alumni Association, Umuahia Chapter has decried the high rite of unemployment among its members, calling on government to create employment opportunities for her members.
Speaking at the 2021 End of Year Get To Together/Award Presentation ceremony held at the Rapha Hotel, Umuahia, the chapter Chairman, ABSU Alumni, Prof Marc Ogbuagu, disclosed that while most of their members are doing well in their various fields of endeavours, like the current Deputy Governor of the State,the Head of Service among others,some are unemployed, making them unable to meet with some of the demands of the association.
Award Recipient,Mr Sampson Nwokorie,MD Rapha Hotel
In his address, the Umuahia Chapter chairman, disclosed that 2020 was unarguably a very difficult year, giving the challenges occasioned by the global Covid-19 pandamic, which scuttled almost every normal ways of doing things, throwing up new normals, adding that the association was not spared from the hiccup,as it could not hold its regular meetings.
According to Prof Ogbuagu, ABSU has produced great destinies, including Governors, Ministers, Senators, Captains of industry, hence the need to harness these great potentials to bring more development to the school.
He said the Alumni Association is the only organization that brings the older and the younger graduates together, after leaving school,as the first set of graduates (1985),is meeting with the second, third, fourth and the latest set of graduates dining, wining and exchanging ideas for social, as well as other benefits.
The chairman further stated that Alumni associations have great roles they paly in Nation/Community building, as well in uplifting the image,growth, development and maintenance in the advancement of the institution that molded the members and equally promote the wellbeing of its members socially,economically and otherwise, adding that it was high time the ABSU Alumni,Umuahia branch, embarked on projects that would be of great interest to the university and the society at large.
Reiterating some of the challenges confronting that the Umuahia Chapter, the chairman said the Association has been in existence since 1999, yet they have no place they hold their meetings, calling on spirited alumnus support the actualization of their Alumni Hall.
Prof Ogbuagu, however, lamented low numerical strength of the association,as well as poor attendance at meetings which has negatively affected the association. According to him, Umuahia alone can boast of over 2000 persons who graduated from the present ABSU but still face poor attendance at their monthly general meetings.
He called on all ABSU or old IMSU graduates residing in Umuahia to identify with the association,so as to make it more purposeful and vibrant.
In his speech, the chairman on the occasion, Dr Peter Chinatu Njoku, urged members to desist from seeing the association fron a disadvantage position but encouraged them to join force in thinking out ideas and programs that can transform the association and the university.
He said peace can only thrive when everyone is seen as equal regardless of the year of graduation.
In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof Onyemachi Ogbulu, commended the association for its feat in harnessing great potentials of men and women who have gone through the institution to give back to the school that molded them.
Represented by the school Registrar, Acho Elendu, urged the Alumni members to be proud of their Alma mater, as it is rated the second best state university in Nigeria.
He said the members must carry their selves high because the school has produced great men and women, captains of industry, stating the readiness of the school to partner with the association.
The Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah, equally praised the contributions of the Alumni association, pointing out that all hands must be on deck to help the school achieve more development.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to some members who have contributed to the development of the school and the state at large, including the wife of the Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, the Deputy Governor of the State, Sir Ude Uko Chukwu, the Managing Director,Rapha Hotels,Umuahia,Mr Sampson Nwokorie and the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia Governor, Barr Onyebuchi Ememanka.
In an interview with the Press, Mr Sampson Nwokorie,said his contributions to the society, especially on the area of employment in the hospitality sector, qualified him for the award, adding that the recognition would spur him to do more as well as support any development in the association.
He, however, encouraged those who have successfully found their feet to always give back to the society, thereby helping others to stand.
Mr Nwokorie while commenting on the current strike embarked upon by Tanker drivers of petroleum products,said the strike was necessitated by bad road across the nation, as well as the deregulation of the down stream sector, calling on the federal government to address the situation, particularly to ease movement in the festive period.
Mr Sampson Nwokorie was born into the oil sector,as his father was a major petroleum dealer.He has served at the NNPC zonal office,as well as other petroleum industries, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN)Aba unit.He his married with children and has contributed immensely to moving the church of God forward.
