Anyaoku proposes Endowment Fund for schools as Merchants of Light Alumni targets N2bn for Alma mater Revival

By Praise Chinecherem

Former Secretary General of Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has proposed establishment of endowment fund for schools across the country as means of engaging their Alumni to assist in supporting the institutions.

This is as the Old Boys Association Worldwide of Merchants of Light School (MOLS), Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State has floated a N2billion Endowment Fund, for the revitalization of the school over a five-year period.

Speaking during the 2024 Summit and Award ceremony of the Alumni, themed, ‘Alumni Engagement in the Management and Improvement of their Alma Mater’, Anyaoku regretted that federal government was not doing enough in the education sector.

He urged government to work harder to meet up with the UNESCO recommendation of 26 percentage for education.

He said, “Federal government isn’t doing enough for the education sector. The percentage of education in the budget is well below the UNESCO recommendation.

“I like to see the government work harder to meet up with the UNESCO recommendation of 26 percentage.”

He added, “Many educational institutions in developed countries have endowment funds through which the Alumni support their alma mater in the maintenance and development of their facilities and infrastructure.

“The school should be able to draw from the resources of the fund and address the key challenges facing the school.

“The fund should be taken seriously by the Alumni as the condition of the school should be a matter of concern to the alumni.”

While making an initial donation of N250,000 to the fund, Anyaoku who chaired the occasion, stressed the need for a register of donations be maintained by designated officers of the association and the school.

He further recalled his sojourn in the school as a member of the class of 1947, noting that the school was intentional about its culture of serious academic study, hard work and integrity, evident in the notable individuals it had produced, who went on to reach the pinnacle of their professions.

In his address, Worldwide President, MOLS Old Boys Association, Prof Tony Nwokoye said the summit not only served as homecoming for Old Boys of the school but also afforded them opportunity to take stock of developments in the school and determine possible areas of intervention.

He identified some of the areas that needed attention in the school as, befitting modern main gate, rehabilitation of Vice Principal’s quarters, repair and refurbishing of two grounded buses of the school, reconstruction of more dormitories, among others.

“The idea of the endowment fund stems from the Old Boys vision to go beyond sporadic intervention in the school, to have solid partnership with the state government in the overall development and management of the school.

“Occasional interventions in the past, have not yielded the desired results nor taken the school to the level we think is appropriate given her age, peers and antecedents, including being one of the very few Higher School Certificate Institutions in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria.

“As a means of achieving a well-coordinated development of the school, we have presented a properly designed master plan for the school.

“The idea is that individual Old Boys, groups or class sets who wish to undertake projects in the school can liaise with the worldwide body of the Old Boys Association and the school principal to choose from the prioritized areas of needs,” he said.

Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said what the Alumni was doing was in line with the Strategic Public Private Community Partnership initiative of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

“This initiative recognizes the collective strength of communities, alumni, and philanthropists in fostering positive change.

“By actively involving ourselves in the management and improvement of our alma mater, we align with this vision, ensuring that the impact of our contributions reverberates beyond the confines of our memories.

“Our alma mater, the place where our academic journeys began, holds a special place in our hearts. It represents the foundation of our intellectual growth, the nurturing of our talents, and the forging of lifelong friendships.

“Today, we gather not only as individuals who have walked these hallowed halls, but as stakeholders in the ongoing legacy of our alma mater,” she said.

One of the alumni, Dr Obiora Anyaoku described the success of the summit as sign of greater things in the future.

“The comprehensive masterplan for the revitalization of the school has been developed and the funds will be raised through the goodwill of the Old Boys and friends.

“The task of 5years frame we set for ourselves is achievable, especially towards addressing the dilapidation and decay that has become the lot of the school,” he added.

In their separate remarks, the regent of Oba, Prince Noel Ezenwa and President General of Oba Patriotic Union, Chief Uzo Ejiofor, commended the initiative by the Old Boys, promising support of Oba community to the ongoing efforts to create better learning environment for younger generation of students.