27 November 2007
Lagos — The attention of state governments to the falling standard of education in the country will be the dominant keynote address when Government College Ughelli holds its annual dinner slated for next Saturday at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja.
According to J.J. Akpieyi, president of the association in Lagos, the host governor of the college, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State will deliver the keynote address, which will focus on government policy on revamping the falling standard of education both at the state and federal levels.
Government College Ughelli founded in 1945 was modeled after the famous public school in Britain, Eton College but over the years it has suffered considerable neglect in spite of the fact that it has turned out some of the country's most distinguished statesmen including General David Ejoor first military governor of the old Mid West region and Chief of Army Staff , Mr. Gamaliel Onosode Celtel chairman and one time presidential aspirant, former deputy managing director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Godwin Omene as well as Gray Longe retired Secretary to the Federal Government, among others.
Several efforts have been made in the past to generate funds for the revamping of dilapidated structure while the state government was requested to shelve the double stream structure which overstretched existing facilities and lowered standards.
Akpieyi points to the 60th anniversary of the college in 2005 during which funds were raised and utilized for the renovation and refurbishment of certain key facilities at the school. He added: "Our symbolic gesture was aimed at getting the Delta State government to show more interest in sustaining the vision of the school's first principal VBV Powell.
According to the organizers of the December 1 event, the choice of Governor Uduaghan as guest of honour, and chairman of the occasion Dr Obiora a co-founder of Eko Hospital, who also happens to be an old boy, was anchored on the association's recognition of their world view and principled stand on good and qualitative education,
Said Akpieyi: "Our founding principal, Mr VBV Powell was a Briton of Oxonian pedigree. He had enduring and lasting legacies from which we all have richly benefited. Although he was at various times the principal of Kings College Lagos and Edo College Benin City, he requested before his death that he be buried at Ughelli. Upon his demise, his family consented to his request by cremating his body with his urn flown to Nigeria. It was subsequently taken to the school where his ashes were spread around the school".
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