CRUTECH alumni holds reunion, honours Duke, Imoke others

By Kanjal Godshield

The Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), alumni association has conferred awards of excellence and service to humanity on former governors Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke and other personalities in the society.

The alumni President, Comrade Eyam Abeng, while speaking at the event held at the Kola nut conference center, Calabar, said the event was aimed at bringing both old and new graduates together to chart a new course for their alma mata.

According to him, "a day like this is very important as it gives us the opportunity to meet with many of our graduates after a long time. The alumni are able to meet one another, their former lecturers and other staff.

 "It gives me great pleasure to address you on this auspicious occasion of our alumni reunion.

"A day like this is very important as it gives us the opportunity to meet with many of our graduates after a long time. The alumni are able to meet one another, their former lecturers and other staff. It also enables the alumni to familiarize themselves with the developments at the alma mata

"Allow me to tender my gratitude to each and every one of you for finding time to be with us today. It takes a lot of sacrifice to set aside time out of your busy schedules and come over to such a function. I do hope that the experiences of this day will be worth the sacrifice you have made.

"It is wonderful to see you all here tonight. What a beautiful sight! I hope you can appreciate how inspiring it is for a president to experience a weekend like this: basking in the love and devotion that loyal alumni bring back to their alma mater. It is really a privilege for me to be able to meet so many of you all at once. I should also note that you have travelled here today from all over Nigeria and the globe. You know, people often ask me if there have been any surprises for me since taking this job and I would have to say: One thing I did not expect was the enormous pleasure I would feel connecting with the most  talented, creative , innovative  and accomplished graduates, of all generations, who make up the CRUTECH Alumni family. Thank you so much for being here and for your support. It is good to see all of you again and to share our lives once more, however fleetingly, for this moment in time. I am sure our lives have progressed in many different directions.  I am likewise sure that this fact adds much richness to our mutual consciousness of our roots, and of one another," he said.

He added "In line with the words of John Maxwell - "everything in life rises and falls on leadership”

" The Present Leaders of the National Executive Council of CRUTECH Alumni believes in Proactive, Effective she Visionary Leadership anchored on verifiable and sustainable results.

I am calling this my “state of the reunion address,” because I want to give you a sense of where CRUTECH is at this point in time. As we all know, I have just completed my second year of the four years in office as the National President of CRUTECH Alumni Association. In December 2015, I took over the mantle of leadership as the president of this noble and proactive Association. Honestly, I  have spent the past two years getting to know our Association better and also appreciate the daily challenges been confronted by our Alma mater. I have been deeply impressed with what I have found. We have talented, driven, and socially responsible Alumni; who are passionate and zealous along with a visionary leadership in our Alumni across all strata of the association. I have been to many fine institutions and am bold to say: CRUTECH Alumni is now a Brand and a role model," he said.

Although former governors Duke and Imoke were not present to receive their awards, but, one of the recipients, HRM. Ogamode Clement Onah and Prof Ekanem Braide expressed gratitude to the alumni for the honour.