……Holds Fundraising For Secondary Section
By Chinwendu Uzoatu
Aquinas Model Nursery and Primary School, GRA, Awka, on Sunday, marked the Silver Jubilee of the school in a grand style.
The event also featured a fund raising ceremony for the construction of Aquinas Model Secondary School, G.R.A. Awka.
In his remarks during the Holy Mass, the chief celebrant and Parish Priest, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, GRA, Awka, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Oranye thanked God for the event and called on all to support the great project.
In his homily, the Vice Chancellor of Peter University, Achina/Onneh, Rev. Fr. Prof. Chiemenam Emmanuel Umezinwa reminded the congregation of the vanity of the world.
As written in the Bible, he called on the people of God to put God first in all they do, saying that every other thing shall be added unto them. He stressed the importance of charity and urged them to abide by it.
However, he condemned the evils happening in the society, and explained the need for mission schools, even as he requested people to support the fundraising of Aquinas Model Secondary School, which even the future generations will benefit from.
In a welcome address presented by management and pupils of Aquinas Model Nursery and Primary School, Awka, they stated clearly that the school is for quality education, a tool to prepare children to embrace the future with confidence.
Among other things, it read: “It may interest you to know that the school since it’s establishment, twenty five years ago, has consistently remained one of the best nursery and primary schools in the diocese, state and even beyond, in the provision of quality teaching and training of the new generation leaders in the diocese and beyond.”
It pointed out that the need to establish a model secondary School is to compliment the effort of the state government in the proper training of young ones, especially at this stage in national development when moral decadence and restiveness are rampant among the youths.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Hon. George Ozoh, explained the importance of education and mission schools, maintaining that any child that passed through a mission school must make a positive difference, even as he extolled Aquinas Model Nursery and Primary School, for being great. “They must be responsible and religious. They will not join the group that say Christianity is a scan. Mission school is good. There is the need for Aquinas Model Secondary School. The evangelization goes on,” he said.
He however, appealed to people to give their support in any form; even a bag of cement, trip of sand or stone, pieces of rod and so on.
On his part, the manager of the school, Rev Fr. Paschal Nnajiofor stated that the secondary school is very timely because of the level of the children.
He said: “We want to sustain their standard through secondary school, if not, they may settle for a school that will bring them down.”
Fr. Nnajiofor continued by stating clearly that for the good of the children, they want to maintain the Catholic values inculcated in them.
The Head Teacher, Mrs Ngozi Nwankwo had these to say: “Thank God for everything. Aquinas is well known as excellence. The event is a success but it still remains. We need those that passed here to join hands with us to achieve this aim.”
She showcased some of the achievements of the school, both in academics and others; and also x-rayed some of their challenges which includes a school bus.
A pupil of the school, who has just finished basic five, about to enter six, Miss Ifunanya Ezeoke extolled her school thus: “Aquinas Model Nursery and Primary School, Awka, is the best mission school. We have quality teachers and spacious classrooms. Aquinas is simply the best.”
Highlights of the event included cutting of anniversary cake, award giving, freewill donations, dances, among other things.
