By Michael Nnebife and Emmanuel Chigozie
It was a moment of joy and jubilation like no other, on Friday, 1st November, 2024, when the Proprietor, the entire Management, the staff, the students, and the alumni of Tansi International College, Awka, including the parents of the students, gathered to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the College.
The epoch-making event attracted the presence of who’s who in the Catholic Diocese of Awka who included the Secretary of the Bishop of the Diocese, Rev Fr Evaristus Ifeanacho; the Education Secretary of the Diocese, Rev Fr Maximus Okonkwo; the Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese, Rev Fr Anthony Nwafor; the Awka Regional Education Secretary, Rev Fr Robert Obiakor, among other priests.
Other dignitaries included the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Ude, represented by Mrs Chinyelu Nwachukwu; the Traditional Ruler of Okpuno Community, Igwe Sunday Okafor; Hon Justice M. N. O. Okonkwo, who chaired the occasion, among others.
The memorable event in which the College honoured the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor; the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo; Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Chuma-Ude; among other individuals for their various contributions to the development of the College, began with a Pontifical Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Ezeokafor.
Speaking in a homily during the Mass, Bishop Ezeokafor described the Silver Jubilee celebration as a great moment of thanksgiving which also offered the College an opportunity to present to God its aspirations and hope for the future.
The Bishop, whose message was full of appreciation to numerous individuals, both in Nigeria and abroad, who had contributed to the development of the College, thanked the people of Ezinano Awka Community for giving Awka Diocese the land where the College was located.
Ezeokafor also appreciated his predecessor, Most Rev Simon Okafor, for ensuring that the land was secured, and the College established.
He further extended gratitude to the principals of the College, both the present and the past, especially the pioneer Principal, Rev Fr Dr Anthony Ejeziem, who, he said, did wonders, and urged other priests to copy Fr Ejeziem’s example.
While expressing satisfaction on the level of growth of the College, Bishop Ezeokafor who is also the Proprietor of the College, however, appealed for more help from individuals for more development at the College.
Reflecting on the spirit of the Feast of All Saints, which coincided with the Silver Jubilee, the Prelate, who confirmed 108 faithful during the epoch-making event, admonished the Tansi College Community and their guests to emulate the saints, charging them to work out their personal salvation through good lifestyles here on earth.
In his remarks, the incumbent Principal of the College, Rev Fr Fidelis Izuakor, appreciated the Bishop for his fatherly care for the College; the staff members of the College, for their commitment; the parents of the students, for supporting various development projects at the College; and the alumni, whom, he said, sponsored gift items for the teachers that had served the College.
In his address of welcome, the Principal appealed to the guests and the general public to help the College to complete its chapel and some other pressing needs standing of the College.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Hon Justice Okonkwo, rated mission school education highly, saying that the morality and discipline mission schools passed into the lives of the students prepared them for the future.
Igbo Umuoma Cultural Dance display, among others, added glamour to the historic event, which also featured fundraising to support the ongoing infrastructural development at the College.
