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Tag: alma mater

  • Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    The 2015 homecoming of Ngwa High School, Aba Abia State Old Boys’ Association attracted the presence of some of the Alumni of the school who made the event colourful, SUNNY NWANKWO reports.

    Ngwa High School is one of the early male schools in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. The school which was founded in 1952 with Rev. W.G. Pollard as its pioneer Principal has produced many successful businessmen, clerics, top ranking soldiers (both serving and retired) and other professionals such as Chief Mike Ahamba, Prof. Uche Ikonne and acting Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University Uturu Prof. Jasper Fortune Jumbo, among others.

    However, the 2015 gathering of the school which coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the class of 1965 of Ngwa High School Boys Association (NHSOBA) set provided these legal icon, clergies, business gurus and other professionals, the opportunity not only to relish the old school days as students in a secondary school that was the pride of the commercial city  then, it also provided them the opportunity to plan on how to restore the pride of the school; having been returned to the original owners (Anglican Church) by the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji. For them, the infrastructural decay in the school is awful.

    According to the Old Boys, their planned partnership with the present management of the school under Aba Ngwa North Anglican Diocese to give their alma mater a facelift, they were embarking on a N10 million project investments.

    Among the projects they intend to carry out in the school are sinking of borehole and reticulating water to every part of the school, including the students’ dormitory among other places.

    Chief Mike Ahamba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and President of the schools’ Old Boys’ Association of the school announced this in Aba as part of the celebration to mark the golden jubilee of the 1965 class.

    President of NHSOBA lamented the level of dilapidation of infrastructure in the school founded in 1954. He promised that the association would partner with the church to address the infrastructural challenges as well as re-establish high standard of learning which the school was known for.

    He said: “We are here for our homecoming and to take a look at the state of infrastructure in the school and see how we can help. The buildings are old and most of the students are day students. We will invest at least N10 million in the first instance of the infrastructural rehabilitation of the school.

    “We would like a situation where most of them would come into residence and that will help to inculcate in them the true character of Ngwa High School personality. We will ensure that immediately we leave here, students of the school will enjoy water from the borehole sunk by the Old Boys’ Association and it will be reticulated. After that, we won’t wait; we will go on to achieve other projects.

    “We enjoyed water system and showers in the 1960s. Why won’t our students enjoy them now? I commend the Vice-President of NHSOBA, Chief Jasper Jumbo for renovating the school’s chapel and library and Dr. Chianyigadi Denna who re-roofed and installed metal doors to the science blocks.”

    Ahamba also said that the association will do all within its capacity to restore the glory of the school.

    “We will try and get it right. It will be a continuous thing. We are doing it for a lot of reasons; this is the only school that bears the name, Ngwa. I believe the Ngwa nation will see it as something they must support even though the Anglican Mission is running it now. But they built the school and gave it to the Anglican Church. That’s what happened in 1953. Now that the Anglican Church has it again, Ngwa people should not turn their back on this citadel that is flying the flag of Ngwa land.”

    Corroborating Chief Ahamba’s views, Prof. Jasper Fortune Jumbo said they were willing to partner with the Anglican Church of Aba Ngwa North Diocese; owners of the school to see ways the glory of the school could be restored which he said would attract parents to sending their children/wards to the school for studies in order to be better equipped academically.

    Earlier in his address, the Principal of the School, Dr. Felix Erondu, who is also an old boy of the school, had enumerated the challenges facing the institution to include lack of laboratory facilities; dilapidated buildings, broken fence and lack school bus.

    Brig. General G.A. Umelo; Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ali Amodu; Justice Kenneth Amadi; Mr. Emmanuel Denna, Gordy Uche (SAN); incoming ABSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uche Ikonne; Mr. Eric Archibong and Mr. Chianyidi Denna were among the old boys honoured by the group.

  • Old boys donate building to alma mater

    Old boys donate building to alma mater

    THE 65/71 set of Government College, Ibadan, has donated a twin building to their alma mater to mark the jubilee celebration of the college.

    At the event, Vita Foam Nigeria Plc was present to display its varieties of product. Interestingly, Vita Foam, with its latest building construction technology, designed and constructed the pre-fabricated building which the old students donated to their alma mater.

    Among the dignitaries present at the event were the members of the old boys’ association led by its National President, Chief Abiodun Jolaoso and the Chairman, GCI Old Boys’ Association 65-71, Dr Segun Oshinyimika.

