• Role of Alumni AssociAtions in the RevivAl of Public educAtion in nigeRiA•

and also help to transmit the essence of school spirit, culture and beliefs from one of generation of students to the next.

In addressing the decay in our education system, we should draw resources from alumni associations. In doing so, the critical areas in our education system will be impacted positively. The way things stand in our country today, the support of alumni associations is critical to the conceptualization as well as effective implementation of education reforms.

We must be aware that alumni associations represent a significant and vocal constituency in the education sector. Alumni associations are well-known sources of strength to the younger generations, they are strong and powerful voice which could exercise a considerable amount of influence on the policy direction of education reforms in Nigeria. And they can help to provide the funding.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we must begin to look at those critical areas where our role can play huge impacts. Some areas are schools infrastructures and quality of teachers, which have suffered the most.

If we must secure the future, we must stand our ground to defend the integrity of the learning spaces. We must collectively facilitate and intervene to ensure development and progress in the reformation of the education sector. Our interventions can come collectively or separately. What we should never forget is that there is great reward in giving back to the system that in a way impacted our lives. Basic learning tools such as Library, computers, and books can be provided by alumni associations.

As members of alumni associations, your wealth of experience should be an addition to the system you once learned under. We cannot afford to fail in our role and responsibilities. We have so much we can give back to our institutions. Our progress in Nigeria is tied to the gains we can get from our education system. If we do nothing, the rot will continue and may haunt us all in future.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as I conclude my intervention, I must reiterate that alumni associations in Nigeria are critical stakeholders in this whole process of reforming the education sector. All of us must see this as a call to initiate a developmental process that will bring about sustainable change in the education system. We must provide all the necessary support to drive change in this most critical sector. As members of alumni associations, you can volunteer your professional services for seminars and workshops on key issues that will change the sector.

Above all, it is recommended that the government partner with relevant alumni associations to assist them in implementation their education policies and reforms. Even in the areas of evaluating and monitoring these reforms with a view to measuring impacts and performances.

Distinguished Alumni, I need to remind you that education is the bedrock of national growth and development. We all have a part of play. In playing this part, we must ensure that we preserve the values and doctrine of our institutions.

As I go to take my seat, let me say that days like this are usually for cherished memories and it brings me to the story of a man who took his wife to the 30th high school reunion of his alma mater and kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table. At a point the wife asked, “Do you know her?”

“Yes,” said the man who sighed. “She’s my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago and I hear she hasn’t been sober since.”

“Oh my goodness!” said the wife. “Who’d think a person could go on celebrating for that long?”

Being a paper delivered at the National Convention/Annual Re-union of the Federal Government College Okigwe Old Students Association in Abuja last week