03/05/2024
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY CHIEF OBIOMA ANSELM CHUKWUKA, THE NEWLY ELECTED CHAIRMAN, FUTO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, LAGOS CHAPTER—29/04/2024
My dear Great Futoites, Friends, Companions and Colleagues,
1. It is my greatest delight today for the trust and faith you bestowed in me as the newly elected Chairman of this great Association. With all the opportunities and challenges that come with my acceptance to serve us all, I am of the belief that this journey will not be a smooth one if I am to walk it alone, however, we thank our leaders for drafting constitution that recognizes the importance of the Vice Chairman, Secretary General, PRO, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, DOS and others as it is through this synergism that we are going to make sure that the dreams and goals of our dear Alumni are achieved. Our mantra is ONE PEOPLE, GREATER ALUMNI. This theme is going to be achieved as we trudge forward.
2. I am profoundly honoured by the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of our dear Alumni Association for the next TWO years (if I'm not mistaken). As I greet you for the first time as the Lagos Chapter Chairman.
3. My profound gratitude goes to all the former Excos and to all that deemed it necessary to exercise their franchise despite all odds. I salute the courage and doggedness of previous administrations, despite obvious challenges and criticisms. No doubt the job of building Rome, was not done in a Day. We have begun the journey of rebirthing our Lagos chapter and for us, it is FORWARD EVER!
4. I am overwhelmed with the free and fair election: I must commend MR. CHIKWENDU A.K. (The Chairman) and his electoral team for a good job done. On behalf of the Newly Elected EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I say a big thank you to all and we all gladly accept our roles as your representatives in the echelon of duty.
5. I think I can say, with at least some degree of confidence, we have likely spent a fair amount of time being inundated with well-meaning attempts to describe just how special a place FUTO and its Alumni are – There is so much love and pride for this place, for this community, its hard to hold back – hard to not at least try to explain. But how do you distill what it is to be a Futoite into mere words? Surely one could describe an extraordinary passion for service and compassion for others. And just as equally perhaps, the unwavering drive and work ethic instilled in all of us to succeed in our chosen fields… maybe it’s the cumulation of memories of time spent in FUTO. We must put smiles on our faces as we remember those long nights in FUTO, as we remember the new generation of Futoites and as we remember our dear Alumni Association.
6. There are lots of things/thoughts going through my head/mind as I speak to you today: What impact and legacy do I (WE) want to leave on FUTO as Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Alumni Association? Most importantly, how do I (we) build upon our plans to drive greater engagement from Alumni to build bigger circles and a community of tighter connections?
7. Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous and adorable initiatives that were undertaken by the previous crop of leaders. Indeed, you are an inspiration, a challenge and an avenue for us to continue doing these great works that you began, I am certain though, that with this team that we have, we shall even do much better because I have faith in this team. This new breed of Executive Officers will champion the cause of our Chapter to uncommon heights.
8. The only way to lead a successful Alumni Association is to engage your help mates (the Newly Elected Officials and the strong alumni of FUTO as whole). This we must achieve via constructive engagement of all cadres of members of the Alumni. Our diverse opinions, we must harness and use them to build a strong Alumni Association. We need you all, (both old and young, new graduates and established graduates) to perpetuate the pride that sits deep in our heart.
9. Let me use this opportunity to call on every member of this FAMILY, Futo Alumni Lagos Chapter, to come on board. It’s time to build a HOME, irrespective of our economic or social status, we belong to this unique FAMILY, Futo Alumni Lagos Chapter.
10. In the next few hours and days, the new EXCO will roll out a detailed programme which will show the policy direction of this administration. This programme will be open to inputs, suggestions, and other novel ideas towards consolidating progressively on previously laid foundations. There is no time to waste!
11. To give you an insight into where we are heading to, I wish to inform you that all our social media handles will be active day by day. As I speak to you, our websites and blog pages are being redesigned and the full active website will be launched in the months of May and June. All our correspondences will no longer go to personal emails henceforth, all our emails have been created and are active on the FUTO Lagos alumni domain. The Secretariat will publish these official emails for the use of our members and the association. Today our blogs have been revitalized and active. However, more work, progressive work has to be done as we move forward.
12. We are moving to constituting relevant committees to help in carrying out the programmes of our administration for the next two years. Such committees will be announced in the coming days.
13. To our members who may also be belonging to other associations, we still want to say that, this journey we cannot make alone as leaders, but it is through your support, critics and encouragements that we shall have something to do together because together we shall continue to make it.
14. May the Great God of the Universe see us through.
15. Thank you all, God bless you, I wish you well!
Signed:
Chief Obioma Anselm CHUKWUKA, fcsml, fcsi, fipma, fcicpfm, cpmp
[Ochashi Gburugburu]
08023014399
Chairman, FUTO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, LAGOS CHAPTER
3rd May, 2024.