    Others were the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, former Governor of Kano State, and a member of the  Senate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Chief Emiola Adesina, the founder, Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Jide Owoeye,  Patron, GCI, Dr Lekan Aare , Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Building, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Asimiyu Bashiru and directors of Vita Foam Nigeria Plc led by its Chairman, Dr A. Makanjuola.

    The donation of the building was facilitated by the Chairman, Vita Foam Plc, Dr. Makanjuola who is also a member of the 67-71 set of the school.

    While expressing delight over the pre-fabricated structure donated to GCI by Vita Foam through the 65-71 set, Governor Ajimobi said what the association did was more than giving back to its alma mater.

    “You have afforded some people the opportunity of residing in a modern and more befitting building.

    “Do you know that the hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings? We should, however, be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

    “I want to sincerely thank the donors of this pre-fabricated building for deeming it fit to bring another innovative and positive change to Government College, Ibadan. “My prayer for you is that you will be blessed beyond human comprehension “.

    Senator Kwankwaso also expressed delight to be part of the change mantra which the donors have brought about in the school.

    He expressed his love for education, saying it is the currency for the future.

    Senator Kwakwanso, who also congratulated the principal , staff , students and management of GCI on the new pre-fabricated building recalled that from 1999-2003 and 2011-2015 when he served as governor of Kano State, he did all he could to promote education.

    “When I received the invitation, I felt I should be here personally to witness the groundbreaking event. I do ask myself, if I did not go to school, what I would have become today,” he said.

    In his address, the Group Managing Director of Vita Foam, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi praised the principal of the school for his thoroughness and patience during the construction of the building. He congratulated the entire students, members of staff and management of the school on the jubilee celebration.

    Also in his speech, one of the directors of the company, Mr. Sam Okagbue rejoiced with the alumni and the entire members of GCI for the additional new structure, adding that the donation was part of the corporate social responsibilities of Vita Foam to develop the society where it operates it business.

    On the accommodation problem in the country, Mr. Okagbue noted that the event was a significant step forward in the nation’s quest towards providing affordable houses for the masses.

    According to him, the company is poised, with its latest technology in building, to meet the housing needs of Nigerians.

    “This will provide solution to the issue of mass accommodation problem. It’s the first of its kind in Africa in providing cost-effective and viable products. The company remains committed to its obligations to assist government in bridging the gap in providing affordable houses in Nigeria,” Mr. Okagbue said.

    The elated Principal of GCI, Mr. Sola Oladele said he was so excited with the development, adding that before now, the state of accommodation in the school was such that grieves everyone who has passed through GCI.

    His words: “I am so happy to be the Principal of the best college in Africa and we need to give glory to Almighty God for the wonderful gift. I sincerely thank the 65-71 set of the school for their contributions to the development of the school. “Before now, we used to weep, but today, they have brought joy to the school. I am so proud of the old boys because all the fantastic projects in the school were carried out by them.”

    Chief Jolaoso noted that the concept of jubilee celebration in the association began some seven years ago when it was established as a tradition among the old boys to celebrate 50 years of the school.

    While expressing profound gratitude to Vita Foam Nigeria PLC for the gesture, Chief Jolaoso noted that “in GCI, we do experience acute shortage of accommodation; with dilapidated structures all over the school. As a result, he said, the school principal lives outside the college.”

    But with the donation of the pre-fabricated building, the principal can now move into the three bedroom building, while the remaining one will serve as office for the association.”

     

  • For the love of Alma mater

    For the love of Alma mater

    The fifth yearly reunion of the Lagos Chapter of the Alumni Association of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDOSOK), held in Ikeja last Sunday.

    They have a lot of respect for their alma mater. From time to time, the Lagos branch of the  Alumni Association of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto  (UDOSOK), meets to, among others, rekindle the light of their friendships built over the years ago – long after they have left graduated.

    Their last meeting for the year  held last Sunday at City Hotel, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja. The fifth, the outing would remain indelible on their minds for a long time.

    Every alumnus was fashionable in his traditional dressing, depicting what part of the country he hails from. The alumni from Kwara and Sokoto states were also there to show their support.

    The Lagos chapter Chairman Emiola Olatunbosun urged all to contribute to the school’s development, especially towards a project to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the institution, which holds up from January 26 – 30.

    A paper titled: A tripartite model of national consciousness was presented by a Professor of Economic Management and Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (UDUS),  Nasiru Musa Yauri.

    There was music, dance and jokes. Awards were presented to some ex-students. They include a Judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos Justice Idris Baba.

