Why ‘old boys’ must support education, economic growth, by Ekwueme

A former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, has tasked old school students’ associations to work hard in quest for attaining sustainable development in the educational sector of the economy.

According to him, such associations are supposed to be the moving spirit behind progress of their alma-mater.

Speaking at the 69th founders’ day anniversary celebration, dinner and award night of Hussey College, Warri Old Students Association held at the Metropolitan Club, Lagos, at the weekend, he said in course of improving the lot of education, growth and development of any economy in modern times, the role of the old boys cannot be ignored as they impact positively on society.

“My first event in Lagos today was at the Federal Palace Hotel where the distinguished old boys of Kings College, my alma-mater, met. There, the Minister of National Planning told us that what Nigeria has to worry about today are security, economy, budget planning and diversification as alternative to oil, which has agriculture as the focus.

“On security, the National Security Adviser is an old boy of the college and the man driving the diversification from oil, Chief Audu Ogbeh, is an old boy of Kings College and we all sat down and when you have good old students, they impact on the society.”

In her address, President, Lagos Branch of the Hussey College, Warri Old Students Association, Dr. Omawumi Evelyn Urhobo, said the reunion was to promote love and sensitise all old students of the college towards its forthcoming 70th anniversary slated for February 2017 in Warri, Delta State.

She harped on the need for members of the association to critically help in uplifting the state of facilities and recapture the lost glory of the college, which still fall short of standard despite government efforts.

Urhobo lauded members for their co-operation and pleaded for supports in contributing to the N500 million endowment fund for the college.

In his remark, Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Lawrence Ayanfulu, commended the visionary founders for establishing the school, which has now turned out giants in the socio-political and economic life of Nigeria and the world.