By ibezim samuel
he recently held Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri Alumni Golden Jubilee luncheon has come and gone with pertinent question on how ready the school management and the Alumni are in seeing AIFCE being upgraded to a university of education. The Alumni luncheon which has as its primary agenda, the raising of 500 million Naira for the building of the Alumni centre was short of meeting its target as it observed that poor preparations and other logistics problem affected their expectations.
The celebration which was held at Rock view Hotel had many dignitaries in attendance including the Alumni National President, Chief J.B. Ugochukwu who in his address, called on all the invited dignitaries and the Alumnus to support in concrete financial terms in ensuring infrastructural development in Alvan as a way of supporting the numerous efforts that are being made by the management of Alvan Ikoku College of Education and the Alumni to uplift the institution to the next level
Chief Ugochukwu reeled out some buildings that the Alumni wants to build which include: Alumni Centre that would house offices, accommodations for guests, seminar rooms and other things. He called on the Federal Government to upgrade Alvan to a Federal University of Education.
Adding her voice at the occasion, the Imo state Commissioner for Education, Prof Adaobi Obasi, a product of the AIFCE, said that only the best emanates from AIFCE. She nostalgically shared the memories of her years in the college and said that it was done better then as teachers who passed through Alvan are out standing. The commissioner said that she was voted as the best performing commissioner in 2012 which she dedicated to AIFCE. She also promised to fight for its elevation to a university status. “I will fight to ensure that Alvan is elevated to a Federal University “the Commissioner emphasized. She later unveiled the prototype of the Alumni centre called, “Wisdom House”. Prof Adaobi gave a cheering news informing the House that primary school teachers can now reach level 16 in service before retiring, which received loud ovation
In welcoming the August visitors the Provost of AIFCE (Mrs) Blessing Ijeoma, expressed her gratitude to God and said that they are here to kick/start preliminary celebration of the jubilee. Dr Ijeoma said that the institution has quality people in diaspora and within who are ever ready to partner with AIFCF, and with high percentage of female students the product of this institution would help to stabilize the society as future mothers.
However, the luncheon did not churn in cash as expected as money realized were more of pledges.
Reporters who covered the event complained that the PRO of the institution could not mange the event well as protocol was breached and his reach out very poor of which many of the invitees complained was part of the near failure of the organizers to achieve desired result.
An associate professor in the school, A.B C Duruaku while reacting on the outcome of the event said the idea of building the Alumni centre before November, 2013 date for the main golden Jubilee celebration may not hold but suggested that the building should be a continuous process.
The event was a reunion of old friends and school mates.
