When Abia State University Alumni Association, North America met, merried, mobilised for alma mater

The Abia State University Alumni Association (ABSUAA), North America had its second annual convention and fundraising activities, targeted at achieving “Operation Light Up ABSU” with solar panels and solar streetlights, from September 16 to 18, 2022, at William Bolger Center, Potomac MD
The Convention was very successful as alumni from all over North America and some from UK and Nigeria attended.
In attendance were Mrs. Blessing Igwe, Deputy Registrar of the University and Prof Bond Anyaehie, an alumni, who is the global coordinator of the ABSU medical Alumni association.
The program started on Friday September 16, 2022, with a meet and greet party that lasted till the wee hours of the morning due to the electric performance of Olujazz the Saxatalkertive and DJ Barack.
Saturday started off with a business meeting of the associates anchored by the President, Mr. Okechukwu Uguru, a software engineer based in Delaware who welcomed the members and on behalf of his executive assured members that the alumni association is in good standing. The financial status is good and outlook going forward is very promising, he stressed. He appreciated the members for the unparalleled support they have given his administration and also thanked the organizing committee members for all the efforts put towards preparing for a massively successful convention.
The financial secretary, Emeka Oruada and the treasurer Mrs. Ijeoma Igwe presented the audited account which members endorsed.
The business meeting dovetailed into a question-and-answer session which provided opportunity for the alumni to interact with representatives from the school and it was a productive session as the Deputy Registrar assured all that the concerns raised regarding how challenging it is to obtain transcripts will be given utmost attention.
The “Operation Light Up ABSU” was kicked off by the chairman of the project committee, Dr Boris Emeka Oji with a motivational speech in which he detailed what he has done for the institution in the last 12 years and encouraged members to pull together and financially support this new project of providing solar Panels on the IT library and solar street lightings throughout the school, reminding them of how they successfully provided 34 all in one computers to the school in 2018. Like a wildfire members responded positively with over $30,000 raised during the business meeting.
This fundraising was driven by the mercurial efforts of Mr. Billy Okoye, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organization who used his salesman’s skills to the maximum effect and opened the fundraising by making a personal donation of $3000. The president also made a $3000 donation amongst others.
The business meeting was adjourned for members to undertake a tour of DC, including a visit to the White House. The tour built greater camaraderie amongst members who were present.
The Gala night which followed the tour saw multiple entertainments being provided for the excited members, with MC Gladys leading the way, DJ KC, Chia the Afrobeat dance group and Saxatalkertive olujazz all lighting up the evening.
Comedian Dauda all the way from Nigeria took folks back to their childhood in Nigeria with rib cracking jokes.
The president of the Association, Okechukwu Uguru, had set the tone for the evening’s Gala event by welcoming everyone. He also gave awards of recognition to members of his executive committee names of which are listed above
The guest speaker, Prof Bond Anyaehie, the Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsuka, Enugu campus, gave a scintillating lecture titled “Is stress stressful?”
Chairman of the occasion/Chief launcher of the fundraising dinner, Dr Boris Emeka Oji, set the ball rolling when he and his wife Kelly Oji supported the fundraising efforts with a donation of $6000. Other members joined with a flurry of donations which will actually make “Operation Light Up ABSU” a reality.
The evening ended with members dancing till the early morning of Sunday.
While some members from out of state were traveling back that Sunday morning, however, others proceeded to do community work.
Overall, the Convention turned out to be very successful and not only brought alumni of ABSU together but also provided opportunity for them to once again give back to their Alma mater.
The President of the Association, Mr. Okechukwu Uguru and his executive committee sincerely thanks everyone that came and all those that made the program the huge success that it turned out to be and wished all safe trip back to their destinations.