Sunday 7 April 2024

A PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO THE INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY (IMT) ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY ON ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN OFFICE BY NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF IMT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TODAY 7TH APRIL, 2024


1. Dear Patriotic Alumnus, I bring you good tidings as we mark one year in office after the Convention where we were elected into office to pilot the affairs of our cherished community on 7th April, 2023.

2. The National Executive Council (NEC) immediately settled down for  business bearing in mind our quartet focus on discovering Alumni members, growing and networking; building capacity for students with a view to supporting and mentoring them with assurances of being in the right Polytechnic; Partnering with Management with mindset of giving back; and Supporting Enugu State government in areas of synergy and developments of our Incredible IMT. These we have done and will continue to do as we step into our second year.

3. The last 12 months was turbulent with unnecessary but healthy distractions which fortified us as we were able to swim safely to the shore with your supports in various forms. Distractions can be positive when it helps to redefine your operations which end up bringing out the best in us.

4. To Corporately face the challenges ahead, NEC organized a one day Retreat at Abakiliki, Ebonyi State. That program attracted the IMT Management led by the Rector, Prof Austin Nweze and afforded us opportunity to set the tone for the Alumni activities.

5. *Our Achievements:*

a. We grew Alumni Chapters from *5 to 11* including  Diaspora;

b. Produced a brand new National  Constitution which had ALL Chapter inputs that we can proudly call *our Constitution;* 

c. Setting up of *Education Advancement Committee* for academic development of the students through scholarships;

d. *Discovered and Honoured* the first Rector of IMT Enugu who's 93 years old now. He is *Prof Mark Chijioke.* 

e. Reconciliation and reactivation of Alumni joint account with IMT Management;

f. Conducted successful Chapter elections in Ebonyi and Imo Chapters with Ebonyi Chapter already inaugurated and IMO coming up soon;

g. We successfully celebrated our prestigious IMT Enugu at 50 years on 24th November,  2023 at BONS Hotel, Independence Layout,  Enugu;

h. We were allotted a temporary office space for Alumni Secretariat;

I. Attracted ongoing construction of beffiting Alumni Secretariat by the Immediate Past National President, Chief Dr George Moghalu;

j. With your recommendation, approval and support, we appointed some of our best as Members of the Board of Trustees. May I once more remind you names of these great men and women: *Chief Dr George Moghalu,  Dr Uche Ogah. Lady Mrs Anthonia Ekwo, Mr Frank Aigbogun, Dr Etofolam Osuji, Mrs Agatha Nnaji, Mr Micheal Akinbola,  the Rector and Alumni National Lagal Adviser.* 

k. Introduction of voluntary Life Assurance Policy in partnership with Universal Insurance PLC. Members are enjoined to embrace the scheme to avoid some unpleasant situations whenever we answer the call of Life.

l. Preliminary approval by Geometric Power Limited for acceptance of our National Diploma students for one year Industrial Training especially in field of Engineering.

m. We unveiled our 5000 seater capacity track and field stadium project at IMT@50 Event on 24th November, 2023.

n. We reached out to our members at National Assembly, Political Appointees and Critical Stakeholders including non Alumnus of Enugu State origin through official visits in October, 2023. Some of our Alumni Members visited include Chief Sir Ejike Nweze, Chief Chris Unigwe, Hon Chinedu Ogah (MFHR), Hon James Faleke (MFRH), Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Kelvin Chukwu,  Chief Dr George Moghalu, Hon Darlington Okereke (NPC) and General Felix Chukwuma (RTD). Non Alumnus of Enugu State origin were Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo (Former Executive Governor of ENUGU State), Senator Ken Nnamani and Hon Pat Asadu (Former MFHR) among others. For specific reasons, we visited Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as well.

5. We were able to achieve the above through the support of our various Executive Organs, Board of Trustees, IMT Management led by our supportive Rector, Prof Austin Nweze and our workaholic Alumni Liaison Officer/PRO, Barr Mark Eze as well as immediate past Chairman of Governing Council, Deaconess Dr Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo.

