SPEECH OF CHAIRMAN, NOUNAA CTC, ON FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION

The Vice Chancellor,

Permit me to stand on all existing Protocol.

It gives me pleasure to welcome the NOUN alumni of this Great University to this unique occasion. This is the first time the NOUN alumni
are meeting to take important decisions that will determine the future of this great Association. Our gathering here today is to lay the foundations for the National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA). 

The NOUN Alumni association, when constituted, will serve as a forum for members to interact and exchange contacts for social, professional, academic and scientific purposes. It will also serve as a medium to foster cooperation, support and understanding between the outside community and the National Open University of Nigeria. Above all, this association will exist to support the vision and mission of the National Open University of Nigeria in providing highly accessible and enhanced quality education, functional, cost effective and flexible learning environment which add life-long value to quality education for all who seek knowledge. 

The journey to this day has not been easy. As you may recall, on Friday 18^th January, 2012 at the National theatre complex, Iganmu, Lagos, the NOUN Alumni Association Interim Executive was constituted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe to put in place the structures of a formidable Association. Due to certain reasons, the committee was unable to complete the assignment.

The management of the university, in its determination to ensure the creation of the association, held a delegate congress on the 12^th July, 2014 to elect members of the NOUN Alumni Association Caretaker Committee. The members of the committee were sworn into office on the 16th of July, 2014 with a mandate to register the Association, draft a constitution and conduct elections into positions in the state and national levels. This committee was given six weeks to achieve this daunting but surmountable task.

This committee held several meetings immediately after its inauguration and came out with a realistic work plan that would enable it meet the terms of its mandate, within six weeks. The first task the committee embarked on was the holding of public hearing on the draft constitution. Public hearings on the draft constitution were held in Enugu, Kaduna and Lagos respectively to collate views form alumni of the National Open University of Nigeria. We also opened a blog for alumni who could not make it to any of the various sittings to express their suggestions. 

We have worked tirelessly with our lawyer to collate all views and suggestions expressed by all alumni in the Public sittings and our online channels. I am glad to inform you, dear alumni, that the final draft of the National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA) is ready for adoption today. 

Distinguished alumni, I urge all of you that are present here today to support the adoption of this constitution. The adoption of this constitution will lay the foundation for the establishment of National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA). I must be humble to admit that this constitution is not perfect; as there is no perfect constitution anywhere in the world. The United States of American has had over 50 amendments to their constitution to date; our dear country is undergoing constitutional amendment. This constitution also has a clause for amendment to grapple with the realities of the future. 

Distinguished alumni, I therefore call on our lawyer to present the constitution for adoption.

Thank you all.