BY Okechukwu Okechukwu
The former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and over a thousand other Almunus of Merchants of Light School (MOLS) Oba, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State, have endowed ₦2 billion to revitalise their Alma Mater over a five year period.
The alumunus under the auspices of Old Boys Association Worldwide of Merchants of Light School, MOLS, launched the initiative on Saturday during their 2024 Summit, saying it would be realised through donations so as to bring back the school to its lost glory.
In partnership with a US-based Old Boy of the school, a comprehensive masterplan for the revitalization of the school has been developed and the funds will be raised through the goodwill of the Old Boys and friends.
The summit, with the theme, ‘Alumni Engagement in the Management and Improvement of their Alma Mater’ was chaired by an Old Boy and former Secretary General of Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
In his address of welcome, the Worldwide President, MOLS Old Boys Association, Prof Tony Nwokoye, said the theme of the summit is apt as the summit not only serves as a homecoming for all Old Boys of the school but also affords them the opportunity to take stock of developments in the school and determine possible areas of intervention.
Prof Nwokoye explained that the idea of the endowment fund stems from the Old Boys vision to go beyond sporadic intervention in the school, to have solid partnership with the state government in the overall development and management of the school.
“Occasional interventions in the past, have not yielded the desired results nor taken the school to the level we think is appropriate given her age, peers and antecedents, including being one of the very few Higher School Certificate Institutions in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria.
“As a means of achieving a well-coordinated development of the school, we have presented a properly designed master plan for the school.
“The idea is that individual Old Boys, groups or class sets who wish to undertake projects in the school can liaise with the worldwide body of the Old Boys Association and the school principal to choose from the prioritized areas of needs,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman on the occasion, Chief Anyaoku, who recalled his sojourn in the school as a member of the class of 1947, said the school was intentional about its culture of serious academic study, hard work and integrity, evident in the notable individuals it had produced, who went on to reach the pinnacle of their professions.
Regretting the very poor condition of the school, Chief Anyaoku proposed the endowment trust, as a means of engaging the Old Boys more closely with the management of the school, in the process of rebuilding the school.
“Many educational institutions in developed countries have endowment funds through which the Alumni support their alma mater in the maintenance and development of their facilities and infrastructure.
“The school should be able to draw from the resources of the fund and address the key challenges facing the school.
“The fund should be taken seriously by the Alumni as the condition of the school should be a matter of concern to the alumni. A register of donations should be maintained by designated officers of the association and the school,” he said, while making an initial donation of N250,000 to the fund.
In a keynote address, the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh observed that what the MOLS Old Boys are doing, aligns with the Strategic Public Private Community Partnership initiative of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
“This initiative,” he noted, “recognizes the collective strength of communities, alumni, and philanthropists in fostering positive change.
“By actively involving ourselves in the management and improvement of our alma mater, we align with this vision, ensuring that the impact of our contributions reverberates beyond the confines of our memories.
“Our alma mater, the place where our academic journeys began, holds a special place in our hearts. It represents the foundation of our intellectual growth, the nurturing of our talents, and the forging of lifelong friendships. Today, we gather not only as individuals who have walked these hallowed halls, but as stakeholders in the ongoing legacy of our alma mater.”
In their separate goodwill messages, the regent of Oba, Prince Noel Ezenwa and the President General of Oba Patriotic Union, Chief Uzo Ejiofor, commended the initiative by the Old Boys, promising the support of Oba community to the ongoing efforts to create a better learning environment for the younger generation of students in the school.
In his remarks, a member of the association, Dr Obiora Anyaoku said the successful summit is a sign of greater things to happen in future.
He said, “The task we have set before us is achievable and in the next five years, the dilapidation and decay which has become the lot of the school in recent years, will soon be a thing of the past.
“I only wish to invite and encourage members of the Old Boys to donate generously to the fund, to return our great Alma Mater to its lost glory.”
Founded in 1946 by the Late Chief Dr Enoch Oli, Merchants of Light, MOLS Oba, with the motto, ‘Omnes Unum Sumus’ meaning ‘We are all one’, envisioned to restate the equality of all humans, thereby creating the confidence needed for adventure, industry and invention in the products of schools.