My name is Bimpe Uwadia nee Shittu. Class of 1975. I am the immediate past President of St Margaret’s Old Girls Association (SMOGA) Lagos branch from January 2020 to January 2025.
Can you share your experience as the former President SMOGA Lagos?
I can categorically say that I enjoyed the support of members of the Lagos branch. We worked together as a relentless team committed to the goal of taking SMOGA Lagos to greater heights.
What were your most significant achievements during your tenure?
- The Covid 19 turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it enabled many more members to be part of the virtual meetings, including those in diaspora and other states, unlike the poor turn out at physical meetings. This was a major achievement which we had been looking forward to.
1. Gradually, from this development, UK and North America branches emerged although some of them still retained their membership of the Lagos branch because they enjoy the love and togetherness that exists there. We also enjoy the company of other members when we honor invitations from members, this further strengthens the bond of love among us.
2. The renovation of our school dining hall was done by Lagos branch.
3. The Association also embarked on the building of toilets for the use of the school when using the hall with financial support from members.
4. The Lagos branch made it a yearly commitment to get volunteers among members to sponsor at least 5 indigent students for WAEC/ NECO.
5. The Lagos branch also created 7 zones for proper coordination to reach out to members at the grassroots. Through the creation of the zones, challenges are nipped in the bud. Unresolved challenges are sometimes escalated to the Executive.
6. The Lagos branch has been of immense support to the Global body through their annual financial contributions to the development of SMOGA Website which was the initiative of the Lagos branch.
7. For the 70 years Founder’s day celebration in 2023, the Lagos branch took the lead with other branches, Year sets, Old girls outside SMOGA and the Global body to raise funds in an unprecedented manner to implement laudable projects within the school premises.
All these contributed in no small measure to restore the school’s almost eroded glory.
What inspired you to take up the leadership and how did it shape your perspective on alumni engagement
I was inspired to take up the leadership role as a result of the great experience I garnered when I was the secretary of the branch for more than a decade. Other things that inspired me include commitment to the goal of the association to take her to greater heights, loyalty, transparency and promoting much love among members.
All these have helped to shape my perspective on alumni engagements.
What challenges did you face while leading SMOGA Lagos and how did you overcome?
Challenges faced while leading the branch before the Global SMOGA came on board was the lukewarm attitude of the Osun State Government to implement positive steps for the school in terms of infrastructural development and shortage of teachers.
We overcame the issue of infrastructural development through the various projects embarked on by the association with others outside SMOGA and the branches.
How has SMOGA evolved over the years and what role did you play in its growth?
The Association started in the 90s. In the formative years, the attendance at meetings were not really impressive but our hope was built on the fact that improvement on this would come later. Kudos to our founding members who despite this challenge, remained committed to SMOGA course. Sometimes they adopted rotational venues for meetings before the meeting finally found its stay at the matron’s house as a permanent venue because of its centrality.
SMOGA was blessed all through the 1990s to date with strong, committed and incredible Executives with supportive members.
The aftermath of Covid 19 made virtual meetings to stay till date culminating in great improvement in the attendance of members. This enabled those in diaspora to join and even some from other states.
My role as the longest serving secretary of the branch before I became the President cannot be overemphasized as I put personal touch in reaching out to members outside the Association to bring them to the fold and to seek their support. This strategy worked all through my tenure which made the growth of the Association easy.
Can you highlight some of the most impactful initiatives or projects you led during your tenure?
The most impactful initiative was the renovation of the block of classrooms to a standard level to enable teaching and learning be conducted in a conducive environment which was jointly executed by the Lagos branch, other branches with members outside SMOGA, Year sets, and the Global body as the chief coordinator.
Another impactful project embarked on was the construction of the toilets in the hall for the use of the school to encourage good sanitation.
Q6 What strategies did you implement to foster stronger connections among St Margaret students and alumni?
The strategies include the use of social media, interpersonal relationship and attendance at members’ functions
How did SMOGA Lagos collaborate with the school and other branches to support students and alumni?
SMOGA Lagos established good interpersonal relationship with the school through the Principal. For the screening of indigent students for WAEC/NECO, the branch screening committee collaborated with the school to get the most qualified students for the sponsorship. In other cases, the Principal would contact us on matters that require SMOGA’s intervention, and the branch usually responded well.
SMOGA Lagos collaborated with alumni in Ilesa to represent the Association in events that none was available to attend from Lagos
What mentorship or empowerment programs were introduced for younger alumni?
For final year students, SMOGA Global organizes induction programs for them to sensitize them of the existence of SMOGA among other programs such as career talks, and also to encourage them to be good ambassadors of the school.
What key leadership lessons did you learn from your time as president?
Leadership lessons learnt include integrity, accountability, delegation of duty, mutual respect, active listening, developing others, humility, relationship building, among others.
What advice would you give to the current leadership team to further improve SMOGA’s impact?
To promote friendship and unity among members.
To encourage impactful projects to give back to our alma mater.
To contribute immensely to the educational standard of the school.
How can younger alumni contribute more actively to the association growth?’By their active involvement in the association’s activities.
By encouraging them to give back to their alma mater.
To harness their connections with the outside world to assist the school.
Where do we see SMOGA Lagos in the next 5-10 years and how can the association’s present and future leaders and members sustain its legacy?
I would like to see SMOGA Lagos branch expanding, bringing in more members by joining the moving train, By keeping the flag of the Association flying. By sharing life’s moments.