It was a glorious homecoming for the 1999 set of the Department of Banking and Finance, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to their alma mater to empower the current students with laptops and financial support for tuition fees.
Presenting the laptop for the Department to the HOD
The colourful presentation ceremony, held at the CIBN Hall of the university, saw the 1999 alumni of the institution donate laptops to students across all levels of the department. In addition, cheques were also presented to indigent students to enable them to pay their school fees for the current academic session.
The gesture, described by many as timely and impactful, drew commendation from staff and students alike, with hopes expressed that other graduating sets would emulate the initiative.
Representing the 1999 set, Alhaji Ahmed Inuwa and Mr. Martins Agbataekwe reaffirmed the group’s dedication to the progress of the department. They assured that the set would continue to contribute meaningfully and would not relent in supporting initiatives that promote student welfare and academic advancement.
Four best academic performing students in the departments received a high end laptop while another laptop was given to the department to ease documentation and record keeping.
Agbataekwe Ndubisi Martins said the gesture is their own way of giving back to the society. He recalled that they schooled when the education system was analog but, today, that everything has gone digital, so they decided to do something for the younger generation of students.
He disclosed that funds for the gesture came from free will donations from the class members while they plan to make the initiative an annual event.
“Officially, we shall hold our reunion by December. Most of us have not met physically in the last 26 years, so the reunion will afford us such an opportunity, and for us to do something more tangible again for the department and the university. “It’s not going to be a one-off thing. We want the department to be enjoyable for the students; something we did not enjoy during our own time, but we want to seek a better life for the students” he stated.
He had words of advice for the students: “What we did, today, is not ending today. If you were not recognised today, tomorrow might be your turn. All you need to do is to work harder because our paramount aim is for a better society” he said.
For Ahmed Inuwa, the motivation to come back to the alma mater was the fact that the department gave them wings to fly in life, but coming back after many years has been a great eye opener, as many things have changed both in the department and the entire university.
He thanked the Head of Department and the Dean of the Faculty for their cooperation and urged the students to try and be the best in the society.
Presenting the items on behalf of the alumni, the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. Francis O. Nwankwo, in conjunction with the Head of the Department, Banking and Finance, Prof. Gideon K. Ezu applauded the 1999 set for remembering their roots and investing in the future of the department.
Prof. Ezu, in his remarks, expressed deep appreciation to the donors for their generosity and commitment to the growth of the department. He charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the laptops and financial support, noting that the items were not merely gifts, but tools for academic excellence and personal development.
The HOD noted that the 1999 set has ensured that the image of the department was uplifted by their gesture. He described the set as best among equals who should be emulated by other graduated sets. He called on other alumni members to do likewise, noting that the department still needs assistance in the areas of the provision of departmental library, conference centre, banking and finance auditorium, among others.
Staff Adviser for the department, Nwankwo Blessed, in a remark, noted that contributions of the alumni has contributed immensely to the growth of the department and the university.
One of the beneficiaries, Onyinyechi Marvelous, a 300 Level student, in an interview, said she felt highly elated to have emerged as one of the beneficiaries of the laptop. She said the laptop would help her realise her dream of learning data analysis and also be of great assistance in her academic work.
Another beneficiary, Ibeabuchi Oluchi, 400 Level, who was also picked as the best student in her level with a CGPA of 4.67, said the laptop would ease her stress as she gets set to write her project topic. Joshua Etim, a 200 Level student, also expressed the same sentiments while the Departmental President, Christopher Oddih, described the development as a proud moment for him and the department, more so, as it happened during his own time.
He said the new chapter initiated by the 1999 set has set a precedent which other sets could emulate, to take the department and its students to greater heights.
For the scholarship beneficiaries, Chinonye Emmanuel, 300 Level, and Ugwunze Amarachi Maryann, it was a dream come true for them as they were at the verge of getting stranded academically, having not paid their school fees for the session while exams had been slated for next week.
“Thank you for lifting this burden off me, 1999 Alumni set” Amarachi echoed.
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