AAU and Its Alumni: When the Relationship Goes Cold


Special Focus for CampusDialog

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, holds a unique place in Nigerian history. It is the oldest state university in the country, established in 1981. It also boasts one of the most impressive alumni rosters of any public university.

Governors, ministers, senators, captains of industry, entertainers, pastors - the list reads like a who’s who of Nigeria’s last 40 years:

Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State; Umaru Mohammed Bago, Governor of Niger State; Ministers Festus Keyamo and Abubakar Momoh; former First Lady Aisha Buhari; former Governor Benedict Ayade; former Deputy Governor Kingsley Burutu Otuaro; former Minister Clem Agba; Senator Clifford Ordia.

Then there’s Tony Elumelu, Chris Oyakhilome, Alibaba, Omawumi, and dozens more in business, law, academia, and the pulpit.

On paper, AAU should be a case study in alumni-driven growth. In reality, the relationship is cold. And there are clear reasons why.


1. High-profile alumni, zero engagement

AAU can boast of these names, but there is no functioning link between them and the university. No structured alumni directorate, no regular engagement, and no visible partnership on projects.

Most of these graduates look back at their time in Ekpoma and remember poor handling of student matters, delayed results, and difficult experiences with records and transcripts. When you graduate feeling exploited and frustrated, you don’t rush to give back.


2. Broken trust on donor projects

Trust dies when donor-funded projects are mishandled.

Years ago, Chris Oyakhilome committed to building a world-class auditorium for AAU and installed six industrial air-conditioning units. Today, those units have been condemned and sold as scrap. Oyakhilome is reportedly unwilling to engage the university again until the issue is addressed.

Similarly, Tony Elumelu funded an examination centre. The construction fell short of specification, and the relationship cooled. When high-profile alumni feel their contributions are wasted or mismanaged, the message spreads quickly.


3. Stalled alumni projects and inactivity

In 2016, the AAU Alumni Association laid a foundation stone for a computerized Exams and Records building. The project was meant to tackle the endemic problem of poor exam records and slow transcript processing.

Seven years later, it has not moved past DPC level. A fundraising ceremony was held in Lagos, but the building remains uncompleted.

Meanwhile, the association’s activity across its branches at home and abroad has not gone beyond AGMs and retiring advances, despite collecting alumni dues. Highly placed alumni are inactive. Many struggling alumni are also disengaged, citing ill-treatment during their studies and ongoing difficulty getting certificates and transcripts.


Why it matters

AAU does not lack notable alumni. It lacks a system that makes them want to return.

Every mismanaged donor project, every delayed transcript, every rude encounter at the university becomes a reason for a graduate to walk away. Multiply that by 40 years of graduates, and you see why the alumni base is dormant despite its strength.


What needs to change

  1. Create a functional Directorate of Alumni Relations: staffed with professionals, not political appointees. Its job is to maintain a clean database, communicate regularly, and manage partnerships.

  2. Publish an alumni project tracker: every donor-funded project should be listed with budget, contractor, timeline, and status. Transparency rebuilds trust.

  3. Fix the service problem first: no alumnus will fund a building when they cannot get a transcript in six months. Digitise records, set timelines, and hold staff accountable.

  4. Reach out with specific projects: do not ask for “support.” Present three to five projects with clear scope and cost. Let alumni choose what to fund and see it through.

  5. Protect donor intent: if Chris Oyakhilome donates ACs, replace them when they fail. If Tony Elumelu funds a centre, ensure it meets specification. AAU cannot afford to burn its few remaining bridges.


CampusDialog View Point

AAU has the alumni base most universities dream of. What it does not have is a relationship.

You do not fix that with another fundraising dinner. You fix it by treating alumni as partners, not as ATMs or ghosts to be ignored until the next appeal.

Until the university addresses the complaints about records, transcripts, and project management, the governors, ministers, and billionaires on its alumni list will remain names on paper.

For CampusDialog readers: Are you an AAU alumnus? What would make you engage with the university?


Ambrose Odiase, FIPMA, MANUPA, MAUA (UK)
Founding Editor/Publisher, CampusDialog

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