  • Excitement as Miss CARNIRIV visits alma mater

    Excitement as Miss CARNIRIV visits alma mater

    •School gets tourism club    

    Classes were suspended and drums rolled out to celebrate the visit of Miss Rivers State carnival, Stephanie Ijeoma Chinda, popularly known as Miss CARNIRIV when she visited her Alma mater, Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo in Port Harcourt City Local government of Rivers State.

    Stephanie won the 2014 edition of Miss CARNIRIV pageant, organised yearly by Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA).

    Miss CARNIRIV, who arrived the school at 8:30am with her convoy, who are members of staff of the RSTDA and the Nigerian Postal Service, said she visited her alma mater to inaugurate her pet project, Tourism Club  and teach the pupils how to use postcards.

    “This is my school, I am proud to be here today.   I am here to formally launch my project in this school, which is the Tourism Club.

    “I also used that opportunity to address the challenges of letter writing through the help of NIPOST staff. You can see that many students were given postcards to address to whoever they like and send to the post office. This alone will bring their memory back to the act of letter writing. Many people have forgotten about letter writing because of technological advancement in the country.

    “So this is what my pet project intends to do in this school. And I believe, by the grace of God, we will change their mindset to understand the importance of letter writing and re-awaken their consciousness on the use of post card,” she said.

    Mr Kehinde Olorunnipa, Head of Marketing, NIPOST, described the project as laudable.

    “This project is lauded because it is a way of re-awakening the art of letter writing.  We taught the students the processes of writing a letter, how to properly address a letter. The vision is to catch them young. We want to see how we can contribute to the culture of letter writing. GSM messaging has done much damage to letter writing, all these abbreviations used in GSM text messages have affected the mentality of students,” he said.

    The school Principals, Elder Graham Oko-Jaja (Senior Secondary) and Mrs. Dame Likeness Diri (Junior Secondary), said they were happy to be remembered by Miss CARNIRIV. They said her visit would encourage some of the pupils to work hard in their academic endeavours.

    Oko-Jaja said: “What is happening here today is that one of our ex-students, who graduated from this school won Miss CARNIRIV 2014. And as part of the activities to mark the end of her tenure she has returned to her school to pay a courtesy visit and launch one of her pet projects called Tourism Club. We have a vision in this school and that vision is to be among the three best schools in Rivers State.”

    Dr Sam Dede, Director-General, RSTDA and award winning Nollywood Actor, who was represented by Mr Oyet UK, said the agency would continue to initiate ideas that would revive art and culture, and make tourism the signpost of development.

    “The Rivers State Tourism Development Agency and NIPOST are collaborating to bring back the culture of postcard. We also intend to let the world see the tourism potential in Rivers State, the sites and the wonderful things we have to offer. The only impression people have about Rivers State and the Niger Delta is militancy and we are determined to change that through the post cards culture,” he said.

     

  • Alumni build classrooms for alma mater

    The Alumni Association of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, has contributed to facilities development in their alma mater. It built a block of classrooms.

    The association in a statement by its National President, Deji Abioye and Public Relations Officer, Bayo Oguntuase, said the project was built with its internally-generated revenue.

    It said the assoociation built the classrooms to ease students’ accommodation problems and reduce overpopulation.

    The body said the block of classrooms had been handed over to the management of the college on Tuesday.

    The alumni stressed that it is noteworthy that the accomplishment it has recorded was made possible through prudent and frugal expenditure of the funds raised by the association.

    It expressed its determination to always cooperate with the management to assist in its growth.

     

  • CAMPUSLIFE man returns to alma mater with writing contest

    A graduate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Ibrahim Jatto, has returned to his alma mater to engage students in writing contest.

    Ibrahim, who graduated from Department of Zoology, is a CAMPUSLIFE correspondent and a member of Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ).

    The writing contest tagged: El-Critical Writing Spree, was organised by Pen Press in honour of Ibrahim, who was former Editor-in-Chief of the club. It featured three categories of creative writing, which are prose, poetry and short story.

    The club Staff Adviser, Dr Jimoh Hamzat, a lecturer at the Department of Sociology, extolled the virtue of the honoree, praising Ibrahim for his contribution to the development of campus journalism in the school.

    Hamzat also hailed Ibrahim for bringing gifts to the winners of the competition, saying the items would motivate students for more participation.

    An alumnus, Mallam Abubakar Anka, described the gesture as wonderful, urging other ex-members of the club to emulate the honoree by giving back to the association that made them.

