MOUAU Alumni Honours Distinguished Members, Calls For More Partnerships

Chukwuemeka Egejuru

 

It was a gathering of the finest minds of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) Alumni Association as they rolled out their drums to honour her members who have distinguished themselves in several ways.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor MOUAU, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe commended Dr. Obasi Igwe Oscar’s-led MOUAU Alumni Association for improving the lots of the University through the galvanizing of her members to advance Human Capital Development in the Society.

Represented by the Director, University Advancement, Prof. C.O. Offor, the Vice Chancellor who revealed that the University has produced about 70,000 graduates since inception, adding that matters of the Alumni rank top in the University’s priority list.

The University helsman, charged members of the Alumni body both in Nigeria and diaspora to unify and forge a formidable force to continuously advance the University and humanity at large.

Prof. Iwe reassured the MOUAU Alumni Association of his administration’s continuous support towards ensuring that their aims and objectives are promptly met.

In his remarks, the National President, MOUAU Alumni Association, Dr. Obasi Igwe Oscar, thanked MOUAU Alumni members in Nigeria and diaspora for supporting the vision of the body, disclosing that the Alumni body is an assemblage of responsible young men/women with focus on paying back to the University system in our various capacities, helping their members, and community development among others.

Dr. Oscar extolled two University’s Alumni; Dr. Kelecki Okereke and Dr. Dozie Ndubuisi Onunkwo for being the first set of persons from the Alumni body to institute academic awards for the best graduating students of the University while calling on others to emulate them by giving back to the system that produced them.

In his words: “MOUAU Alumni Association body deemed it fit to honour Dr. Kelechi Okereke and Dr. Dozie N. Onunkwo for instituting academic awards for best graduating students in MOUAU and to use it as a platform to encourage our members who are doing well to also come back and pay back to the system.”

The Alumni boss who noted that part of the measure of the University’s growth is in it’s products, recalled that the University’s Alumni has built the Alumni Secretariat and donated some part of the building to the University’s management.

He further called on every Alumnus of the institution to support MOUAU Alumni ongoing 1000-seater capacity lecture theatre maintaining that upon completion, it will be donated to the University to enhance teaching and learning.

Oscar also, commended the University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Iwe for repositioning the University for excellence, adding that the Alumni body enjoys a cordial relationship with the University Management which has brought a transformation to the University.

He also instituted an academic awards to commence in the next convocation of MOUAU and christened it; Prof R. O. Mejeha award.

This, he, said is a way to further give back to the system.

Contributing, a foremost staff of the University and the Deputy Registrar Alumni Affairs, Sir C. J. Egwu lauded the Alumni body for partnering with the University in Human Capital Development, commending the Alumni body for building enduring legacies in the sands of time.

In their separate remarks, Deputy Dean, Post Graduate School, Cannon. Dr. Kelechi Igwe, the National Secretary of MOUAU Alumni Association, Comrade Chukwudi Njoku, the Umuahia Chapter Chairman, MOUAU Alumni Association, Comrade Onyekachi Anozie Uwalaka, and the Chairman, MOUAU Alumni Endowment Fund, Dr. Joseph Chimere Onwumere expressed hope that the ongoing 1000-seater capacity lecture theatre Alumni project would be delivered on record time, calling for the collaboration of all and sundry.

In his lecture entitled; ‘Importance of a Child’s dental visit from the eye of a Paediatric Dentist’, one of the award recipients and a Chief Paediatric Dentist, based in North Carolina, USA, Dr. Kelechi Okereke, emphasized the need for parents to consult dentists periodically for their wards adding that this, helps early diagnosis and treatment of dental conditions prevalent among children.

The emotional US-based medical practitioner, who further eulogized Prof. O.U. Ezeronye of blessed memory, added that the late erudite Scholar mentored him when everything was falling apart in his life.

He disclosed that apart from instituting Academic awards for best graduating students in MOUAU, that he would soon unveil a mentorship platform to assist poor talented young people to succeed in their chosen endeavours.

He said: “We have a lot of smart students who don’t have any one to cater for them financially and this informed my decision to offer scholarship as a way of giving back to the system. I just want to help someone to succeed”.

Also, one of the award recipients and the Head of Department (HOD), Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Animal Production (CASAP), Dr. Dozie Ndubuisi Onunkwo, who insisted that there is nothing you give back to the system that made you that is too much, dedicated the award to MOUAU Alumni Endowment Committee.

In his vote of thanks, the National Vice President, MOUAU Alumni Association, Dr Ugochukwu Onyegbule, commended MOUAU Alumni members especially the awardees for making the University and the Alumni body proud.
He further thanked Dr. Okereke for creating dental awareness through his lecture, describing it as apt and timely.

Highlights of the event was the giving of awards to two distinguished Alumni; Dr. Kelechi Okereke and Dr. Dozie Ndubuisi Onunkwo and goodwill messages from notable Alumni members and other dignitaries.