Irish Catholic Priest in Niger State, Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Dermot O’Connell, has made world record, being the longest serving Secondary School Principal for 50 years before retiring from Government Secondary School (GSS), Minna in Niger state.
Also, the state Governor, Alhaji Abubarkar Sani Bello, has challenged Nigerians to emulate O’Connell for his “indelible and unequaled mark in the lives of people,” sacrificing his time and resources for the education of the less-privileged.
Bello made the call during the farewell reception, organised in honour of retiring longest serving Principal in the state by the Fatima Old Students Association (FOSA), at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna.
“His generosity according to records is unequalled,” Bello said, adding, “Many of our people doing well in their various spheres of endeavour couldn’t have been educated today if not for Rev. Fr. O’Connell, who sponsored their education to desired level.
“For 50 years this gentleman from Ireland meritoriously served as Principal of Government Secondary School, Minna which from today by the demands from one of our elder statesmen is now to be called, Fr. O’Connell College, Minna”.
Bello, who spoke through his Deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, reminded Nigerians on the need to invest their monies in building human institutions instead of investing all that they have on visible structures that will in a short while outlive its usefulness.
