Old Scholars of Boys School, Okrika, now Model Primary School, Okrika, on Friday, June 29, 2012, donated over 3,000 Exercise Books to pupils of their Alma Mater.
The old scholars, known as ‘Group 72′ was led by their President, Mr. Eli Tamunobarasinpiri.
Each pupil and staff, both academic and non-academic staff, received five copies of the exercise books which has the inscription, “My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not” Proverbs 1:10.
The ceremony took place at St. Peters Anglican Church premises, Okrika, in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State, where the school is situated.
Presenting the books to the students, the president of Group ’72, Mr. Eli Tamunobarasinpiri said they were once pupils of the school and left in 1972, 40 years ago, and that they were in the school to present the exercise books to encourage the pupils in their studies.
Mr. Tamunobarapiri further stated that while in the school, they were hard working and took their studies serious, hence most of them were able to acquire the required knowledge, becoming lawyers, doctors, engineers, LGA chairmen, personnel managers, teachers, among others, in the society. He advised the pupils to emulate them by studying hard and taking their lectures seriously to achieve their desired endeavours in life.
In the same vein, Honourable Bagshaw Alamina, the Secretary of the Group 72, Boys School Okrika, in his address, described education as important, noting that it is through education that one could attain every aspect of meaningful life in the society, such as being a lawyer, a doctor, a professor, a teacher, an accountant, and join other professional bodies in the society.
Mr. Alamina who was the former chairman of Okrika LGA, commended Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers State, for making education a priority by building schools across the 23 LGAs of the state, provision of school uniforms, sandals, desks as well as payment of school fees for students.
The former chairman of Okrika LGA said it is not the government alone that would provide all the necessities needed to encourage the students in their educational pursuits. He emphasized that their aim of presenting the exercise books to the pupils was to assist them to enhance their studies.
Mr. Alamina advised the Headmistress of the school not to feel shy to request for anything that would be needed to encourage the students in their studies and promised that the G 72, Boys School, Okrika, would do their best to assist them when the need arises and advised the pupils to be serious in their studies and should not fail to remember the school when they pass out.
In her response, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Elizabeth K. Gabriel, who spoke on behalf of the pupils and staff of the school, expressed her profound gratitude to the Group 72 and thanked them for their benevolent gesture.
Mrs. Gabriel who observed that they were the first to present books to her pupils, noted that the books will go a long way in reducing their parents’ burdens in purchasing exercise books in the market, as well as helping them to study, praying that God should provide abundantly for Group 72 and bade them safe journey to their various homes.
In a chat with the Political Editor of The Newswriter, Mrs. Gabriel who revealed that the pupils were 360 in number, described education as the only source of upliftment in all endeavours. She stressed that without education the former pupils of the school could not have attained the position they are today and advised the pupils to be serious in their studies and work harder to achieve their targets in life. ####
