At the 2025 National Convention of the Imo State University Alumni Association (IMSUAA), held recently in Owerri, financial expert and keynote speaker, Sir Stanley Amuchie, made a strong case for alumni associations as crucial partners in driving growth and sustainability in Nigeria’s education sector.
Delivering his keynote address, Amuchie, Executive Director, Chief Operations and Information Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, noted that the gap between what students need today and what many Nigerian universities currently provide has widened, largely due to global technological transformation.
He emphasized that alumni networks hold the power to bridge this gap by complementing government’s efforts in funding, research, and institutional development.
“Global universities thrive on strong alumni networks. For instance, more than 30,000 college alumni donate to Harvard University each year, supporting everything from financial aid to research facilities. Harvard’s annual giving programme demonstrates how consistent small contributions create massive impact, even when 56% of donors give less than $500.”
The President of Goodlight Foundation also cited Princeton University’s record, highlighting that the institution had the highest average alumni giving rate for the 2022–2023 academic year at 46.6%, compared to a global average of just 7.7%. He stressed that Nigerian universities could follow similar paths if alumni show commitment, coordination, and consistency.
“Every successful alumnus represents untapped potential for institutional development,” he said. “Your expertise, networks, and resources can transform departments, fund research, and create opportunities for students.
“Today, you have the power to be that someone for current students. Your intervention could be the difference between dropping out and graduating, between unemployment and entrepreneurship, between limitation and liberation.”
His remarks were greeted with applause from the audience, with many alumni acknowledging the urgent need for collective action.
In his address, IMSUAA National President, Dr. Charles Nwosu, commended Amuchie for what he described as a “timely reminder of the power of alumni solidarity.” He noted that the association had initiated scholarship schemes, mentorship programmes, and infrastructural interventions, but called for “greater commitment from every alumnus to secure the future of our institution.”
Other dignitaries at the convention included members of the university’s Governing Council, past IMSUAA presidents, and representatives of alumni chapters from across the country and the diaspora.
Highpoint of the event was the donation of sanitation materials to the university by Sir Amuchie. The items included; 8 lawnmower machine, 24 bins, 12 Waste disposal bags
The convention ended with a renewed pledge by participants to deepen alumni support for Imo State University, with a special committee inaugurated to design new intervention strategies in scholarships, research funding, and entrepreneurship support for students.
