By Linda Osigwe
The Old Boys and Girls of one of the pioneer co-educational institutions in Orlu zone, Ojike Memorial Secondary School(OMSS), Orlu, on Tuesday,October 15,2019 converged at the school premises with the sole aim of helping to reposition the college to its previous status as a place of academic excellence and made a passionate appeal to the Imo State government to step for quick intervention on the status of the school, which seems to be going into oblivion.
The Old Boys and Girls who had gathered in what could be described as a re-union, pledged to do their best to see that this foremost co-educational established institution in late 1950s and named after one of the foremost nationalists, does not go out of history.
Welcoming the old students of the institution, the Principal, Mrs Nnaemeka Obiageli, who is also one of the old girls of the school, expressed delight that the old students had at last remembered their “Alma Matar”. She commended them for their zeal to partner with the school, which she said needs urgent intervention.
She disclosed that the school which was taken over by state government in 1972, was in a deplorable condition when she was posted to head the school almost 30 years after she graduated, and that she vowed that as an aluminus, she will offer the best of her ability and capacity to revive and reposition the school.
She stated that government’s subvention to the school was withdrawn, hence the huge indebtedness of the school to the external examination body and pleaded with the old boys to assist as government can’t do it all alone.
She revealed that the school at present has no bill-board and other basic facilities and hoped that the old students in synergy with the state government, will come to their rescue.
Similarly, the chairman of Parents and Teachers Association(PTA), Mr Okere C appreciated the Old students for the visit and assured that parents of the students will not be left out in any plan to bring back the school to what it used to be.
In his speech, the President of the Old Students who was Senior Prefect of 1998 set, Mr Chris Ezekiel, assured the school authority that the association henceforth has taken the challenge to resuscitate their school no matter what it takes, realizing that whatever each of the members were today, is the making of Ojike Memoral Secondary School.
He stated “from now, all hands must be on deck to build our Alma Mata”. He commended the Principal for the efforts she made to upgrade and develop the school so far.
In his own contribution, Publisher of Watchdog Newspaper, Comrade Precious Nwadike, who is also an old boy and UPP senatorial candidate for Imo West in 2019 election, commended the Principal for the patriotism she has shown and assured that his establishment will assist the school in any way it can with particular mention of helping to secure Jamb forms for students who have special interest in Journalism Profession.
Prominent among Other delegates that participated in the visit are ;Rev Victor Anumudu,Chairman of Homecoming planning committee for the old students, slated January;Mr Emma Alagboso, Ekenne Agunenye and Kizito Okereke.