    Highlight of the event included presentation of award to winners. Jameelah Yusuf, a 200-Level Law student, emerged overall winner from the three categories. Abdulqaudry Hassan, a 200-Level Education Biology student, was the first runner-up, while Abiodun Adewunmi, emerged the second runner-up. Five other students received consolation prizes.

    The Editor-in-Chief of Pen Press, Halimah Akanbi, hailed the sponsor for the initiative, urging him to sustain the contest.

     

  • Old students return to alma mater

    The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Uli, Anambra State chapter of St Charles College Old Boys Association (SCOBA) has held an award and career convention for staff and pupils of their alma mater.

    SCOBA is an association formed by ex-students of St. Charles College in Awka with the objectives to sustain relationships built in the school.

    The event was held penultimate Friday at the school’s Malachi Hall and witnessed by its proprietor and Archbishop of Onitsha Arch Diocese, Most Revd Valerian Okeke, who was represented by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Very Reverend Anthony Asoanya. The school principal, Reverend Father Vitus Mbamalu, led teachers and pupils to the occasion.

    In their opening address, the SCOBA president, Victor Obiajulu, and his deputy, Victor Oguaju, thanked the school management for training they received.

    Their speech was followed by the motivational session, where Oguaju spoke on Importance of higher education and the danger of dropping out after secondary school. Also, Hon Akachukwu Agwuna spoke on entrepreneurship, where he highlighted the advantages of acquiring skills in addition to education certificates.

    The event featured career talk, where Mr Agogbua Obumneme spoke on Biochemistry as a discipline, while Mr Charles Uzor spoke on career in chemical engineering.

    Asoanya hailed the ex-students’ gesture, urging the school management to ensure continuation of quality education in the school.

    The session was followed by award presentation. The students presented Award of Gratitude to the principal and the longest serving teacher, Miss Getty Onwuazo. Obumneme was honoured for his contribution to the growth of the association.

  • Giving back to their alma mater

    Giving back to their alma mater

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) alumni raised N24.5 million to help the school upgrade its teaching facilities and hostels during their National Executive Council meeting on the campus last weekend. OLADELE OGE reports.

    The 88th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Alumni Association was held last weekend. Majority of the over 600 participants, who gathered for the meeting, were not happy with the state of the facilities.

    They urged the management of the 54-year-old institution to improve the students living standard.

    An alumnus, Mr. Emeka Nwuzor, drew members’ attention to what he called the parlous state of the  hostels.

    Nwuzor, who graduated from Sociology and Anthropology Department in 1987, said the conditions of Eni-Njoku, Alvan and Kwame Nkuruma hostels on the Nsukka campus were poor.

    Given the state of the halls, Nwuzor said students prefer to sleep in classrooms rather than hostels. He noted that many have had their academic pursuits aborted because of the deteriorating infrastructure.

    To help their alma mater surmount its challenges, the alumni raised funds to complete abandoned projects.

    About N24.5 million was realised.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor  (Academics), Prof Polycarp Chigbu, who received the alumni on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, hailed the alumni for joining hands with the school to improve infrastructure. He led the alumni to the palace of Igwe Raphael Ngwueze, the traditional ruler of the town.

    Ngwueze described the visit as historic, saying the alumni association of any school is the bedrock of its progress. He urged the association to bring up ideas that will transform the school and bring about development.

    The occasion was used to rebuild the frosty relationship between the alumni body and the university, which characterised past administration.

    Presenting a leading paper on theme of the meeting, Mr Kevin Nnadi, the guest lecturer, said numerous challenges contributed to the fall in education standard. One of them, he said, is fee hike.

    Nnadi suggested that a minimum age limit for university admission should be pegged at 20 years, saying the current age of 18 years had remained impracticable. This, he said, is important to break the age limit policy of employment of various firms.

    Nnadi said the alumni are been working towards restoring the dignity of man back to the school halls.

    The body recognised the efforts of some of its members, who have done excellently in the profession. Prof Nneka Okeke of the Physics and Astronomy Department got an award for his activities to make the campus hostels habitable for students..

    Okeke said: “In those days, we could decide to leave our hostels for classroom any time. The advantage we had was that, majority of students were mandated to live in the school hostel in order to keep us away from distractions. With increasing number of students, the facility is overstretched and we intervened in our own way to make hostels better.”

    Also recognised is Mr Ifeanyichukwu Akunigbo for his excellence. He promised he would continue to contribute to the stability of the university.

