Kwarapoly Alumni President Urges Nigerians To Support Their Alma Mater
KEHINDE Emmanuel, Ilorin
The Protem President, Kwara State Polytechnic Worldwide Alumni Association, Engineer Abu Salami, has urged alumni of different educational institutions in Nigeria to always support their alma maters.
He spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the 50th anniversary of the institution and its Alumni Association; with the theme:’Riasing the bar for greatness and excellence.’
According to him, it is necessary for them to give back to the institutions that trained them, adding that without such training, it may not have been possible for them to have reached their great status and attainments.
“I am delighted to share with you some of the recent achievements of the Kwara State Polytechnic Worldwide Alumni Association since our inauguration in September 2022.
“Over the last few months, we have made significant strides in the growth and development of our association. We successfully registered our association with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which has given us legal recognition as a formal entity.
“This milestone has opened up new opportunities for us to engage with the Polytechnic and the wider community and we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
“I am also excited to announce the official launch of the Polytechnic Band sponsored by the Alumni Association to serve as the official bank for all Polytechnic events. We believed that the establishment and support of this talented group of students would add vibrancy and excitement to all Polytechnic activities.
“As Alumni, we have a responsibility to preserve and enhance the reputation of our alma mater. We must continue to support the institution through various initiatives, such as mentorship programmes, scholarships and donations to help the Polytechnic maintain its position as a leading institution in technical education.
“We must also remember the value of networking and collaboration amongst ourselves as Alumni, as we continue to build relationships with each other and the Polytechnic and use our collective expertise to promote the growth and success of our alma mater.”
The Rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, said the polytechnic has made tremendous achievements.
He said, “Needless to say, the institution has continued to grow in all ramifications, provision of top-notch science, technology and other basic facilities and equipment as well as maintenance of peace and security.
“With particular reference to academic activities, the institution has maintained over the years, a number of accredited programmes: 31 for the National Diploma and 25 for the Higher National Diploma, relatively low school fees, peace and stability, among others. We are determined to keep this outstanding feat by God’s grace.
“Today, the Polytechnic has grown in size and status, producing thousands of people for the growth of the economy, annually. Indeed, my joy knows no bound today as the Polytechnic community, over the years, has been witnessing great strides in various facets.
To have maximum productivity and efficient service delivery from staff, attention was paid to their health through free medical screening for all polytechnic staff.
“This was basically to evaluate the health status of the Polytechnic workforce and provide preventive counselling and interventions where necessary. The 2023 free medical screening is under process and staff will soon be informed of the schedule for screening.
Staff training and retraining were given paramount attention through TETFUND sponsorship and more than one-third of the staff have benefitted from this. In addition, staff are always encouraged to upgrade their professional membership, as the Polytechnic, within its limited resources, has sponsored and still sponsoring staff for training. Qualified Non-academic staff who are willing to convert to an academic cadre had also been considered after following due process.”
The Guest Speaker, Otunba Olusola Adekanola, spoke on Post retirement lifestyle and investment options; being the supplement for Alumni associations to raise the bar for greatness and excellence.
He said, “Greatness is not a function of what title or how much wealth you have acquired, but is a function of the impacts you have made to lives around you.
“The best way to internalize the lessons of greatness is to teach them to others. Teaching does four things for you: you learn better when you teach; teaching increases the chances that you would practice what you preach; it helps relationships; and ultimately makes you a more progressive person.”
The anniversary featured a novelty football match, a road show, a movie premier by the Mass Communication Department of the institution, a 50th anniversary day celebration, a foundation laying of the Alumni secretariat/village, fundraising and awards.
Edited by Felix Ajide
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