By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Enugu Government State, on Friday, urged alumni of various secondary and primary schools to support government’s efforts in repositioning schools for functional learning.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi made the appeal while taking over the newly constructed and donated 200-bed Ultra-Modern Hostel at Queen’s School, Enugu.

The multi-million naira magnificent edifice and its fittings was built and donated by the National Alumni Association, Queen’s School, Enugu (NAAQSE), USA Branch.

Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Executive Chairman of Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), Mr. Nestor Ezeme, assured that the government would reconstruct the access roads and internal roads to the school soon.

He also said that the state government would soon complete a new set of block of classroom as well as provide other amenities to enhance learning in the school.

“The government commitment to enhance educational delivery in the state remains total and is not rhetoric. As you can see, we have done a turn-around of the school by renovating all its roofs and re-painting all blocks to give them benefiting face-lift.

“Recently we solved their water challenge by channelling the public water supply to the school reservoir to ensure constant water supply to the school.

“While within one week now, the governor will commission five boreholes in some schools within the state to enhance students’ welfare and enhance learning,” he said.

The State Commissioner for Education, Prof Uchenna Eze, said that it was a thing of joy to see the old girls of the school to be part and parcel of the development of the school and moulding of character of the younger ones.

Eze, who was represented by a Director in the state’s Ministry of Education, Mrs. Margaret Ayogu, said: “I call on other old students of schools in the state to emulate what the old girls of Queen’s had done and their immeasurable contributions.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Mr. Ikeji Asogwa, noted that the gesture of giving back by the Queen’s School’s alumni needed to be commended and emulated by all.

“This is an awesome and very thoughtful project, which will have direct impact on the students here and will create a bond between the present students and the old girls,” Asogwa said.

Earlier, the state President of the Old Girls Association, Mrs. Margaret Nwgbo, applauded the old girls for all they had done to uplift the academic and welfare standard of the school.

“The old girls have done extremely well and they are a wonderful people. Likewise our governor and father, Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has done marvellously well for the school within his few years in office.

“For the present girls in the school, I will challenge you to be exceptional among your peers in other schools notwithstanding your challenges since we also passed same challenges and we did excel in life,” she advised.

Handing over the hostel, the President of NAAQSE, USA Branch, Mrs. Chinwe Nwabude, thanked all those that contributed enormously to the project as well as appreciated God and Gov. Ugwuanyi for the growth of the school.

Nwabude, who was represented by Dr Emilia Onyekwelu, urged the state government to provide lawn mowers for the school for grass cutting and enhance water supply in the school as well.

She also challenged the old girls to do more to modernise the school, adding that “we can do more and do better for the school and revolutionise it for posterity.”

Highlights of the event were debate, rendition by the school brass band, cutting of the tape of the building, inspection of the hostel and its facilities as well as presentation of a plaque of excellence to the Executive Chairman.

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