By Daruwana Daku
The College Community of St. Albert the Great College, Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, was agog with sporting activities on Friday, May 31, 2024Â as she held her first-ever inter-house sports competition at the college’s mini stadium at St. Patrck’s Parish, Agulu.
The epoch-making event began with a Holy Mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Hillary Ekwunibe and featured many sporting activities which included sack and egg race, relay races, 100 to 800 meters race for both junior and senior categories of male and female students and a football match.
In his homily, the Manager of St. Gabriel’s College, Okpuno, Rev. Fr Fidelis Odunukwe, reflected on the daily readings of Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth where he noted the discipline exhibited by Mary in the readings, and called on the students of the college to always maintain discipline in the discharge of their duties.
The homilist added that sporting activities such as the inter-house sports needed dedication and discipline for the contestants to come out victorious.
In the same light, he called on the students to always have the fear of God and his knowledge in the pursuit of their academic excellence.
The Manager of the college, Rev. Fr Stephen Okeke, in his remarks, appreciated God for the gift of the college and what it had achieved in the last three years of its existence. The Manager who lauded the parish priest, Very Rev. Fr Romanus Okongwu, for his material, academic and financial support, also appreciated parents and all who had invested their resources in making their maiden inter-house sports competition a success.
The inter-house sports competition which had Livinus Okwuchi, Owelle Atuli, Matthew Ezeabata, Edwin Golu, Moses Asuilim, Fr. Clifford Aniefuna, and Ozochukwudi Igwe houses participating, was kick-started by a march past that had the chairman of the occasion, Comr. Chibuzor Okafor; the Education Secretary of the Awka Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr Maximus Okonkwo; the member representing Anaocha II Constituency in the Anambra State of House Assembly, Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi, among the dignitaries who received the salute.
For her part, the principal of the college, Lady Nonye Ezeuzo, in her address of welcome to the dignitaries, appreciated the efforts of the Education Secretaries of Awka Diocese and Adazi Region, Rev. Frs. Maximus Okonkwo and Evaristus Ibenegu, for their unrelenting support toward the growth of college.
She also appreciated other people whose contributions to the college made them record a lot of achievements, particularly the PTA Chairman, Mr Lambert Mary Muokwe; Fr. Martin Okafor, and the proprietor of the college, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, for their roles in the school’s growth.
While she saluted the work of the Manager and the parish priest, Lady Ezeuzo also acknowledged some of their achievements as securing scholarship for some of the students by the Manager; excellence in both Academic and the Music Academy, approval of the school to partake in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) by the Anambra State Ministry of Education among others.
The inter-house sports competition had Livinus Okwuchi, Matthew Ezeabata and Ogbuagu Houses in the first, second and third positions respectively, in the 800 meters race for the Senior Boys Category; while Livinus Okwuchi, Owelle Atuili and Fr Clifford Houses took first, second and third positions respectively, in the 800 meters race senior girls category.
In football, the Best Player of the Tournament, Best Goal Keeper and Best Defender Awards went to Ozo Chukwudi Igwe, Livinus Okwuchi and Matthew Ezebata Houses; while Best Goal of the Tournament and Highest Goal Scorer Awards went to Livinus Okwuchi and Rev. Fr. Clifford Houses.
Also, the first, second and third place winners of the football competition went to Livnus Okwuchi, Owelle AtuIli and Matthew Ezeabata Houses.
Goodwill messages were received from dignitaries, particularly Hon. Ogbuefi, who said her visit was informed by the support the parish had been giving her. She charged parents to always keep encouraging their children; even as she exhorted them to always demand for accountability from their representatives in both the national and state assemblies.
Ogbuefi also promised to continue lending her support to the college and pleaded that she be given a house in the next inter-house sports competition.
Highlights of the event included cultural display, cash donations and support from house sponsors and parents; presentation of gifts and awards to both house winners and visiting schools.
