. . . Renovates Alma Mater, Rewards Teachers
By Mercy Hill
History was made on Friday, 2nd August, as the 1989 set of the popular Nwafor Orizu Demonstration Nursery and Primary School, Awka, reunited after over thirty years of graduation.
The occasion, which was tagged, ‘Novelty Assembly’, was a gathering of the crème de la crème of society and was organised by the old pupils of the school to show appreciation to their former teachers, the management, as well as some new staff members of their alma mater.
Fides learnt that few months back, representatives of the 1989 class visited the school to identify areas of need which they eventually tackled by tiling classrooms, adding six more toilets and tiling them, re-roofing toilets, painting old classrooms, as well as putting a new signpost of the school at the entrance.
In her address of welcome, the Headmistress of the School, Mrs Philo Enemuo, expressed joy over the accomplishment of the old pupils and for their presence to honour the school and its teachers. She noted that all that was promised was fulfilled and that it had given the school a new look, even as she thanked them for proving wrong the age long saying that teachers’ reward was in heaven by honouring them first here on earth.
Mrs Enemuo pleaded that the mass media be used to spread the message so that other old pupils who were not involved in the new move would participate.
Speaking during the event, the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, an ex-pupil of the school, Hon. Uche Okafor, commended the class of 1989 for organising such ‘an auspicious event and helping to renovate the school.’
He promised to contribute to the educational sector in the state, beginning with his alma mater. He further thanked his teachers for instilling the right values and attitude to learning in them which, he said, formed a firm foundation for their individual successes in life.
Another old pupil from 1983 set, Hon. Ikem Uzozie, who is an immediate former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly thanked the 1989 set for placing the legacy and noted that his class would come up soon to augment in areas they were needed.
For her part, the Provost, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Dr Mrs Ifeyinwa Osegbo, welcomed and appreciated the alumni for the initiative and bold steps to give back to their roots.
She also commended the awardees for playing vital roles as children formators, noting that they were worth the honour because they had sown good seeds. For the present teachers, she advised them to do better so that they could reap here on earth while awaiting that of heaven.
Receiving the awards, the headmistress at the time of the alumni, Mrs Mabel Ajato, described the occasion as best. In her words, ‘This is the first time the alumni are visiting their primary schools to honour those who instilled knowledge in them.’
Mrs Ajatao advised that teaching should not be taken as an alternative profession, especially as it concerned primary school teachers who handled kids in their prime.
Some of the 1989 class members who spoke to Fides were Mr. Amobi Ogum; Mr Chuka Uzoezie and Mrs Mabel Ogechukwu Ndigwe, who all expressed happiness to be back to what they individually referred to as their roots; while they noted in their separate speeches that the reunion had enabled them to build more relationships, bond ties and also given them the opportunity to give back to society.
