Bishop Aloysius Agbo of Nsukka Anglican Diocese, has commended old students of Nsukka High School (NHS), who graduated in 1988, for renovating a dilapidated building of four classrooms in their Alma mater.
Agbo made the commendation in Nsukka on Monday during the unveiling and presentation of the renovated building to the principal and management of the school.
Nsukka High School is a secondary school owned by the Anglican church in Nsukka.
The bishop commended the ‘Class of 1988’, saying their activities should be emulated by other old student classes of the school.
“I commend the old boys for remembering to give back to their Alma mater who made them what they are now.
“Class of 88 removed the entire roof of the block, re-roofed it, put a new ceiling, rewired the building, and painted it, among other things. That is why the block is looking like a new building.
“I know it cost them millions of naira, considering the high cost of goods and services in the country.
“My prayer is that God will bless, reward them and their families abundantly,” the Bishop said.
Agbo, represented by the Principal of the School, Rev.Ven. Ifeanyi Eze, urged staff and students of the school to make judicious use of the renovated classrooms.
Speaking, Mr. George Asogwa, the Senior Prefect of Class 88 and President of the 1982 to 1988 classes, said they thought it wise to give back to their alma mater which made them what they are now.
“One significant thing about these four classrooms we renovated is that our class was the first set of students in 1982 as new students.
“That is why we felt bad when we saw the building in a very bad shape, dilapidated and we decided to renovate it completely.”
According to Asogwa, the project cost the old boys over N7.5million.
He noted that they were happy to spend the money since “nothing will be too much to give to our Alma mater”.
The president said class ’88 started the biannual reunion of old students to get together every two years.
“The reunion accords us the opportunity to be together, discuss our welfare and have a medical check-up, especially on High blood Pressure, Sugar level and lecture on a particular topic.
“We also use the reunion to look at any health or financial issues affecting any of our members with a view to offering the necessary assistance.
“I commend our members for their financial support and cooperation that have enabled us to complete the classroom project, as well as hold our reunion every two years,” he said.
Asogwa, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, however, appealed to other old students of NHS to come and pick other projects to help in solving the infrastructural deficit in their alma mater.
Prof. Ike Onyishi, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event, said this was the third biannual reunion of the class and first time it’s holding in Nsukka.
“So, we felt that we cannot have our reunion in Nsukka without visiting our alma mater and donating something to them, that was how we arrived at the renovation of the four-classroom block.
“The highlight of the event was the presentation of the renovated classrooms to the school management,” he said.
Onyishi, who is the Dean, Faculty of Social Science in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said that the old boys were able to execute the project through voluntary donations by members.
The LOC chairman said the financial cash token given to some teachers who taught them while in school was a little way of showing appreciation for the quality knowledge they imparted on them.
In a remark, Chief Onyemauche Nnamani, the National President of NHS Old Boys Association, commended the class of ’88 for giving back to their alma mater and urged other sets to emulate them. (NAN)
