CONSTITUTION OF THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF UNITY SCHOOLS OLD STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
– PRO UNITATE –
PREAMBLE
WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF UNITY SCHOOLS OLD STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION – PRO UNITATE, ASSEMBLED IN PURSUIT OF THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION, DO HEREBY, UNDER GOD, MAKE, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.
1. SUPREMACY OF THIS CONSTITUTION
This Constitution is supreme for the purposes of regulating the activities of The Incorporated Trustees of Unity Schools Old Students Association – Pro Unitate, subject only to the mandatory stipulations of enactments of the Legislature of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
2. NAME
2.1 The name of the Association shall be The Incorporated Trustees of Unity Schools Old Students Association – Pro Unitate.
2.2 The name of the Association and any short form thereof, including but not restricted to USOSA either as a prefix or suffix, shall only be used by this Association.
3. UNITY SCHOOLS
A reference to ‘Unity Schools’ herein shall be a reference to all those unity secondary schools established, owned and managed by the Federal Government of Nigeria within its national boundaries, namely:
3.1. Kings College, Lagos.
3.2. Queens College, Lagos
3.3. All of the Federal Government Colleges.
3.4. All of the Federal Government Girls Colleges.
3.5. All of the Federal Science Colleges
3.6. All of the Federal Science and Technical Colleges (or any variations thereof in nomenclature)
3.7. All Federal Schools for the Gifted
3.8. All Federal Government Boys Colleges,
3.9. Any other school that may hereafter be established by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the same terms and conditions of ownership and management.
4. NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
The National Secretariat of the Association shall be situated in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, provided that the Association may maintain liaison offices in other towns as the Executive Committee may decide from time to time.
5. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The general aims and objectives of the Association shall be to rekindle, promote and sustain the founding vision, ideals, welfare and infrastructure of Unity Schools and more particularly:
5.1. To provide a National platform for Alumni Associations and through them, Alumni, of all Unity Schools to interact, and engage constructively in order to contribute positively towards the collective progress of the Unity Schools, the Nigerian education sector and Nigeria in general.
5.2. To establish and encourage the establishment of Old Students Associations for all Unity Schools and to procure or facilitate their membership of The Incorporated Trustees of Unity Schools Old Students Association – Pro Unitate.
5.3. To promote National Unity and integration among the diverse peoples, cultures and religions of Nigeria in line with the founding ideology of the Unity Schools.
5.4. To promote academic excellence and scholarship as core and indelible values in the Unity Schools in particular and the Nigerian educational sector in general.
5.5. To encourage the development of leadership skills among students and alumni of Unity Schools in particular and Nigerians in general.
5.6. To acquire, manage, control, administer and invest in Unity Schools in line with government policies and objectives whether solely or in collaboration with other individuals or corporate bodies.
5.7. To advocate and influence policies and enactments in manners favorable to Unity Schools at all levels of government.
5.8. To identify credible and distinguished individuals and endow them as patrons, mentors and youth ambassadors and to leverage on their influence and affluence for the advancement of these aims and objectives.
5.9. To hold meetings, plenary sessions, presentations, seminars, workshops, conferences, summit and other fora for the advancement of these aims and objectives.
5.10. To provide avenues for networking and collaboration among members.
5.11. To develop, implement, form alliances and partnerships for and undertake advocacy initiatives as a civil society/non-governmental organisation.
5.12. To undertake projects or anything that is reasonably incidental or consequential to the furtherance of these aims and objectives.
6. MEMBERSHIP
There shall be three (3) categories of participation in The Incorporated Trustees of Unity Schools Old Students’ Association – Pro Unitate and these will be based on the considerations stated below:
6.1. Membership: All alumni associations of Unity Schools that have complied with the registration requirements shall be considered Members of the Association.
6.2. It is however expected that an alumni association seeking to derive the full benefits of membership, including, but not restricted to voting and being voted for would have:
6.2.1 paid registration fees;
6.2.2 been inaugurated into the Association;
6.2.3 paid annual dues;
6.2.4 Have participated in a minimum of an AGM and 2 NEC meetings in the preceding year.
6.2.5 Associate members may be admitted on condition that they establish their OSAs within 3 years.
6.2.6 Associate members may pay fees as may be agreed from time to time.
It shall be a cardinal objective of all the organs of the Association to ensure that the Alumni Associations of all the Unity Schools become members by providing such incentives and motivations as may be deemed necessary by the Association from time to time.
6.3. Associateship: All individuals who are alumni of any of the Unity
Schools which does not have a formal alumni Association or which, having an alumni Association, such Association is yet to meet the Association’s requirements for membership, provided that:
6.3.1 Associates may attend meetings of the Association and engage in deliberations in the proceedings thereat.
6.3.2. Associates shall not be entitled to be a national officer of the Association or to participate in the Delegates Conference for the election of national officers.
6.4. Patrons: Any individual who is conferred with the title of a Patron must have contributed to the progress of the Unity Schools or made a substantial financial contribution to the Association.
6.4.1 An award of patron may be granted in any of the following situations:
6.4.1.1. by the Board of Trustees of the Association, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee,
6.4.1.2. by application of any member Association to the Executive Committee of the Association for the award of Patron to be conferred on any individual and if the National Executive Committee deems it fit, shall recommend same to the Board of Trustees.
6.4.2. In order to be considered for the award of Patron of the Association, such individuals or bodies corporate must have been exemplary or have served the Association in an exemplary manner or served the Nation in an exemplary manner in the area of Education and/or National Unity. .
6.4.3. A Patron may attend and, if permitted by the presiding officer, speak at any meeting or gathering of the Association.
6.4.4. A Patron may not be required to pay any subscription, dues or levies but may voluntarily support the activities of the Association in any way she/he/it deems appropriate.
6.4.5. A- Patron shall not be entitled to be an officer of the Association.
7. SUPREME AUTHORITY
The Supreme Authority of the Association shall be the members in General Meeting/Plenary Session, save as otherwise stated in this constitution.
For a complete copy of the USOSA Constitution, please contact USOSA Secretariat here.