Old students lay One-Storey building foundation for Alma Mater in Imo

By Johnkennedy Uzoma, Owerri

The Old Students of Umuokanne Comprehensive Secondary School of  Ohaji in Umo State has laid a smoke-screen foundation of a storey building that would house Ultra Modern Administrative and classroom block in their alma mater institution

The National President of the association Nze Owuike Boniface C. Nwosu in company of other members performed the symbolic foundation laying.

In his address at the annual general meeting held at the school playing ground last Monday, Nwosu said such bold steps is in line with their mission towards addressing the level of colossal infrastructure decay in the school

He said: “No Intro-Tech block, no Home Economic Block, No Laboratory and Library and dearth of blocks, even Law Ejikeme Alua’s Science block has become an illusion”.

The national president disclosed the resolve of the association to prioritize their next building agenda after due consultations with respective critical stakeholders which include provision of books to the library, award of scholarship, engagement of government and other agencies, renovation of approved classroom as well as introduction of prize giving day to promote academic excellence among students.

He recalled that the UCSS which came into existence on 1st January, 2022 with the vision to rebuild the dilapidated infrastructure in the school had recordedachievements

According to him the association  has completed and commissioned the perimeter fence in front of the school, completed and commissioned the security house, provision of a befitting entrance gate, establishment  of a functional UCSS Old students’ Association Office at the Diaspora with particular to Massachusetts USA amongst others.

In his speech, the Grand Patron and the Chairman of the occasion, HRM Eze Matthew Nwokoma commended both the leadership of the association as well as the principal of the school for their commitment  towards  the rebuilding of the school

The monarch who is also an old student of the school while promising to take up some of the issues raised by the principal of the school, said that the academic knowledge which gannered  from the school many years back has helped him to excel in life.

The traditional ruler advised both the members of the association and the school to promote even as he assured to award scholarship to student of Igbo language till University Degree

Also speaking, the Principal of Umuokanne Secondary School UCSS Ohaji, Mrs Agubor Bibian enumerated some of the achievements  of the school since assumption which include provision of musical band for morning and afternoon  assembly devotion, acquiring of new sets of computers and installations  of software, payment of part-time teachers as well as records of increase in the school population.

While expressing her gratitude to the association and the community for their continued support and commitment  to the school, the Principal pointed at the challenges facing g the school which include need for renovation of Junior Secondary School JSS Block.

Others include renovation of school hall, school library as well as payment of the part-time teachers amongst others.

The high points of the event is the launching of the association maiden Almanac and the demonstration of appreciation on the first teach of the school Chief Nwanorim by the 1986 set(old students)

The UCSS old students led by the National President Nze OBC Nwosu performing the foundation laying of a story building for their alma mater school