By Ngwuoke Ngwuoke
All is set for the 2024 National Convention of Old Students Association of Presbyterian Secondary School, now Abakaliki High School, Abakaliki, with more than five hundred old students from within and outside Nigeria expected to attend.
The Convention, the 4th in the biennial series, is a pivotal event for the old students and their Alma Mater, offering a unique opportunity for reflection, growth, and forward planning.
As a landmark gathering, it sets the tone for the future while celebrating past achievements.
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Cyril Onyemaechi Aninwike, National President, Presbyterian Old Students Association, POSA, gave an insight into the vision and expectations surrounding the Convention, shedding light on what makes the event a significant milestone for the association.
“It is an Ivory Convention. This is significant to our old students that congregate under the Presco Old Students Association, POSA, because once again, we the old students are afforded the unique opportunity of reconnecting with old classmates and friends to reminisce on the great times we had in Presco. Again, for Presco as a School, these biennial Conventions recreate the consciousness of the need for them to work hard and become great ambassadors of the School just like those of us who are older.”
Aninwike said the 2024 National Convention would be different from previous ones in many ways.
“One thing that is certain is that for the first time in the history of POSA Conventions, we are going to hold a real and proper Annual General Meeting (AGM), where all elected officers are going to give account of their stewardship. This is one of the reasons the 2024 Convention will be stretching to four days instead of the previous three days.”
The National President said in keeping with the tradition of POSA, the Association would donate a befitting project to its Alma Mater as its contribution to the development of the school.
“It has become customary for POSA to carry out a strategic project as a Convention project in our Alma Mater. In 2022, there was a yawning need for a befitting examination hall. This was taken up and completed in record time.
“Our 2024 Convention Project is perimeter fencing for the school. The need for this cannot be over – emphasized because the school is so porous currently that all the ICT equipment and other critical infrastructure donated to the school have been carted away by criminals. This project is estimated to cost the Association about twenty million naira.”
He said the Convention is expected to impact positively on POSA membership strength, increase in chapter’s and members’ commitment as well as drive mentorship and motivation of current students in the school.
“On membership impact, I’m glad to announce that this Convention has elicited tremendous interest and participation from our members across the globe. Already, we have Old Students who had never been part of the previous Conventions showing up, registering and supporting the Convention with humongous amounts.
“Again, as the interests in the Convention and other national programmes are increasing, so are membership at Branch and Class levels also advancing, because you cannot be a viable member at the national level without being an active member in your branch. It is hoped that new branches like Owerri will spring up post the 2024 Convention.
“On mentorship, this year, for the first time since the Conventions began, we are going to have an interactive Prize-Giving Day at Presco on Day 2 of the Convention. On that day, we will also formally institute a mentorship programme for our young students to be coordinated by our National Secretary who is a University Professor.
“Certainly, as we impact our members and our Alma Mater, our home/ host state, Ebonyi State will also be positively impacted, particularly in the area of secondary education.
“Members should strive to be committed to the aims and objectives of POSA, and exploit the huge opportunities offered by the forthcoming 2024 POSA Ivory Convention, to reconnect with old friends and classmates.
“These events also have therapeutic impacts on the health of members. I will encourage our registered and yet-to-register members to ensure they begin to be more active and committed to the Association so they can get maximum benefits if and when the need arises, Aninwike said.
In a separate interview, the Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Pharm John Agwu said the theme of the Convention is
“Ivory Convention For Consolidation; Harnessing the Efforts of Old Students for Qualitative Education and Improved Infrastructures In Nigerian Colleges.”
Hear him: “This
theme is different from previous convention themes in many ways than one; Ivory is the acronym for 62nd Anniversary, Presbyterian College ( PRESCO) now known as Abakaliki High School was established in 1962 and is 62 years this year while the formation of the Old Students Association has been undergoing fledglings beginnings until the immediate past President, Elder JB Nonyelu, took the bull by the horn and courageously established a formal PRESCO Old Students Association in 2016 and became the Pioneer National President for 6 years with Gen. Abel Obi UMAHI as the BOT Chairman.
“So you can see that PRESCO @ 62, it’s formalized Old Students Association is just 8years old. The capacity incumbent President, Dr Cyril Aninwike of 1980 set, who two years ago took over from the Pioneer President, therefore has the daunting task of consolidating the Association and fast tracking the standard of the Association to match the age of the school.
“To achieve that he and the National Executive Committee have been implementing programmes that engender confidence of the Old Students Worldwide so as to harness their various potentials/capacities towards improving the infrastructure in the current PRESCO School site and encouraging the Students/Staff by way of academic excellence and best behaved Students awards as well as best Teacher Awards for JSS & SSS Teachers.”
Agwu gave other details on the Convention.
“It will start on Thursday 29th August and end with a Thanksgiving Church Service at St Peters Cathedral, the Presbyterian Church, Abakaliki on Sunday 1st September 2024. The Venue of the Conference is the Remeritona Hotels & Suites, Abakaliki
“The Special Guest of Honor is the Executive Governor of Ebonyi
State, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru with the Distinguished Senator Representing Ebonyi Central District, Sen Kenneth Eze who is of PRESCO 1988 set as Chairman of the event while the ebullient and legendary Amazon of our time, incumbent Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Mrs Nnenna Oti will be the Keynote Speaker.”
The Convention will feature the National President’s Gala Nite, Daily Health Checks, Health walk round the Abakaliki Capital City, presentation of POSA Awards from National, Branches and Individual Members as well as donation of teaching and learning materials/equipments to the school.
There will also be election of new officers for the Association and a crucial lunch interaction with the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr Ekpenyong Akpanika.
