USOSA urge alumni, FG to rebuild trust, revive unity colleges
The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has urged alumni and the federal government to work together in rebuilding public trust and restoring the lost glory of Nigeria’s Unity Colleges.
Speaking at its 46th Plenary Session in Abuja, the association emphasised the need for renewed leadership, accountability, and educational reform to revive the founding ideals of national unity and excellence through education.
With the theme “Politics and Governance: USOSA’s Role in the Nigeria Project,” the plenary provided a platform for reflection on how governance challenges and leadership gaps have eroded both the vision of Unity Colleges and Nigeria’s collective identity.
Delivering the keynote address, Onyebuchi Chukwu, former minister of Health and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Alex Ekwueme Federal University described the Unity Schools initiative as one of the most visionary investments ever made by the Nigerian government.
He noted that Nigeria’s greatest challenge was not merely economic or educational, but moral rooted in the loss of mutual trust among citizens.
“The greatest challenge facing Nigeria today is a trust deficit. We have lost confidence in one another. Without restoring mutual trust and faith in our shared destiny, nation-building will remain elusive,” Chukwu cautioned.
He urged leaders and alumni to lead by example through integrity and accountability, emphasising that Nigerians are willing followers when they trust their leaders.
Michael Magaji, USOSA President-General, lamented the steady deterioration of Unity Colleges, once symbols of excellence and national cohesion, citing poor infrastructure, declining teaching standards, and inadequate teacher welfare.
“Education and health are the twin pillars of any prosperous society. If we want to rebuild this nation, we must rebuild the minds that will lead it. That’s why Unity Schools must once again become models of learning excellence and good governance,” Magaji said.
He called on alumni networks to move beyond nostalgia and take active roles in public service and policy advocacy to influence meaningful change.
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Magaji also underscored the need for renewed collaboration between government and alumni networks to restore the lost glory of Unity Colleges and strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
He stressed that the link between education and employability had weakened over time and called for a holistic reform to ensure that Unity Schools continue to produce citizens capable of driving national development.
The meeting brought together alumni from different states, government officials, educators, and policymakers, who all echoed the need for stronger partnerships to revive the vision of the Unity Schools as beacons of national integration and excellence.
