The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has urged alumni and the Federal Government to work together to rebuild public trust and restore the lost glory of Unity Colleges of Nigeria.
Speaking at its 46th Plenary Session in Abuja, the association stressed the need for renewed leadership, accountability and educational reforms to revive the founding ideals of national unity and excellence through education.
With the theme “Politics and Governance: The Role of USOSA in the Nigeria Project”, the plenary session provided a platform to reflect on how governance challenges and leadership shortcomings 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 Orthopedic Surgery at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, described the Unity School initiative as one of the most visionary investments ever made by the Nigerian Government.
He said Nigeria's biggest challenge is not merely economic or educational, but a moral challenge rooted in the loss of mutual trust among citizens.
Chukwu warned, “The biggest challenge facing Nigeria today is lack of trust. We have lost trust in each other. Without restoring mutual trust and confidence in our shared destiny, nation building will remain elusive.”
He urged leaders and alumni to lead by example through integrity and accountability, stressing that when Nigerians trust their leaders they are willing followers.
USOSA President-General Michael Magaji lamented the steady decline of Unity Colleges, once symbols of excellence and national unity, citing poor infrastructure, falling teaching standards and inadequate teacher welfare.
Magaji said, “Education and health are the two pillars of any prosperous society. If we want to rebuild this nation, we must rebuild the minds that will lead it. Unity Schools must therefore once again become models of learning excellence and good governance.”
He called on the alumni network to move beyond nostalgia and play an active role in public service and policy advocacy to effect meaningful change.
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Magaji also underlined the need for renewed collaboration between the government and the alumni network to restore the lost glory of Unity Colleges and strengthen Nigeria's education system.
He stressed that the link between education and employment has weakened over time and called for holistic reform to ensure that Unity Schools continue to produce citizens capable of driving national development.
The meeting brought together alumni, government officials, teachers and policy makers from various states who emphasized the need for strong partnerships to revive the vision of Unity Schools as symbols of national integration and excellence.
