UNIMAID Alumni Target N1bn Scholarship Fund For Students

The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) Alumni Association plans to ascertain a N1bn scholarship endowment fund in 2027 to assist indigent college students, together with help with their residing bills.

The Global President of the affiliation, Baba Shettima Kukawa, disclosed this on the affiliation’s annual basic assembly in Abuja, saying the initiative was a part of efforts to enhance college students’ welfare and strengthen alumni contributions to the college.

Kukawa mentioned the variety of beneficiaries would rely on the assets out there and the wants of scholars when the scheme turns into operational.

He mentioned the affiliation had additionally outlined a 2027 agenda that included the institution of an expert improvement board to advertise networking, knowledge-sharing and mentorship amongst alumni.

The board will initially cowl 5 skilled fields, together with accounting, regulation, medication and geology, offering alternatives for knowledgeable graduates to mentor youthful alumni and college students.

Kukawa mentioned the affiliation was additionally strengthening its institutional buildings to make sure continuity past the tenure of its present management.

He mentioned the administration, which assumed workplace final yr, had adopted a three-point agenda targeted on unity, construction and affect.

According to him, the affiliation created a web based portal by which almost 10,000 alumni registered inside 4 months.

“We came in last year and said we had a three-point agenda. One is unity, two is structure, and three is impact.

“If you do not mobilise all the members who graduated from the school and bring them under one umbrella, whatever you do will be disjointed,” he mentioned.

He added that the affiliation was creating insurance policies and operational frameworks to make sure its interventions benefited alumni, college students, the college and the broader neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMAID, Prof. Muhammed Laminu Mele, has urged graduates to strengthen their assist for the establishment’s improvement.

Speaking on the alumni reunion dinner and award night time in Abuja, Mele mentioned alumni contributions have been important to sustaining educational excellence and supporting nationwide improvement.

He urged graduates to stay related to the college and contribute to its development, no matter their skilled positions or areas.

The vice-chancellor famous that UNIMAID graduates had distinguished themselves in authorities, company organisations, safety companies, schooling and worldwide establishments.

He mentioned the college had overcome a number of challenges by collective resilience and assist from the Federal Government, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, different state governors, the National Assembly, improvement companions and conventional rulers.

Mele congratulated award recipients and urged alumni to make use of the reunion to resume their dedication to the establishment.

He additionally acknowledged Vice-President Kashim Shettima for his position in mobilising assist for the profitable relaunch of the college’s Endowment Fund.

Earlier, Kukawa mentioned the affiliation had recorded progress in constructing a extra inclusive world alumni community, with almost 10,000 graduates registered on its on-line platform.

He mentioned the platform was additionally used to conduct the affiliation’s first nationwide on-line election.

In his keynote tackle, President of the Worldwide University of Lagos Alumni Association, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, described UNIMAID’s continued operation and pursuit of educational excellence regardless of insurgency within the North-East as proof of institutional resilience.

Oyedele recalled that there have been requires the college to relocate from Maiduguri throughout the peak of the insurgency however mentioned its continued presence within the metropolis demonstrated the willpower of its administration, workers, college students and alumni.

He urged alumni associations to ascertain management succession frameworks to protect institutional reminiscence and maintain programmes past particular person tenures.

He additionally advocated structured mentorship programmes to assist youthful graduates navigate unemployment, financial uncertainty {and professional} challenges.

Oyedele mentioned alumni associations ought to construct stronger relationships amongst older graduates, undergraduates and present college students to harness their mental, skilled, monetary and social assets for institutional improvement.