IMPORTANT ADVISORY CIRCULAR TO ALL BRANCHES OF AFUED ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The cornerstone of this Association is to lead alumni in fostering strong connections with each other and to assist our alma mater to assume its place at the forefront of Education of Nigerians and the world.

MISSION STATEMENT OF AFUED FOR 2023

Greatest Arbicans!Are you aware that our Mission Statement is:

-To create and reinforce lifelong intellectual, professional, and personal connections among its members, to serve the community and to strengthen the link between the alumni and our alma mater?

Objectives of the AFUED Alumni Association

Do you know that our objectives are:

– To increase the number of active alumni, renew old friendships, and create new ones?

– To engage in community service?

– To create career opportunities?

– To support the school in maintaining its legacy of excellence in education?

– To create a scholarship fund to help deserving and needy students get a sound education?

Can you see that these are lofty heights that we must climb together in line with best practice?

Do you know we may be as separate as fingers, yet, one as a hand in all things essential for mutual progress of our Association?

Do you know that every active member in a branch is very useful to drive the programmes of the Association?
Do you know that the National Secretariat adopts Committee System which is strongly recommended for all the Chapters?

The following Committees can be encouraged in our various chapters to carry everyone along. Do you care to know these Committees and possibly the functions they are to perform? If yes, please come along!

ALUMNI COMMITTEES

1. SOCIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE
The Social Events Committee is to ensure that diverse and effective programmes, activities, and events are developed to strengthen AFUED Alumni affiliation, and community spirit.

The Cardinal Goals of the Social Committee are:

• To support efforts of the College to keep alumni informed.

• To provide a venue for the exchange of ideas between alumni and the College.

• To provide ways for alumni to network and meet each other in their communities.

• To plan and host local, State, regional, national and international events that strengthen alumni ties.

• To renew friendships developed at the College.

• To encourage participation in the annual fund and capital campaigns.

Composition of the Social Committee:

The Social Events Committee will be supervised by the National, State and Branch Executive Council members of the Alumni Association and is composed of:

• Interested alumni members.

COMPOSITION OF SUB-COMMITTEES PER EVENT

Branches are encouraged to constitute
• Sub committees per event, or activity when and as needed.

The composition can be as follows:
• Advisor (preferably an Exco member of the branch)

• other officers to network with the other committees.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SUB-COMMITTEES
The Responsibilities of the sub-committees include:
• Preparing the annual calendar of functions/events
• Monitoring the activities of branches to ensure synchronization with alumni vision and mission.

• Planning and coordinating approved functions/events

• Developing database to track invitations and attendance for each event

• Have a feedback from alumni/ students to put efforts in specific areas (through events)

• Evaluate events.

• Networks with other committees and the College’s Director of Alumni Association and the Public Relations Unit of the College to ensure the marketing and advertising of the events.

2. OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Outreach Committee cultivates connections between alumni, current students, faculty, and the greater College community through a number of programmes developed to enrich a sense of civic responsibility and encourage a professional interaction through lectures, sports competitions, symposia, conferences, ceremonies and get-together-parties.
The Goals of this Committee are:

• To provide career guidance.

• To provide a venue for the to exchange experiences and learning.

• To provide ways for alumni to network and establish mentorship programmes.

• To encourage civic awareness and possible social opportunities.

The suggested composition may include:
The Exco at each of the Branches
This Outreach & Career Guidance Committee will be supervised by the National Secretariat of the Alumni Association and supported by individual members of the Association.

These
• Interested alumni members may be constituted into sub-committees.
• Sub committees are constituted per event, or activity when and as needed.
• Advisor (preferably an exco member)
• other officers to network with the other committees.

Responsibilities:
• Prepare a database of dedicated active successful alumni

• Identify topics of interest to potential graduates.

• Locate and contact potential speakers.

• Prepare a calendar of activities and events.

• Organize a Career Guidance Day.

• Investigate and encourage alumni to develop internships and hire fellow alumni and students.

• Identify professional development opportunities for current students and alumni.

• Serve on career panels and related events for current students.

• Promote and participate in the College’s Career Guidance Day to allow students to contact selective alumni for suggestions and guidance in their employment search.

• Help develop communication strategies for encouraging alumni to maintain current profiles in the online alumni directory when it becomes operational.

• Encourage alumni to identify the Great Arbicans in their professional profiles

3.MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
To assist in recruiting and renewing members.

Goals:
Find the support and resources to plan and execute a strategy devoted to membership marketing.

Composition:
• The committee is composed of at least one representative from the Executive Council of the Branch and class representatives.

• The committee should have a chairman, chapter coordinators, and class representatives.
• The committee should have at least one representative from every class.
• Subcommittees or chapters to span 2 or 4 years (as to be decided by the main committee)
• Each chapter will have one coordinator who will report directly to the Committee chairman.
• Chairman should share upfront and explain the responsibilities and time commitment entailed in serving on the Committee.

Functions:
• Contact prospective members by phone or email to invite them to join Branch meetings.

• Contact all new active members personally by phone or email to welcome them to the Alumni Association and invite them to the next meeting.

• Respond to disgruntled members’ calls and solicit feedback for improvement.

• Contact delinquent members prior to cancellation and encourage them to renew.

• Greet and introduce new members and prospective members at Chapter meetings.

• Host membership open house/meeting for prospective members.

• Host and lead new member receptions / orientations at Annual and/or Chapter Meetings.

Serve as greeters and facilitators at new member orientations.

• Plan and implement an annual member-get-a-member campaign.

Suggested Plan of action:
• Provide Training and Orientation: communicate the goals and objectives of the Committee upfront.

• Establish/Develop/Revise and implement the goals of Membership Recruitment and Retention Plan.

• Determine and respond to members’ needs.

• Conduct needs assessment.

• Conduct member and non-member focus groups.

• Develop and review satisfaction surveys.

Determine and implement new ways to increase member satisfaction.

• Contact lapsed members to evaluate and respond to needs not being met by the Chapter.

• Identify new member benefits and services that are needed based on member feedback collected, as well as enhancements to existing member benefits.

• Determine and implement methods to recognize and reward members.

• Determine and implement methods to involve members in Chapter committees, programmes, and activities.

Great Arbicans!
Each and everyone is a link in the long chain. Edmund Hillary admonishes:
“You don’t need to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.”
Arbicans are always great! We enjoin all our chapters to set to work to raise the bar of achievements of the Alumni Association.

LAST LINE:
Jill Koenig resonates:
“If a goal is worth having, it’s worth blocking out in your day-to-day life necessary to achieve it. ”

May it please all Great Arbicans that we should be active in all the programmes of our local branches. This is cardinal to our Mission Statement for the rest of this year 2023

Greatest Arbicans!
The state of our Association is strong!
I thank you.

Your Comrade,

Dr Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade

National President.