Former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has challenged members of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association to give back to their alma mater by investing in its development.
Anyim said supporting the institution that shaped their careers was not merely an alumni obligation but a moral and human responsibility.
He made the call at the weekend in Abuja while speaking at the 2026 International Convention of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association, where he served as chairman of the occasion.
According to him, alumni should constantly look back and contribute to the growth and wellbeing of the institutions that prepared them for life.
“It is a responsibility to look back, to attend to the health of that school, to attend to the upgrade of that institution.
“That is your service, that is what you are expected to do and that is what God expects you to do,” Anyim said.
He stressed that the value of an alumnus’ contribution should not be determined by the amount of money donated, but by the impact of the gesture.
“Your contribution is measured according to your opportunities, your capacities, your competences. It is not measured in quantity but in every act of kindness, every act of generosity, every act that enhances human welfare, human environment and dignity,” he said.
Anyim said the convention provided an opportunity for graduates to reconnect with their common heritage, assess the state of the university and renew their commitment to its development.
He urged alumni to extend the spirit of giving beyond their immediate families to institutions and communities that contributed to their personal development.
“When you walk through a place, more particularly a place that prepared you for what you are, you should look back and invest in others,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, described the Alumni Association as a major pillar of his administration’s transformation agenda.
Anyaehie recalled his longstanding relationship with the alumni body, saying the partnership had helped deliver projects worth more than N200 million to the university.
“My journey started with the alumni. After that, we built a university network which in two years delivered projects for over N200 million to the university and it is registered and it is still continuing as of now,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor said alumni support had also included donations of books and other resources, adding that he activated various alumni networks immediately after assuming office.
He recalled that the university was facing financial challenges when he assumed office, but said alumni support provided an immediate boost to his administration.
“When I came in, I was handed over a university with N7 million debt and a N21 million, but I wasn’t afraid because I know when God sends you on an assignment, He will make a way,” he said.
According to him, alumni provided the first N10 million to enable the university commence work on some projects.
He particularly appreciated the Asaba Chapter, which he said presented him with his first cheque of N500,000.
Anyaehie also unveiled a number of student-centred reforms, including improved classroom facilities, digital clearance and automated certificate issuance.
He said the university had introduced a fully digital clearance system that would enable students to complete the process remotely.
“You can be in any part of the world and you apply for your clearance and within five days you are cleared,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor added that the system was designed to prevent unnecessary delays, noting that where an officer failed to act within the stipulated period, the system would automatically move the process forward.
He also disclosed that certificate issuance had been automated, allowing graduates to download provisional certificates online after completing clearance.
He said the digital certificate would carry a barcode or QR code to facilitate verification.
Also speaking, the Global President of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association, Prof. Ikechukwu Umeh, outlined plans to reposition the association as a platform for mentorship, scholarships, professional networking and institutional development.
Umeh said the association should move beyond periodic reunions and become an ecosystem capable of creating opportunities for students and graduates.
“We should establish an alumni system that mentors graduates. Alumni employers should consider fellow alumni for opportunities. Our professionals and entrepreneurs should network, collaborate and support one another,” he said.
The Global President disclosed that the association had invested N5 million in the education of 50 indigent students at the beginning of the year.
He said the scholarship programme would be expanded, particularly in view of rising education costs.
On mentorship, Umeh said the association would strengthen its programmes to connect graduating students and young alumni with established professionals for career guidance, internships, business support and employment opportunities.
He also listed the establishment of a temporary secretariat within the university, the completion of the association’s constitutional review and efforts to strengthen its Board of Trustees among the achievements recorded during his tenure.
Umeh said the association would also inaugurate at least three new branches in the coming months while strengthening existing chapters.
He identified the completion of the Alumni Centre as one of the administration’s priority projects, saying work had resumed after the recovery of the alumni account.
“We recovered the alumni account and we have resumed work on the Alumni Centre because we believe in completing what we started,” he said.
Umeh further emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the management of the association.
“As we grow, transparency and accountability must remain central to our obligations. Every member who contributes time, resources or expertise deserves confidence that such contributions are being utilised responsibly,” he said.
He thanked the university management, Board of Trustees, past presidents, members of the National Executive Council, branch executives, donors, partners and other alumni for their contributions to the association’s progress.
Umeh said the achievements recorded so far were products of collective efforts, stressing that the association’s work remained unfinished.
“Our work, however, is far from finished. Let us complete the Alumni Centre,” he said.
