The members of the Old Boys Association, Government Secondary School, Afikpo (GSSA), celebrated their once-in-three-years Assembly at Afikpo LGA, Ebonyi State.
The immediate past National President of the organization, Sir Ifeanyi Eleje, who called for collaboration between alumni and the government for the growth of education in the country, described the association as a movement comprising over 2,000 persons aimed at supporting government efforts in the growth of the school.
"Old Boys are stakeholders, while the government is the owner of the school. We can only support and ensure excellence in the school; it's the government's responsibility to manage it," he said. He added, "We have engaged NYSC members to teach Mathematics and other science subjects, ensuring the school's legacies are sustained."
The Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Engr. Timothy Nwachi, commended the state government for its interventions in various schools, including free education and scholarships, and praised the Old Boys Association. "The government has seen this association as a good partnership, and we have been doing enough to encourage parents by ameliorating their sufferings while training their wards," he said.
The Leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Kingsley Ogbonnia Ikoro, described the school as a citadel of knowledge that shaped his life through discipline. He appealed to the members to intensify their efforts in infrastructure development and other areas. "One can see that some classrooms are dilapidating. We must not wait for the government for everything; someone can pick up a project and renovate it," he suggested.
Ambassador Charles Abani, a member, stated that if Nollywood and Afrobeat could put the country on the global map, knowledge should be valued. He called on the government to revamp the school, which had produced many professionals.
Mr. Kingsley Okechukwu Ajah, a member of the 1981 set, frowned at the level of distractions caused by internet facilities and Android phones in schools and advised students to revive the reading culture.
The current and 21st Principal of GSSA, Mr. Ogbonnia Nwachi, said the event served as an opportunity for Old Boys to review the school's progress and challenges for possible intervention. He disclosed that the event provides a platform for reunions among members since the school's establishment in 1953 and appealed for adequate security on the premises, as many facilities had been vandalized by suspected hoodlums.
Meanwhile, the member representing Afikpo and Edda Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo, has donated the sum of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) to the School in support of the ongoing developmental projects in the school.
Speaking during the 2025 Homecoming of the school, the lawmaker pledged continuous support and synergy with the foremost institution of great repute, highlighting that the school has brought so much pride to the state and the nation at large through the instrumentality of the 21st Principal, Ogbonnia Nwachi, specifically acknowledging his remarkable efforts and dedication as ones that keep amplifying the impact of the Old Boys’ initiatives.
To further embolden his respect for the 21st Principal and, of course, the OBA, Okpudo announced the construction of a massive building project in the school, which he said would be captured in the next federal budget.
While decorating Hon. Igariwey with an award of excellence for his infrastructural contributions in Afikpo and Edda, particularly, for curating the GSSA Airport with a befitting stand, the OBA thanked him profusely for always tailoring the path of excellence and for his continued fraternity with the brotherhood of GSSA, highlighting the importance of investing in educational institutions, as the bedrock of a sustainable society.
Post a Comment