A Message From Your Treasurer

Dear QCOGA (UK) Members

My name is Ozu Okere (Ozuruonye to my 1980 set) and I am the QCOGA (UK) treasurer just reaching out to you in my drive to collect subscriptions for 2015 and for the future.

We have tried different tactics over the years in trying to collect the annual subscriptions and I have to say it has not been very successful.  The fees are £50 for the whole year (less than £5 a month) for those in full time employment and £25 for retired members and those not in employment.  If £50 is too much for you why don’t you set up a monthly direct debit for £4.50 a month immediately after pay day – you won’t even notice the money coming out of your account.  Also bear in mind that you can always speak to me in confidence if you unable to pay but will be willing to make a contribution that suits your circumstances.  We don’t name and shame people honestly!!!

Sadly, only a handful of people, and usually the same people, pay their subscriptions each year.  The problem with this is that we are not able to develop as an association and offer you benefits such as resources or speaking events or support any causes which are close to your heart, but more importantly we are not in a position to support our alma mater in any significant way.  Bearing in mind that, outside of the US, we have the highest concentration of old girls we need our coffers to reflect our numbers.

I guess the question I suppose you would like answered is what your subscription is used for.

In accordance with our constitution

The objective of the Association is

a) To keep alive amongst old girls of Queen's College interest in the welfare of the school.

b) To promote the ethical and social activities amongst its members.

c) To support the school in every possible way.


In the past our most substantial influx of funds came from the dinner dances that we hosted and we raised a significant amount of money which we were able to use to buy much needed computers for the school in Lagos.  But the last dinner dance we held was in 2004

We were also in a position to subsidise QCOGA UK merchandise such as t-shirts, badges etc. as well as days out e.g. the trip to Chessington World of Adventures stands out, and we would love to continue to do this but we cannot afford to subsidise these items/events.

Going forward another example is the annual summer picnic which has just taken place.  This is one event which ideally we would like to subsidise or even host for free as a thank you for all your support over the year and for your families and friends to attend.  However, the reality is that due to the limited purse strings we are unable to do so,  which is why we ask for a contribution of £10 per family and still have to sell raffle tickets to raise funds.  The picnic is always fun and this year was no exception, but we only raised £114 because of the small number of people who attended.  There is also the added pressure on the few members who have to contribute both monetarily and in terms of refreshments and prizes for the raffle etc.

Finally, there is also the annual Nigerian Schools Sports & Family Fun Day (NSSFF) event which takes place on the last Saturday in August. At our last meeting in June it was agreed that as an association we should formally join as most of our peer secondary schools are members. This incurs an annual subscription of £200.  We cannot afford to pay for this from the coffers so we will need to ask you for a contribution from everyone to meet the cost for this year.  Of course the more people that pay the less each person has to contribute individually. We need to look at a viable way of participating in this event, as it will bring numerous benefits not only to our association  but it also promotes jobs and lectures/events specifically targeted for us in the diaspora – please visit www.nssff.co.uk/ for further information. It goes without saying that we need your attendance at the event as well.

We now need to step up to the plate.  Currently, the Nigerian branch have asked that we in the UK contribute to buying mentoring books which the teachers can use and will be made available to them in the office of the Nigerian branch which is located in the school.  We have committed to do this, and will be hoping for suggestions of how we best go about this, not just in terms of monetary contributions but how we can co-ordinate our efforts to be able to deliver on these much needed books. In the grand scheme of things this is not onerous but again with only about £2,000 in the account we have to be careful how this money is spent and ideally we would like creative ideas from you on how this can be achieved without running the account down.  For those of you who have seen the latest edition of the magazine produced by the Nigerian branch, you will see a list of the various donations made by various groups for the rebuilding of the school but the UK branch is not on this list which is a sad state of affairs considering the number of us in the UK.

This is why I would ask that as many of you as possible support the Association either through payment of your subscriptions, attending meetings (only 4 in any calendar year), attending organised official events or just even giving suggestions and acknowledging receipt of emails.  Only by working together can we achieve anything.

In reality this association is for all QCOGs, and it will only work if we all work together to make it a success. We all have busy lives so you are not expected to attend every meeting/events but you can still support the main UK body.  Holding your individual set meetings is absolutely fantastic but we also need to support the main UK body so we can in turn support the Parent Body in Nigeria.   Ladies, we are asking you for your hard earned cash, you must surely have an idea of what you would like us to do with that, please tell us, email, call us, send us a message on Facebook or how so ever you please, but just tell us. Contact details are below.

President  - Nike Akiti (1980 set – 07956 2044454)
Secretary – Tosin Otubanjo (1980 set – 07931 518694)
Social Secretary – Taiye Sanwo (1984 set – 07871 846749)
Treasurer – Ozu Okere (1980 set – 07736 418467)


After this long begging letter please send your subscriptions either to me by making your cheque payable to QCOGA (UK) (Ozu Okere – 60 Fanshawe Crescent, Dagenham RM9 5ES) or to the president (Nike Akiti (nee Davies – 90 High Beech, Luton LU3 3DD) or pay directly into the account Barclays Bank, Account No: 60037265; Sort Code: 20-67-88 and enter as reference your name with subs written beside it.

I will send out a regular reminder notice so you won’t be getting rid of me that easily.

Finally, I would just like to say that QC played a significant role in forming who we are as women today and it is now time for us all to give back.  This is certainly one of the ways you can do this.

Kind regards



Ozu Okere
(Treasurer)