University Chancellor Promises ICT Centre For St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku

By Frank Oshanugor

It is obviously a season of great fortune and facelift for 65-year-old St. Anthony’s College,

Ubulu-Uku, Delta State as one of its old boys and founder of Margaret Lawrence University,

Ute; Mr. Paul Odili has promised to build a standard Information Communications

Technology (ICT) block “that will be solar powered and fully equipped” in the College.

The promise came last Saturday just as the old boys (The Class of 90) of the College gathered in a colourful ceremony to unveil the

Assembly and Examination Halls rebuilt at a cost of over N15million by the old students.

To make good his promise, the university owner hinted that project work would immediately commence this week in the College as he would want the ICT complex to be delivered soonest.

The one-day event which attracted government functionaries, captains of industries, politicians and many well placed old boys of the College, made Ubulu-Uku; a serene emerging urban town to stand still for the whole day as the College was being celebrated by its products.

Delta State Governor; Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who had planned to personally grace the occasion was unavoidably absent at the eleventh hour.

AtlanticNewsonline learned that his attention was urgently needed at the ongoing Anambra Governorship election and he had no choice but to send representatives to the College event.

At the head of Okowa’s team of representatives was the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah who on behalf of the Governor got committed for the need assessment of the College to be done as

Government would pull down another dilapidated structure to erect in his words “something that will be twice better” than what the ’90 Set of old boys had done.

The Governor’s representatives at the event also included the Commissioner for Youths, Culture and Tourism, Engr. Lawrence Ejiofor, Chief protocol officers, permanent secretaries and others.

An old boy of the College and currently a member, Delta State House of Assembly, Engr. Emeka Nwaobi promised to galvanise his own set to do something that would “ridicule our seemingly outstanding achievements.”

In his address at the occasion, President of St. Anthony’s College Old Boys; Chief (Dr) Henry Chukwuka Eluebo said the decision to embark on the Assembly/Examination Halls rehabilitation project was necessitated by three things namely to “help in rebuilding our

great Alma Mater in order to bring her back to the Glory days, to challenge other sets of the college to act and to give back to the society.”

He added that “education is a major driver and vehicle for mind development in every society. To actualise this, our schools must have the right ambience that can facilitate learning as well as equip students with the skills needed to function as responsible and productive members of the society.”

Besides his promise of building an ICT Complex for the College, Mr. Odili the Chancellor of Margaret University requested the President General of Ubulu-Uku Development Council, Mr. Monye to collaborate with two old boys of the College; Mr. Edwin Emeka Azu and Dr. Cyril Ezeamaka to identify project area of need he could execute as a way of supporting to advance the course of Ubulu-Uku town which in his words “looks shantier than over 30 years ago while I studying here.”

The President General of Ubulu-Uku Development Council (UDC) and Chief Editor of the ’90 Set of the College Old Boys; Jonathan Monye Esq, in his speech said “St. Anthony’s College is unique in everything,” pointing out that students of his Set cut across various tribes of Delta State, South East and beyond.

“Even parents in the Diaspora brought their children to the College because of the fame and acclaimed discipline that the school had.”

The Asaba Branch President of the Old Boys; Mr. Anthony Uzogo in his own brief speech at the occasion said, “It is a new dawn and harvest of projects as there is a renewed zeal and realization by old boys to contribute to the well being of students of their Alma Mater in support of Delta State Government efforts to give a facelift to infrastructure in St. Anthony’s College.”

He added that the “delivery of this project is a demonstration of the belief and new understanding that we (Old Boys) cannot leave the burden of schools’ development in the hands of government alone; but partner with her in the face of the dwindling economy.”

Another highlight of the occasion was the recognition and honour accorded to some outstanding former teachers of the College who laid the academic and moral foundation for the Old Students to become who and what they are, in contemporary time. No fewer than thirteen of the former teachers were presented with award plaques, cash gift of N100,000 and $200 to each of them among whom was Fidelis Olumese; now a university professor.

Outstanding students of the College currently; were also rewarded by the Old Boys. The Best Student in each class got a cash gift of N20,000 as a motivational factor to do more in academics.

The one day event had attracted many well placed old boys of the College among whom were a former Director, State Security Service (SSS) Barr. Mike Ejiofor, Sir Baron Unini, Arc. Fidel Okwuokei and many others including President of Ezemu Girls Grammar School Old Students Association.