6. As we match into our second year in Office, with God on our side, we hope to among other things:

a. Commence construction of the Track and Field Stadium. The location is approved and all necessary documents for the projects is being perfected. It is our project. Please prepare your minds to support the project and/or take up some aspects of the work. Interestingly, all Project Team Members will be Alumnus of IMT.

b. We shall grow our Chapters from 11 to 15 in the next 12 months.

c. We shall continue to engage the Enugu State Government with a view to appointing an Alumnus as the next Chairman of the Governing Council. I believe his Excellency the Executive Governor of Enugu State will   accede to our request.

d. We shall in conjunction with the Students Union Government and Nigeria Police Force organise Security program for a safer environment.

e. We shall partner with some Organisations and Agencies to build capacity for students.

f. Some of our departments are begging for Logistic and Academic attention. We shall encourage members, various year sets to liaise with the National Alumni Association to visit their departments, access their needs and be able to help out.

g. Politically, we shall set up a *Political Desk* to compile names of our elected and appointed *( National, States and Local Governments)* Alumni members across the country irrespective of gender, tribe and religion. We shall in addition get contacts of members holding positions in different Political Parties. Members are hereby enjoined  to identify with any political party of their choice at this time in the history of Nigeria. Those elected into office or appointed politically are equally encouraged to empower members through political appointments. These are some ways we can participate and further deepen our political relevance. We have Presidential and Governorship materials here. At this point, we recognize and salute His Excellency Chief Achike Udenwa (Onwa) former Governor of IMO State who built and donated Accountancy Complex as Governor.  

7. Dear Fellow Alumnus, your membership is not activated if you don't belong to a Chapter. Being in Global Platform doesn't confer automatic membership until you get registered with a Chapter. Identify with a Chapter closest to you, register and be part of her activities. If you have concerns , please feel free to reach the Secretariat on 08033423079, 08033297401 and 08037109453.

8. Furthermore, we want to reassure great Alumni men and women of our Noble Institution that we shall always do our utmost in serving you. We are laying strong and sustainable foundation that will positively redefine our scope, acceptance, respect and networking. We shall serve with integrity and be accountable to you.

9. We want to assure concerned members who showed interest in our meeting with the Implementation Committee on Report of IMT by the Committee set up by the Enugu State government that the Committee means well. Our engagement with Prof Edmund Nwobodo led Committee was that of injection of fresh ideas, value chain reengineering and functional restructuring. Let us support them in their assignment and we commend Management and Staff  for cooperating with the Committee.

10. Our Team have been inundated with calls based on recent publication about planned relocation of our beloved IMT Enugu from its present location. We wish to categorically state that there is no truth in it as that remains a beer parlour debate in rumour realm. 

11. In the past 90 days, we celebrated two of our own. We celebrated the doyen of Abia Rejoice, former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development and President of Masters Energy Group, Dr Uche Ogah as he was remarkably and deservedly recognized as *The Sun Man Industrialist of the year 2023.* In addition, Alumni Association was well represented as Geometric Power Limited commissioned her Power Plant at ABA, Abia State. We celebrated with our BOT member, Mrs Agatha Nnaji. We look forward to more recognitions, breakthroughs and prowess by members of this amazing community. We also celebrated Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa and Mr Frank Aninwike respectfully appointed by Governor Peter Mbah into his government. We most respectfully appreciate His Excellency. 

12. This is our Community and ideas are unlimited. We can only grow together in atmosphere of peace, mutual respect, honesty and commitment. Please, we are open to constructive criticisms. Come up with ideas that can promote, project and protect us in this beloved Community. 

13. Please ask for what you can do for your department and IMT. We urge members to keep working hard in their various professional and vocational callings, network internally with best of intentions,  help one another if it's within your reach, patronize members goods, skills and services, stand out in your area of endeavour, stay out of trouble, be security conscious and avoid unnecessary exposures; and in all circumstances please do not give up.

14. On behalf of NEC and various organs of our Association, thank you so much and please accept our warm and esteemed assurances as we look forward to achieving more together with YOU.

God bless you and God bless us all.

 *Mazi Dr Agodi Kanu* 

 *National President,  IMT Alumni Association*

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