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Tag: infrastructure upgrade

  • Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    It was a colourful gathering during the 2015 homecoming of Ngwa High School, Aba Old Boys’ Association. 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 plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    It was a colourful gathering during the 2015 homecoming of Ngwa High School, Aba Old Boys’ Association. 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 plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    It was a colourful gathering during the 2015 homecoming of Ngwa High School, Aba Old Boys’ Association. 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.

    •One of the dilapilated buildings
    •One of the dilapilated buildings

    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.

  • Delta steps up infrastructure upgrade

    Delta steps up infrastructure upgrade

    Infrastructure is shaping up in Delta State. Schools are wearing a new look. Roads are reworked; some converted into dual-carriage ways. Health facilities are expanded and strengthened. There is more focus on electricity.

    Thus, when the state governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan spoke before a packed audience in Asaba, the state capital, on Democracy Day, there was an appreciable measure of confidence in his voice. He also spoke on the state’s challenges.

    Present were top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, the governor’s wife, Roli, traditional rulers, leaders of thought, among others.

    In his speech, Uduaghan informed his audience how his administration has been able to stem the tide of kidnapping in the state.

    He said kidnapping was the biggest challenge that his government had to contend with, but added that the ugly trend has been remarkably scaled back, with many of those involved identified and arrested.

    He said: “Kidnappers have been identified and arrested; their camps have been destroyed. We have prosecuted and are still prosecuting kidnappers more than any other state in the country.”

    In addition, he also hinted on the punishment that awaits those who are still bent on taking to kidnapping as a career and those who shield them.

    “Any traditional ruler caught aiding and abetting kidnappers will face the law; anybody who benefits from their loot will not go unpunished,” he said to the hearing of the audience that included traditional rulers and leaders of thought.

    The warning became necessary because the state House of Assembly only recently vetoed his refusal to sign into law a bill making kidnapping an offence punishable by death.

    On the controversial issue of Independent Power Projects (IPP) which has ruffled many feathers in the state, the governor revealed his government’s plan to provide its citizens with steady electricity supply. He told them how the state gets between 10 to 15 megawatts of electricity daily out of the 458 megawatts that Okpai Power Plant generates and which is fed into the national grid in Obosi, Anambra State. He concluded that very soon, all that will be a thing of the past when Oghara IPP and others scattered in the state come on stream.

    He added: “As I speak to you today, all the IPP equipment have been brought in and ready for installation. There are 10 feeders in Asaba, but two are barely on at any given time. A step-down is under construction in Asaba which will make about 270 megawatts available to the area.”

    On the other projects the state government has successfully executed, Uduaghan not only described Asaba International Airport as the cheapest to have been undertaken by any state government, he also told the gathering that the airport, which has so far gulped N27 billion, has been upgraded and now takes bigger aircraft.

    He did not fail to mention that contract has also been awarded for the expansion of Warri Airport to accommodate bigger aeroplanes too; though he was silent on the identity of the contractor handling the project.

    In what looked like a report card on his achievement on the transport sector, Uduaghan disclosed that the government has rehabilitated and dualised some federal roads in the state; especially the one leading to the famous Koko Port.

    And as part of his vision of a “Delta State Beyond Oil,” the gathering got first-hand information on the progress made so far on the Warri Business Park, Asaba ICT Centre, the Udu Tourism Park, all of which the governor said will provide jobs for millions of people of Delta State when they are completed.

    Education, which is the pivot of the human capital development that is one of his three-point agenda, has also received its fair share of attention going by what he told the audience. Interestingly, some of the projects he inaugurated that day were brand new blocks of classrooms in Asagba Mixed Secondary School, Asaba.

    Uduaghan added that the state government has also increased students’ bursary from N10,000 to N20,000, while various forms of bursaries for exceptionally brilliant students from Delta State that has a first-class to pursue a master’s programme in any university of choice anywhere in the world has also been instituted.

    On the health sector, the governor revealed that the government has spared no cost in making the state teaching hospital in Oghara one of the best in Nigeria not only in terms of world-class equipment, but also in personnel. He concluded by assuring that in no distant future, the hospital will be performing open heart surgery.

    He did not fail to speak on the developments going on in sports, tourism and the culture sectors in the state saying, “there is no actor/actress, musician, comedian, and dancer in Nigeria today that does not have a link with Delta State.”

    The curtain was drawn on the luncheon which was spiced up with performances from sultry singer, Omawunmi and Mike Okri by Barrister Chike Ogeah, the state Commissioner for Information, who gave the vote of thanks.

    He said: “We owe it all to this gentleman here (Uduaghan) who has seen governance as business unusual–that of envisioning tomorrow and harnessing the assets of today to build a better future. Just as George Bernard Shaw said ‘why not,’ Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is today challenging us to say why not a Delta where peace, harmony, full employment, good infrastructure and indeed, a Delta beyond Oil reign.”

    Other activity that was captured in the Democracy Day celebration was the grand finale of the Delta Talent Quest Dance that was organised by the Directorate of Culture and Tourism.