Saint Patrick’s College Old Boys Association (SPACO) Ikot Ansa, Cross River State rounds off its 80th anniversary celebration today with the launch of school projects and also a lament over the quality of education nationally.
The celebration began on Friday, October 17.
SPACO National President, Charles Ifeanyi, warned that it will require a lot of effort from individuals and the government to raise the standard of education and pledged that the association will contribute its quota.
“SPACO focuses on funding projects that will help make available basic amenities to the school enabling students have access to basic educational tools like books, laboratory equipment, et cetera. It is in this vein that the event witnessed the launching of projects in the school,” he said.
“The projects include the recently built chapel and blocks, reconstructed refectory, gaming facilities, and state-of-the-art information technology laboratories.”
Ifeanyi explained that apart from boosting the facilities of the school, the association also works like a family helping its members in time of need.
SPACO, he recalled, was founded based on the need to bridge the gap between the old and new generation students and to also cater for the needs of their colleagues. The association is more or less a brotherhood, he added, saying it has ensured the safety and welfare of her members and provided a haven for many graduated students.
“We help them get to jobs and accommodation. For instance, if they are working somewhere and they are being persecuted, they meet one of our old boys because we have very prominent people and very reliable.
“Our boys have reached top positions and the one place they can always run to is the old boys’ association.”
Old students of school include former Eastern Region Premier, Ukpabi Asika; former Chief of Naval Staff, Allison Madueke; former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah; former military Governor of Cross River State, Dan Archibong; and former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Group Managing Director, Thomas John.