National Old Boys’ Association of St Patrick’s College Asaba (SPC), is set for a grand 75 years anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of their Alma Mater and to rebrand the institution for academic excellence in line with global best practices.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Asaba as part of activities preceding the anniversary, the National President of the association, Prof Epiphany Azinge (Okilolo Ahaba), said that the institution which was established in 1945 by the Catholic Mission has maintained a long history of academic excellence.
Prof Azinge said that the secondary school has also distinguished itself in the area of moral rectitude as proven in the character of its alumni, stressing that since the takeover of the school by the Church, the poor standards as a result of government interregnum has been boosted.
“On 17, March 2019, we will have to roll out the drums to celebrate 75 years. The institution is planning a 3-day ceremony and the Old Boys’ Association are keying to it. As the present Executive, we have been doing so much under our watch even though we just came on board last year. We are committed to ensuring that we do the best we can to uplift the image of the school.
The basis of any Old Boy Association is to give back to that institution that helped you at your formative stage and helped to groom and nurture you to the stage you have found yourself. We are more or less the ambassadors of the institution because we offer the much needed inspiration to those who are still there”
Corroborating Prof Azinge, the National Secretary, Engr Tony Odiadi, gave a breakdown of activities marking the Diamond Jubilee to include Poetry, Dance, Music and Cultural Presentation by students on Friday 15, March 2019, followed the next day (March 16) with an Alumni Lecture themed “Entrepreneurship in a Challenging Environment”.
He added that after the lectures and at sundown, there will be a Gala to be hosted by the National President while activities will be concluded with a High Mass on March 17 (Feast of St Patrick) by His Grace, the Catholic Bishop of Issle-Uku Dioceses, Most Rev (Dr) Michael Odogwu Elue and thereafter, inspection of ongoing projects in the school.
“Afterward, we will then begin to look at what else we have to do in the year. We will have the grand alumni reunion and lunching of funds because this administration has done a comprehensive NEEDS assessment of what the school need and where we can intervene accordingly” he added.
