Oscar Kambona
The Abia state College of Education Technical Arochukwu (ASCETA) has named its recently completed ultra modern library after a foremost educationist, Dr Alvan Ikoku of blessed memory.
Provost of the college, Dr Phillips Nto disclosed this at the weekend during the ground breaking ceremony of the rehabilitation of ABNA HALL in Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu.
Dr Nto, a World Bank consultant said the gesture was to appreciate the pioneering role of the nationalist in the development of education.
The former commissioner for finance noted that Dr Ikoku established Aggrey Memorial College to advance the frontiers of knowledge in the old Eastern region,thus offering opportunity to people to acquire Western education.
He commended those who initiated the rebuilding of the legacies of Dr Ikoku, especially the ABNA HALL which remained a distinguished feature of Aggrey Memorial College.
The Provost also expressed deep appreciation to a philanthropist, Chief Chikwe Udensi for volunteering to finance the project singlehandedly.In his remarks , Chief Udensi said he was moved to finance the project to appreciate Dr Ikoku’s selfless contribution to education advancement of many Nigerians. He recalled with nostalgia how in 1973 when he started class one in Aggrey memorial college, he found out that Dr Ikoku was one of the teachers inspite of his height in the society. According to him, that motivated most of the students who saw that the man wanted them to excel in their academics.
Earlier in his speech, the chairman of Board of Trustee, Aggrey memorial Old Boys Association Sir Dave Imoko disclosed that the old boys association embarked on the exercise to preserve the legacies of the departed educationist.
Sir Imoko commended ASCETA Provost for naming a project after Dr Ikoku and also for the infrastructural transformation in the college.