Old students of the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu scored a massive goal for social responsibility, philanthropy and alumni relations at the weekend beginning August 2-5, 2018. During their annual convention, they formally unveiled a 540-bed students hostel they built for the institution of their formative years. In doing so, they also notched up one more for the land of self-help, South East Nigeria.
The CIC initiative continues an age-old practice. Communities in the South East have a history of providing the social infrastructure of schools, hospitals, water and electricity by taxing themselves. In the case of CIC, they have moved the needle to the critical area of support for education and provision of needed infrastructure to make schools competitive.
The audacity of the CIC seed would set a new paradigm. The hostel project cost N240M, according to a spokesman Nze Uche Nworah. The Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service, Awka informed this writer that the Old Students had in 2016 built and donated an alumni centre and multipurpose building with the capacity to seat 2, 200 persons. It cost N120m. In the space of three years, therefore, CIC Old Boys have invested N360M in laudable and visible projects in their school.
Members say the achievements came from a deep commitment, their love for the school and the spirit of sacrifice they imbibed. Nworah added, “We have a hardworking global executive led by Emman Denchukwu and use social media a lot to mobilise our members who contribute to the various projects. Already we are discussing new projects to embark on in the school such as water and classroom rehabilitation as well as fencing. This is not to say that the government should no longer do their bit.We are just supporting.”
The students also celebrated one of the pillars of the College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu and long-term principal, Monsignor Charles Ikeme. He was the toast of the gathering. Commendations to the CIC Old Boys.
At about the same time, members of the Nzuko Umunna hailed the philanthropyof a couple, Mr Joe and Mrs Rejoice Attueyi who built an architectural attraction of a building and donated to St Stephen’s Primary School, Utuh, Nnewi South LGA, the foundation for Joe. The one-storey building provides 12 classrooms for Primary 1-6, headmaster’s office, ensuite staff rooms, conference/training room, lavatories, borehole and water storage/reticulation facilities.
Mrs Rejoice Attueyi took it as a labour of love, serving as Project Manager and empowering community-based contractors. Rather than the N65m quotation from contractors in Lagos, they delivered the project at N52m. Use of direct labour and purchase of materials locally infused economic activity into the local environment, thereby doing more than just providing a modern school.
Public schools in Nigeria suffer from poor budgetary allocations across the board. It is worse for primary education, the foundation. Gestures such as those by the CIC Old Boys and the Attueyis would fill the gap as well as draw attention to the pressing need for more and better.
Alumni giving is an indicator of how students value the education they received. It flows from grateful hearts. It also comes from a proper upbringing in the values that build societies. Research shows that schools with high levels of alumni giving do well in other indicators. Results would be above average as the visible projects in the school speak to the students and challenge them to succeed and do more.
Studies show that alumni giving correlates directly with satisfaction with intellectual development offered in the school, and the formation of deep friendships. Students feel challenged academically and develop close bonds with class and schoolmates. Shared experiences of challenges and conquests, as well as a nurturing environment, evoke the desire to give back to some schools more than others. There is also the factor of social standing. Enlightened alumni know that the current perceptions of their schools rub off on them. If your school lacks necessary facilities today, claims of how good it was in your days are mere housewives’ tales. They do not cut ice with anybody. Do something, individually or collectively.
The CIC gift would serve as a barometer. The significance of their charity is that it would ginger many others in the competitive ethos of the region to do high-impact projects in their schools. As they do so, I draw attention once more to the importance of the new direction.
After providing the basics, future projects should aim at enabling the schoolsto offerexcellent training in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. STEM is the future. Let us prepare our young for it. Kudos to CIC Old Boys and Mr & Mrs Attueyi for continuing a good tradition of giving back.
Chido Nwakanma
