The Alumni Association of Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT) has elected Captain William Ogunsakin as its first President, to lead the executives to steer the affairs of the association for the next two years. This is even as he has promised to restore hope and address the high level of unemployment among members.
In his opening address during the association’s Annual General Meeting and Elections which held in Lagos over the weekend, the Chairman Caretaker Committee, Prince Edward Oluwajoba noted that the journey started on the 11 of February 2011 when 23 alumni members met and appointed an 8-man Caretaker committee to serve as interim executives of the association
Oluwajoba stressed that the alumni association has been able to sponsor the mandatory training for 87 final year students and has engaged the college management in securing an office space to be used as the Alumni secretariat.
While appreciating the Board of Trustees and members of the association for their support, the out-going Caretaker Committee Chairman appealed for a continued cooperation extended to the incoming executive for the success of association’s goal.
“To the incoming and first elected executive, I wish you well as you take over. The seed of the association has been planted and needs to be nurtured to germinate and blossom. Be rest assured of my support whenever it is needed. I wish to appeal to the BOT and members of the association to give the incoming executive all the support they will need to succeed as you gave to us”, he said
In his acceptance speech, the newly -lected President of the association, Captain William Ogunsakin assured that his team will restore hope by collaborating with local and foreign companies as well as members of the association who own ships to engage and provide job placements for members of the association.
Ogunsakin stressed that his leadership would initiate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with foreign institutions for advanced training of outstanding students, adding that this will break the jinx of the nominal Near Coastal Vessels (NCV) certificates in Nigeria.
The alumni President also promised to engage the management of the College to incorporate relevant courses for better certification. He also added that necessary facilities such as Sick Bay and provision of safety skills such as first aid and firefighting will be adequately provided for current students of the college.
“In those days when you enter this school, you enter with great hope and aspiration, but it is no longer like that we need to restore that hope back to the students. We would try to engage the students in ways we can restore their hope. Even some of the alumni of the school are out there in desolation.
“We would collaborate with the Rector and the school authority to ensure the Curricular is reviewed. We want to incorporate relevant courses so that when students graduate from this school, they would be of higher advantage than their contemporaries. They would not need to travel abroad before they are certified. We would have Memorandum of Understanding with foreign institutions to train some outstanding students. Many of the certificates given in Nigeria are Near Coastal Vessels (NCV).
“We would work against that jinx, by sending our people abroad working with Europe or Canada. We would also be part of the trainers training the students; we would not leave them in the hands of the teachers alone” Ogunsakin assured.
On his part, the BoT Chairman of the Alumni Association, Captain Fola Ojutalayo charged the executive members to ensure they adequately serve in their various capacities and give back to their Alma Mata.
The Electoral Committee Chairman, Captain Lawal Babatunde presented Certificates of Return to the elected members who include: Captain William Ogunsakin as President, Musa Gambo as Vice President, Ben Bekes as General Secretary, Abiala James as Asst. Gen Secretary, Cordelia Okwuole as Treasurer, Oladimeji Kehinde as Finance Secretary, Christian Phillips as Asst. Finance Secretary, Awolusi Dehinde as Social Secretary, Umukoro Morrison as Asst. Social Secretary, Oyegbola Oludare as Public Secretary, Joshua Ayotunde as Asst. Public Secretary, Ajibola Kabiru as Welfare Secretary and Olusegun Banjo as Asst Welfare Secretary.
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