AAAMCO Reunion meeting: Experts Proffer Recipes For Financial Stability, Psychological Well-being Before Retirement

Caption: The group photograph of 2025 reunion meeting of Old Boys (Set 19977-1982) of the Abdul Aziz Atta Memorial College Okene (AAAMCO), held in Abuja. L-R: Sitting in the front row, the principal of the college, Paul Amoh Orobo, represented by Dr. Sadiqi Ibrahim (4th); the Chairman of the organizing committee, Dr. Tunde Puke (5th), Alhaji Ibrahim S. Ibrahim (6th), and the Head boy of the school, Alhaji Usman Gomina Ohikere (7th).

Individuals approaching retirement age have been advised to plan and reappraise selves to ensure financial stability and psychological well-being in order to avoid pitfalls of retirement from service and old ages.

Presenting papers on “Managing psychological well-being and financial stability in retirement” and “Implications of Nigeria’s emerging tax policies on retirees” , by Dr Tunde Puke and Dr. Segun Ajayi, respectively, they counselled that early investment in self development and other productive ventures are critical towards assuring psychological balance and financial stability at old ages after retirement.

AAAMCO Group photographs

They spoke at the 2025 reunion meeting of Old boys (Set 19977-1982) of the Abdul Aziz Atta Memorial College Okene (AAAMCO), held Saturday in Abuja.

Dr. Puke in his paper reminded participants that soon after retirement that their incomes will drop, they would advanced in age, and would begin to have psychological effects of isolation or loneliness having left the social groups they were used to while in active service.

He maintained that such situation causes apprehension and psychological imbalance which most times lead to unusual health challenges.

He however said such ugly health conditions can be avoided or mitigated if one had commenced early in life to plan oneself while working.

He proffered that financial stability and psychological well-being can be sustained through investing in businesses for secured regular incomes, acquisition of educational skills, learning new skills to enable one to work from home, maintain savings, participate in Contributory Pension Scheme among others.

On his part, Dr. Segun Ajayi encouraged aging individuals to invest or establish small scale businesses which are free from the current tax policies of the federal government.

He urged all to ensure that in their various local governments and states, they are active in keeping the government on its toes and accountable for every money spent because most of the funds being distributed to the three tiers of government are derived from taxation of citizens and their businesses.

Earlier at the event, the Chairman of the organizing committee, Dr. Tunde Puke, recalled in a welcome address that for the past 43 years members have remained ever courageous and never defeated just as they were trained in the college.

According to him, “For 43 years, we are resilience, for 43 years we have been beaten, we have been battered by different economic situations, political and social situations. Some have had serious economic consequences and our well-being. some have impacted on our psychology, yet we have kept fate and today we are here to celebrate ourselves.

“No matter the circumstances, among us today, we have Doctors, Legal practitioners and Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Professors and Lecturers, traditional rulers, which God has made possible. In twenty 2027, while AAAMCO will be celebrating a century, we will be celebrating the golden jubilee of our entrance. 2027 is going to be a special year for us. Even as you’re leaving here, begin to think about 2027.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Set 82, Alhaji Ibrahim S. Ibrahim, expressed gratitude to God who has kept them alive.

“We stand as a family united by bond of shared experiences which are so memorable to us. Our esteemed teachers, we express our deepest gratitude for shaping our minds, inspiring our curiosity and guiding us towards excellence. Their dedication in particular left us with indelible marks on our lives.

“To my fellow Old boys, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on our journey that has brought us to this moment from the excitement of the first day in school, the friendship we formed and the lessons we learnt. Our lives in the secondary school laid the foundation of the people we are today.

“As we celebrate our achievements, we should also acknowledge the challenges we faced and the lessons we learnt along the way. We remember the trials and setbacks, the laughters and tears, we remember the moments that shaped us, the memories that lingers and friendships that endured .

“Today, we gather not just to reminiscence about the past but to celebrate the past and look toward to the future. We come together to reconnect and to recharge.”

Dr. Ajayi further urged his Old Boys to explore the opportunity of meeting to inspire, to motivate one another, to share experiences and to honour the legacy of their alma mater by continuing to strive for excellence they had been known for, to make positive impact in their various communities or wherever they find ourselves and leave a lasting legacy.

While responding, the principal of the college, Paul Amoh Orobo, who was represented by Dr. Sadiqi Ibrahim, extended appreciation to the set of the Old Boys of the college.

He noted that the College has undergone various changes and has produced many personalities who are occupying important positions and making their marks in the country since its establishment in 1923.

Orobo however said despite the challenges facing the college, the college remains the academic giant it has been noted for in WAEC and NECO result analysis as the college has never scored below 85 percent.

He enumerated that some of the challenges facing the College include perimeter fencing of the school, lack of seats and desks for the classrooms, Lack of security personnel and lack of School bus.

He however acknowledged the contributions of some sets of the school and timely intervention of Sen. Natasha Uduagha-Akpoti in remodeling and upgrading of some projects as well as tarring the roads of the school.