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…Says, CHS, Okpo Moulded him into What He is Today

The Paramount Ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu and wife, Her Majesty, Lolo Happiness Asadu have donated N12 million to alma mater, CHS, Okpo, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area for the rehabilitation of the school blocks.

Announcing the donation recently during the CHS Okpo’s N300m Renovation Fundraising and Recognition Ceremony, held at the school pemises, Igwe Asadu, who is also the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council revealed that it was the school that moulded him into the man and king he is today.

The monarch, a philanthropist, was among the 1978 pioneer set and the first student to be registered in the CHS, Okpo, said that the school instilled quality education, moral values and ethical principles in him which has guided him to success and get to enviable height in the society.

“I am overjoyed to be at the Community High School, Okpo, my alma mater today. I was posted to this school as a 12-year-old boy in September 1978 and I was the number one student to be registered in this school both as a student and a boarding student. I left the school in June 1983, Igwe noted.

“CHS Okpo played a vital role in nurturing, preparing and shaping me for the future. They made me the man and king I am today. If Okpo had taught me to steal, I would have probably been a thief by now. But rather the school instilled in me quality education, high moral values and ethical principles which have guided me to success and get to an enviable height in the society today without any blemish. I have never knowingly committed any crime both at home and abroad and that is because of the good training I got from CHS, Okpo”, he reported.

“I am fully aware of the huge intervention and investment our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is making to revive and reposition education and other sectors of the state economy, but we have to do the little we can to support the government and show appreciation to our alma mater for making us what we are today, as well as to ensure that the teaching and learning environments are conducive for the present and upcoming generations”, he said.

The traditional ruler charged the people of Okpo to work towards the development of their community, promising that he would always support such efforts.

He said he believes in the saying that charity begins at home, adding that that was why he started his philanthropic gesture from Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom by making sure the community is transformed.

“Life is transient and as such the greatest legacy one can leave on earth is to help their next-door neighbors and their communities so as to make the world a better place for all”, Igwe emphasized.

“I enjoin the students of the school to be dedicated to their studies, obey their parents, principal and the school authorities, as well as the rules and regulations of the school”, he advised.

“I present myself to you as an example, I started and completed my secondary education here, anything is possible on this earth. From the village of Okpo, that 12-year-old young guy has travelled all over the world. You must remain focused, humble, respectful to your parents, constituted authorities, by so doing you can achieve your dreams at any time and the sky will be your beginning,” the Igwe Asadu added.

While comparing the state of infrastructure in the school during his time at the school and now, Igwe Asadu observed, ‘It is like day and night’. We always have room for improvement. I met only two buildings in 1978 as a pioneer student and the community rallied around and made other structures with the help of the government. Now they are all in bad shape. The roof I met in 1978 is still on there”, he further stated.

He urged the Alumni Association of the school to set up a committee that will see to judicious use of the money raised for the project, warning that lack of accountability can discourage further donations to such a worthwhile venture.
It must be noted that the Paramount ruler donated 11 million naira while his wife donated 1 million naira in support of her husband.

In her remark, Mrs Scholastica Eze, the
Principal CHS, Okpo praised the initiatives of the Okpo Community Development Association, and some old boys of the school to uplift the dilapidated infrastructures in the school.

“I commend the pragmatic and unprecedented initiative of the Okpo Community Development Association and old boys of CHS in recognition of the need to upgrade infrastructures in the School to a conducive environment for teaching and learning of our children”, she added.

“I commend in a special way, His Majesty, Igwe Samuel Asadu the Ogadagidi of Edem-Ani, who happened to be the first registered student of CHS, Okpo at its inception in 1978″, she revealed.

The principal, who enumerated other needs of the school urged the old boy and good-spirited individuals to donate generously towards the development and progress of the school.

Our reporter reports that other individuals and groups from the community made some handsome donations for the infrastructural development of the school during the occasion.

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