Group vows  to promote academic excellence in alma-mater

Victor  Duruamaku  Owerri

The  1981 —86 set of the Government Secondary School Owerri has vowed to promote academic excellence in the college  as part of  it’s contribution  towards the upliftment of the Institution

According to the  Chairman of the Set a renounced scientist and fellow Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Onyewuchi  Okere, education as the engine  of growth of all nations  not only  open one’s mind to endless possibilities , but also stimulates productive thought  processes

He called for a stronger collaboration and synergy between public and private sector enhanced investment in the Nation’s education sector

Onyewuchi stated this at the inauguration of the OGSSIAN 86ER’S S.T.A.R Scholarship Award organized by the management of the School in collaboration with the class of 86 Alumni (a.k.a OGSSIAN86ERS) during which twenty students of the school who performed excellently in their examinations during the 2020/2021 academic session were recognized and rewarded with the S.T.A.R Scholarship Awards and Certificates.

“Education thrives on set principles and theories that are proven and steady progress in the field of Education through research and application of theories lead to inventions and innovation”.

Noting that the world had evolved through education, Onyewuchi insisted that Nigeria as a nation should prioritize education just as the rest of the world, stressing that education remains the best legacy any nation could pass to its future generation.

According to him, OGSSIAN 86ERS which is an alumni network of progressives and firm believers in the power of collaboration to advance humanity,  now boasts of over 50 members spread across the globe, all blazing a trail in their respective careers.

He explained that OGSSIAN 86ERS, reckoned that the S.T.A.R Scholarship award scheme is designed to sustain the tradition of academic excellence for which their Alma mater was reputed and would go a long way to motivate the young generation of students to begin to prepare for the challenges ahead in life.

In a post event remark, the S.T.A.R Committee publicity secretary, Emeka Mba explained that the initiative is the flagship project by the class of 86 alumni designed to entrench the culture of academic excellence in the institution.

According to Mba, the fundamental objective of the initiative is to create a pool of budding talents equipped with industry-relevant skills sets through its post-secondary education mentorship program tagged ‘ adopt a mentee” program by the class of 86 alumni.

Speaking also at the event, Gerald Nwakama–Chairman of the S.T.A.R Scholarship Initiative explains the S.T.A.R acronym which he said stands for “Specific, Time-bound, Achievable and Result-oriented, which by all intents and purpose, help harness talents for tomorrow’s disruptive innovation of which Nigeria is in dire need.

“Similarly, the scheme seeks to promote social inclusion as it recognizes ability in disability amongst the visually impaired students and outstanding female teachers who have demonstrated professionalism in the course of impacting functional knowledge in the students”.

Also speaking, the National Secretary of the Old Boys Association of the School- Augustine Uzoho commended the OGSSIAN 86ERS for promoting Scholarship in the school and enjoined other sets of Old Boys Association of the School to emulate them.

Uzoho gave an assurance that the National Execution Committee (NEC) of the Association would continue to encourage Old Boys of the School who are doing their best  to assist their Alma mater to move forward in academic excellence.

In the same vein, Rev. Dr. Jamike Eke – Principal of SSS of the School who spoke in tandem with the representative of the State Executive Secretary, Education Management Board (SEMB) Dr. Mrs. Adaugo Techla Nwanebu, Mrs. Nshirim Fortunate and the state president of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS)- Mr. Duru Ferdinand  (Principal Izombe Secondary Commercial School) described the inauguration of the S.T.A.R Scholarship Award Scheme by the OGSSIAN8ERS as a milestone initiative that would encourage hard-work and promote academic excellence among students and teachers of the school.

The beneficiaries in an interview with ourCorrespondent expressed gratitude to the OGSSIAN 8ERS for the honour done them and promised to stay committed and dedicated to their studies.