- College honours Archbishop Okeke, Bishop Hillary Okeke, Mr Peter Obi, others
By Nna Anulumadu
Dominican Sisters’ College Abatete, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State, a secondary school educational institution founded by Dominican Sisters of the Catholic Church, celebrated its 25th silver jubilee anniversary last Sunday, February 15th.
The event witnessed the inauguration cum opening ceremony of the school’s entrepreneurship building and workshop, as well as the college honouring 45 distinguished Nigerians who have identified with the school’s academic pursuit since its inception.
According to school authorities, those specially honoured with excellence awards include Archbishop of Onitsha, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke; Mr. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State; Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Okeke, the retired Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese; and Dr. Katea Ekesi, an octogenarian European married to a Nigerian.
Bestowing these prestigious awards on the recipients, the college commended them for their consistent support for education development in society, especially child education, and urged affluent Nigerians to emulate their legacies.
Earlier, during the anniversary Mass, which was presided over by the Episcopal Vicar, Dunukofia region, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ikekwe, who represented Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Very Rev. Fr. Atanasius Ironkwe, while delivering the homily, outlined the achievements of the school since its inception and commended the Dominican Sisters for their consistent efforts to ensure that the school achieves excellence.
While underscoring the importance of child education, he urged students to be serious with their studies and obey their teachers, believing in the motto of the college, adding that they should always look up to their teachers to achieve success, even as he reminded them of the importance of drawing closer to God.
Also, in her address read during the occasion, Rev. Sr. Clementina Wusaru Oti, the principal of the school, noted that the school has a very good reason to celebrate what she described as God’s faithfulness, educational excellence, marking of milestones of growth, resilience, and success, nurturing of talents, shaping of minds, and building of character.
She congratulated the founding Sisters of the college for envisioning a college that would stand out for the integral formation of the human person in the best Catholic Dominican holistic education model, which was anchored on (3H), which stands for formation of the head (intellect), the heart (will), and hands (skills).
While commending the handwork of her predecessors who piloted the affairs of the college and management teams, both past and present, as well as the state government for their encouragement, she assured that with God on their side, the institution will continue to excel.
Speaking also, Chief Law Mefor, the Anambra State Commissioner of Information, who was the chairman of the occasion, praised the efforts of the school management led by the principal of the school for their tireless efforts to train students of the school on academics and morals and stated that the philosophy and aims of the school are in tandem with the state government’s education policies, which he said are targeted at ensuring that every child in the state receives quality education.
The event featured a colourful display of culture, drama, and songs.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the Mass, a parent of the school, Hon. Bar. Austin Enendu, a former chairman of Ekwusigo LGA, commended the school management for their discipline and competence in teaching their students moral and academic values and appealed to the state government to help the school to excel further.
Also speaking, a former head boy of the school of 2010 set, Mr. Nkemakonam Anthony Uchendu, Builder Emeka Okongwu, the MD of Ogene Ventures, and Mr. Casmir Igboanyika, all parents and members of the school’s parents-teachers association, praised the authorities of the school for their excellence in training students on academics and morals and also appealed to the state government to partner with the school in areas of logistics, among others, to lift the school to greater heights.
