For three days, in a convivial atmosphere, some alumni of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, gathered in Lagos for the association’s 2024 reunion and Annual General Meeting (AGM). Members of this group of alumni, who call themselves Auchi Oldies, are students who passed through the polytechnic between 1980 and 1989.

It was, therefore, not surprising that the three days programme to mark this year’s reunion was filled with funfare and flashback of memories as they threw banters at each other recalling some of the things they did as young men and women on campus. Along with the three-day packed fun-loving activities was a visit to the Love Home Orphanage to donate various items for inmates of the home.

Though the first day was for check-in, there was also an African night party, where participants wore smart African clothes with buba, agbada, kaftan and wrappers disallowed.

The second day started with a group breakfast followed by the AGM, games, cocktail, gala night. During the gala night, it was not all about dancing, drinking and merriment. It was also an evening where fund was raised for developmental projects on the campus on their alma mater.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the planning committee, Mr. Tony Dirisu, thanked all those who made the 2024 reunion and AGM a success.

“Today goes beyond a token coming together of our members and friends present here. By in this gathering, we are presented a cherished opportunity to reminisce on the good old days and share our aspirations and struggles that have enabled us to become relevant in our respective fields of studies and in life through the virtues of hard work and discipline that we learnt in our dear alma mater.

“These moral values that have shaped us into the great women and men that we are today endure as we recall with nostalgia, our lives in our alma mater back in the day. This is the sentiment that gave birth to the vision which culminated in the first reunion in Benin in 2019. Since then, our reunion and AGM has become a recurrent celebration in our association. And here we are in our 2024 iteration, with thanks to God and the goodwill of all present here.

“When the team of the 2024 AGM/reunion was constituted, we thought it was an uphill task. We immediately organized ourselves into committees for the various tasks. The crafting of a theme that will propel the course of our AGM/Reunion was a little bit tricky as there was the need to choose a topic that would reflect a direct representation of what our vision stands for.

“We look at the various projects to be done by our alma mater and finally made a choice of the theme of our programme- equipping the foundry workshop of the mechanical engineering department of Auchi polytechnic, Auchi. The result of our efforts is what we are experiencing at this very moment of our reunion today. Let me seize this opportunity to thank the President and the exco for the confidence and the opportunity given our team to organise the 2024 AGM/Reunion.”

Thanking all the members, especially those who played very pivotal roles to the success of the AGM/reunion, Dirisu specially commended Chris Obode, who apart from giving money for advertisements and other critical aspects of the reunion programmes, singlehandedly donated to the facilitation of very robust website to the association with the instagram, facebook and twitter handles integration. “This gives us the leverage to check all activities of our great association on tap.”

In his speech, the association’s president, Peter Nwadei, who was excited to have all the participants take part in the association’s activities including travelling from various locations within and outside Nigeria, appreciated each member for their commitment to the group.

“This is our 4th reunion since inception and I am glad to inform us that this is the largest number of membership attendance we have had. We have close to 70 members that registered. Without sounding immodest, the caliber of dignitaries has made this reunion a very special one. Taking us back in time, the Benin reunion had just about 26 members present. Dallas 2022 had about 30 members in attendance while in Abuja, we were about 37. This shows a very tremendous growth within a short period, with the commitment and dedication by members. Therefore, I say a big congratulation to all of us.”

Nwadei emphasised the main purpose of coming together as members which is to recreate the love and friendship they once shared aside giving back to our alma mater and the needy in the society.

“In doing this, just last week, we visited the orphanage and gave out food items and toiletries. Also, we the oldies have agreed to build a foundry workshop which would be fully equipped. This project will commence not later than the end of June 2024.

“It is noteworthy to recognise the assistance of one of us, in person of Frank Okosun, who is giving automatic internships to five deserving graduates from the school of environmental studies.

“Furthermore, we have given cash awards to students that excelled from the different departments and we plan to continue with this noble course this year as we have some names shortlisted already. Also, we just supplied some desktop computers to the school IT lab.”
Nwadei said that members’ welfare is also taken seriously. “We have introduced the life insurance policy covering every member of the association. This forms part of our annual dues. We also have a running health insurance scheme, this will help members ameliorate the high cost of, medical treatment in the country.

“As members, we try to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. We try to network a lot and collaborate when the need arises among one another. Our very own outgoing Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu has singlehandedly completed a 300-seater capacity amphithreatre in Auchi Polytechnic which is awaiting commissioning.

“As it is customary, this reunion has been sponsored and financed by members, friends and well wishers of the association. I respectfully duff my hat for all of you for identifying with us. Whilst thanking everyone for your contributions in the past, I will want to ask and beg that you do it again as always. We solicit your usual support by giving us your widow’s mite toward our planned projects.”

Nwadei pledged that members should be rest assured that every contribution will be judiciously used and accounted for.

He thanked the Chairman of the reunion committee chaired by Mr. Tony Dirisu for the good job done.

“Also, a very big thank you to our executive for all the time and dedication. We have been meeting every week for over six months and the result is what we are seeing here today. I must not fail to thank all members of Auchi Oldies for believing in us. You all have demonstrated true brotherliness and we are happy to have you as members.”

The fund raising for projects on their alma mater at the gala night were spearheaded by the former GMD of Zenith Bank, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Osa Osunde and Frank Okosun. While giving a brief speech in preparation for the collection of donations, Onyeagwu enjoined members to give to the completion of the project as they would be proud of the completion.

He implored the members not to see it as government failing in its duty because it is not a time to blame. He narrated the experience he had when he took his children to the secondary school he attended years back just a few years back and the school was almost in ruins.

He said aside his children wondered if teaching and learning was still going on in the school. He added that as they were driving out of the school, his children told him when they have money they would help rebuild the school.

He said that the statement was not palatable to him reason he has been committed to funding projects in Auchi Polytechnic because he does not want to go to the institution with the children and they would repeat the same statement to him.

He charged the audience on the need to begin to do something to elevate their alma mater. He promised that whatever is realised for the funding of the projects would be judiciously used.

On his part, speaking after the fundraising, the Rector of the institution, Dr S. Umar, who was highly elated about the support the institution got on the night, profusely thanked the association, as the support was far beyond his expectation.

He used the opportunity to invite members of the group and other alumni to the institution’s forthcoming 60th anniversary.