By Emmanuel Edukugho

ON the day that Nigeria marked 51st anniversary of her independence, Covenant University Alumni Association launched HOPE, (an acronym for Helping Other People Excel), a non-profit organisation with a network of Leaders who have accepted responsibility for community development and social change.

The alumni body said by the unique training that they received in Covenant University prepared them to bring succour to the plight of the weak; to proffer solutions to bugging societal issues; and to serve the world with the skills of their hands and the integrity of their hearts.

Its vision is to become a Global Humanitarian Organisation committed to influencing social change, while the mission is to support, give Edifying pleasure and make strong, as help to be rendered will be “centred on spiritual, moral, intellectual and material needs.”

Mr. Olumuyiwa Fadugba, President of Covenant University Alumni Association, speaking at the summit tagged – HOPE: Launching Eagles Family Meeting- Empowering the Eagle, said the essence of HOPE is to inspire the lives of those to whom we are sent, affect individual lives of people by helping them to build up their capacity, helping them unlock potentials of success that lie within them through activities that would focus on aspects such as “leadership, skill acquisition and improvement, entrepreneurship, etc.”

He urged his fellow alumni, about one thousand of them, young men and women gathered in the African Leadership Development Center from various parts of the country, to be part of the project, saying, “it’s partnership, not money we need but ideas and an opportunity for everyone to be part of the project.” Fadugba explained the activities of the three wings of HOPE. These are:

The Schools Support Group (SSG)

Which is the outreach arm responsible for developing leaders in the secondary school system. HOPE will embark on Career Fairs, Life Skills training, Leadership Trainings, Mentorship programmes, Entrepreneurship trainings, establishing leadership/self development libraries, scholarships, inter and intra school competitions, community development/civic leadership seminars, school wide innovation and leadership award programmes.

CU Alumni at the launching

Among the goals of SSG are extinguishing vices in secondary schools, establish virtues like hard work, integrity, inspire them to be the best they were destined to be, become innovative, think creatively, be selfless and motivate them to excel in their academic works, and careers.

Prison Support Group (PSG)

This group will serve prison inmates, support them spiritually, give them edifying pleasures and make them strong by engaging them in several life transforming projects. Projects would evolve as the group identifies the key needs in the prisons.

Support Team for the young (STY)

This group will reach out to orphanage home, remand homes and to the inner city youth otherwise called street kids/ children. Orphanage and remand homes will be supported with relief materials and other essential needs.

Apart from these three major areas of intervention , HOPE will also consistently hold seminars targeted at the youth in the society whether undergraduate, graduate or young professionals at strategic location in the city, quarterly. There will be HOPE concerts featuring gospel artists and entertainment in community development and would also raised fund for future project.

HOPE – connect to partner with local and international organization such as NICEF British Council, etc to achieve worthwhile community impact goals for the greater good of the world. Then there is the Catch and Inspire Them Young (CITY) uniquely designed to improve the mentality of teenagers and inspire them to greatness.

In his keynote address, Mr. Reginald Bassey Chairman, HOPE Board of Trustees, expressed excitement at the gathering of the alumni of the covenant university, saying its all about building network of change “Not just something , but network. People are self-centered doing it alone these days individualistic but will run to society when they crash. We are building a net work for change and connected to the network. It is exciting because we are all part of the building of the network and connected to the network.”

He added: “prophesy will remain mere word, hanging in the air if not put to practice. Don’t be individualistic in your pursuit rather you become a target of the enemy. God gave everyone a target . It’s impossible to fly alone Why HOPE? Because it is the only way to make a change and to make others to help themselves. Today we are coming together in order to build society. HOPE is a cause God is interested in Get connected to HOPE “.

Bassey asked his fellow alumni to be sincere volunteers, give their resources support people in need, provide ideas inventions and innovation to change the lives of others , not only in the country, but also the world.

Unveiling the HOPE Foundation banner , the Vice -Chancellor, Prof Aize Obayan, expressed joy to welcome the Eagle back to the Eagles colony since 2006 when the first batch of graduands (Eagles )were released.

“I’ m excited about HOPE because the project will help reconstruct our nation and put a lot of pillars in place – project to build a nation and reposition society . We are proud of you making great mark, remembering the rock from which you’ve been hewed,“ she said .

Pro Obayan drew attention to the several achievements of the university so far including being among the first 100 in webometric ranking of universities in Africa, 10th in Nigeria an first among private ones, hosting many workshops, seminars, international conference, summit of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, capacity building for entrepreneurial educators and signing of MOU with UN Habitat, thereby making inroad into the United Nations system.

The VC said the feed back from the alumni is encouraging but it’s not uhuru yet. “ We ‘ve not been able to galvanize all the Eagles, but will not rest on our oars. A great revolution is on and you are the drivers’ she affirmed.

HOPE has a management team that includes Mr. Olufemi Taiwo, Arc David Aremu, Miss Olyemi Sodipe, Mr. Tobi Davies among others.