Newly-elected AMUOBA President committed to revive past credibility

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) and the Chancellor Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Mohammed Akbar Ali Khan, has pledged to restore the past glory of the AMUOBA for the attainment of its cherished objectives. 

Chairing the first meeting of the Association after his election as its President, he described his success as a momentous occasion to lead this glorious organization, and he committed to go ahead keeping in view its history and traditions. 

“Our mission is not only to revive its past credibility but also conceive new ideas for its future role,” he declared. 

Akbar Ali Khan pointed out that the mission of new leadership will be to bring educational reforms to match the present-day educational challenges and for this purpose curriculum changes would be introduced. 

“I promise to adopt modern day teaching practices by adopting modern technology and thus promote the creative talents of our youth by focusing mainly on research,” he announced. In this regard, he said, research activities would be encouraged by seeking international cooperation. 

The AMUOBA’s General Secretary, Jaffar Nazir Usmani, declared that his target would be to come up the expectations by utilizing his best of abilities and implement the promises made will be the foremost priority. 

“The time has come to move forward with new determination and ensure bringing positive changes by promoting mutual cooperation,” he observed. 

Speaking on the occasion, Erum Akbar described their success in the election as a result of teamwork and the anticipated success in future will also depend on mutual cooperation. 

She called for a comprehensive planning in the wake of the new situation and said she has not forgotten the time when Akbar Ali Khan’s membership was revoked and dislodged from AMUOBA. 

“However, no injustice will be allowed to be done to anyone and all decisions would be taken purely on performance and merit,” she thundered. 

Engr Adil Usman, a former AMUOBA President and Chancellor SSUET, hoped that associate institutions would be managed in a better way and the mission of late Zakir Ali Khan will be taken forward. 

Noted Aligarhian and poet Tariq Sabzwari recalled when the culture and traditions of Aligarh were set aside by introducing the culture of self-centered objectives. According to him it would take time to overcome the mismanagement of the past 10 years. 

The AMUOBA members expressed their views with an open heart and came out with their suggestions which, they contended, would include short-term and long-term strategies and introduce such technologies having present day marketing values. 

According to them a new era of the history of the AMUOBA and the SSUET has just dawned in which it would be most imperative to strengthen the relationship with industry and academia. 

Surprisingly some of the members complained that it was not in their knowledge before of them being members of AMUOBA. Farrukh Nizami, son of SSUET’s founder and first Chancellor Engr Z.A Nizami and Engr Adil Usman who served SSUET as Chancellor after the death of the founder were conspicuous with their presence.