UGHELLI/Nigeria: As part of activities to mark its 2021 Awards, Prize and Testimonials, APT Reunion / 40th Anniversary, the Government College, Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), class of 1980, has renovated and donated a skill acquisition centre to support the college.
Speaking during the event which held at the school premises, the President General (PG) of the association, Arc. Charles Majoroh, noted that members of the GCUOBA were driven by a tradition passed down from generations, describing the tradition as the ability of the National Executive Council (NEC) and the leaders of the association to coordinate robust intervention from individual old boys, classes and branches, to fix dilapidated infrastructures, build new ones and enhance the quality of teaching and learning at the college.
Arc. Majorol commended the class of 1980 and many other classes that had willingly and graciously keyed into the tradition of infrastructural development of the college.
He stated that GCUOBA had been waxing strong over the years because of the tradition that was ingrained in every member as a Mariner, adding that ” this is what we celebrate here today, the remarkable efforts of the class of 1980 to give back to our Alma Mater based on the mandate laid down by GCUOBA worldwide.”
The PG, who also inaugurated a Wall of Honour, funded by him to recognise and encourage genuine efforts and love for the college by members and corporate organisations, revealed that over the years, the association had rebuilt hostels, classrooms, administration blocks, arterial roads, sports facilities and contributed to the general upkeep of the school.
In his address, the Chairman of the Class of 1980, Mr Endurance Miuweme, thanked Majoroh and his exco for the efficient management of the affairs of the association and particularly at waxing stronger against threats of its debasement owing to unwholesome behaviours.
Mr Miuweme, who said that the grim realities of life prevented his class from organising themselves early enough, added that they began as a group in April, 2019, using social media and that culminated in the first meeting of about 50 classmates at Ughelli in August same year, adding that it spurred them to execute a project, haven been informed about the amazing work the PG and his exco were doing at the college and also the excellent projects other classes had executed.
Continuing, Mr Miuweme disclosed that despite the COVID-19 Pandemic that negatively impacted on the world economy and the shortness of time in coming together as a group, they were still able to resurface the dilapidated old Engineering Drawing Building to serve as a skill acquisition centre for tailoring and leather works in the college.
Mr Miuweme explained that the aim of the project was to equip the students with skills and also unlock their creative minds towards production and entrepreneurship which, he said, would positively engage the students and refocus them from negative social vices that could endanger their future.
He urged other groups to take up the challenge to equip the school with digital infrastructures that would enhance the acquisition of relevant skills in the institution.
The event featured the inauguration of the skill acquisition centre and the GCUOBA worldwide Wall of Honour, the presentation of awards and prizes to beneficiaries as well as the induction of the graduating class of 2015 – 2021 into GCUOBA.