    He said: “This institution made him what I become today. Therefore, I will call on other alumni, who are in the position of authority today, to look back to their alma mater and contribute towards its growth in academic and infrastructure.

    Chigbu hailed the National President of the alumni association, Mr. Andrew Oruh, on the achievements of the body.

    Responding, Oruh said the greatest concern of the association was position of the university in the academic ranking. He urged members to initiate plans that would take the school to greater height.

     

  • Day Urhobo College old students gave back to their alma mater

    Day Urhobo College old students gave back to their alma mater

    The old students’ association of the prestigious Urhobo College Effurun, last week, held a special event to tell those coming behind them to pursue excellence and keep the tradition alive. BOLAJI OGUNDELE writes on the outreach

    Then mentioning old and prestigious institutions in Nigeria, one of the few that will come to mind, especially in the Niger Delta axis, is Urhobo College Effurun (UCE). It has spanned years and has produced some of the most beautiful minds that have come out of the region over the years.

    The UCE has for years been coveted, a development which makes primary school pupils always aspiring to be admitted to the school.

    The Urhobo College, unlike most of its contemporaries, is one with a passionate old students association, which remains concerned about the status of its alma mater and the standard it gives back to society. To keep its flame of fame and standard glowing, members of the Urhobo College Old Students’ Association (UCOSA) recently organised a special career talk/ prize giving day for the students, with the sole aim of challenging them to aspire to life’s greatness and excellence. The event, which drew personalities from all walks of life; all old students, took time to mentored the students on hard work, choosing a life career, their responsibilities to society and working to sustain their institution’s tradition of excellence.

    To charge the young ones to aspire to greatness at the special event were personalities in public and private life. The National President of UCOSA, Admiral John Kpokpogri, Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Education, Pastor (Mrs) Rhoda Ikide, Dr Henry Ejimudo, Sule Umoru, Engr Paul Oyibo, Kuzzy Oghenekaro, Prince Voke Edimu, who is the National Public Relations Officer of UCOSA as well as the school’s Principal, Edafe Udoma, were all among the old students who took the time to attend an event they described as critical to the future of their alma mater.

    To achieve the particular goal of mentoring the students and charging them to aspire to get fulfilment and prominence in life, the executives of UCOSA designed the programme to include talks and speeches on career by old students in their various fields. The process aimed at was crowned with the giving of prizes in various categories to more than twenty students and teachers, whom the school considered to have exhibited exceptional qualities in their studies and output towards sustaining the quality and standard the institution is known for.

    The National Publicity Secretary of UCOSA, Prince Edimu said the organisation, besides spurring the students and teachers to better performance, by giving out prizes and delivering career talks, also purposed to show the world that the quality and standards the Urhobo College were known for are still intact and to invite all to come and be part of its success story.

    “Today we are having a career talk/ prize giving day for the students and the whole essence of this is to inspire and motivate the students to work harder and also act as role models so that they can aspire to what old students who have distinguished themselves have achieved. Going further, this is also aimed at creating the awareness that this school is a citadel of learning and has produced distinguished personalities in and around the world. It is still in existence and people, especially the government and the populace, should key into it,” Edimu said.

     

  • Alumni to celebrate alma mater at 50

    The old Students Association of Ikosi Methodist High School, Agbowa-Ikosi, renamed Lagos State Model College, Agbowa, has concluded plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school next month. It will hold on the school’s premises at Agbowa, Epe Area of Lagos State.

    Its President, Alhaji K.J. Ajisebutu, (a.k.a. ‘Magnet Bollar’), in a statement said the celebrations, which were earlier planned for February 5, had to be shifted because of the political situation in the country at the time.

    Activities lined up for the three-day event starting April 22, include Christian and Muslim prayers, career guidance talk and parliamentary session with the current pupils, a novelty match and cultural displays.

    Highlight of the programme, will be the launch of N500 million hall project, a gala night where the Association would honour some retired teachers and old pupils of the school and a donation of customised laptops to the pupils.

    Ikosi Methodist High School, Agbowa was founded on February 5, 1965. It commenced academic work in 1948 under the name Ikosi Central Industrial Primary School, Agbowa before being renamed Ikosi Central Modern School in 1960. The school was the first secondary school to be established in the then Ikosi District Council.

    Some of the products of the school include ex-speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi; a former commissioner for Housing in Lagos State, Comrade Dele Onabokun; a former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and the late Abowa of Abowa, Oba Joseph Akilolu Odumeru.