Old boys applaud Delta Govt. for assisting mission schools
Mr Clement Chikogu, National President, Mater Dei College Old Boys Association, has commended the Delta State Government for coming to the aid of the 40 mission schools in the state.
Chikogu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja after the association’s National Executive Committee (NEC) second quarter meeting, said the gesture was well appreciated.
NAN reports that Mater Dei College, founded in 1962, is a Catholic-owned institution and is currently being managed by the Catholic Diocese of Warri.
“Sequel to an earlier appeal by the school’s principal and I in a published interview which attracted the attention of the Delta Government to the plight of mission schools in the state.
“The state government approved and released N400,000,000.00 to the forty mission schools in the state hitherto returned to their original owners and our Alma-mater is one of the beneficiaries of the grant.
“We cannot but appreciate the Delta Government for this great concern,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to Canadian based Prof. Princely Ifinedo, an old boy of the school and his team who recently sponsored the renovation of a block of classrooms in the school.
“I earnestly commend your sacrifices in the face of the daunting challenges occasioned by the harsh economical situation prevailing in our dear fatherland.
“May I also inform the house that work has started on another block of classrooms from the grant released to the school principal by the Catholic Bishop of Warri, but it is still work in progress,” Chikogu said.
He said over time, he had posted pictures of the dilapidated structures of the school to prick the consciences of its old boys and the public in a bid to elicit their assistance.
Chikogu said the situation on ground may seem daunting and insurmountable, but could be surmounted with collective efforts.
He, therefore, appealed for the assistance of the school’s old boys within and outside the country to particularly fix the school’s Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratories.
This, he said, was critical to ensure a more conducive learning environment and to enable the association roll out the drums to celebrate the school’s Diamond Jubilee with pomp and pageantry in December.
He recalled that the anniversary and the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier scheduled to hold in December 2022, was postponed because of the flood that ravaged the school.
He thanked the Almighty God for His benevolent grace upon the lives of members of the association and called for prompt payment of dues and consolidated levies to enable the NEC function effectively.(https://newsatlarge.ng)