Emmanuel College ’88 Set Renovates Classrooms, Pays Exam Fees

The Progressives of the Unique 1988 Set of the Emmanuel College Owerri Old Students Association has called for sustainable collaboration among stakeholders to improve Nigeria's education sector, as the group unveiled a renovated five-classroom block and paid examination fees for financially disadvantaged students at their alma mater.

The intervention was unveiled during a ceremony at Emmanuel College, Owerri, Imo State, attended by old students, government officials, teachers, and students. The projects, including the renovated classroom block, were formally handed over to the school's management.

Speaking on behalf of The Progressives 1988 set, Engr. Obii Madumere urged students to protect the renovated facilities and treat them as their own property. He said the intervention formed part of the group's commitment to giving back to the institution that shaped their lives, while preparing the current generation of students for a better future.

Madumere disclosed that the set had also paid National Examinations Council (NECO) examination fees for financially disadvantaged Junior Secondary School III students, stressing that no child should be denied the opportunity to sit for an examination because of financial constraints. He added that the group had separately paid the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) centre revalidation fees, to support the school's broader academic activities and examination readiness.

He stressed that the impact of the intervention should not be measured solely by the appearance of the renovated classrooms, but by the quality of lives and futures shaped within them. "Our mission has always been clear: to contribute meaningfully to an environment where the present generation of students can learn, grow, dream and pursue excellence," Madumere said, adding that the group's commitment extends beyond classroom renovation, reflecting a belief that meaningful development must be holistic, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of both students and teachers.

Also speaking at the event, old student and Imo State Commissioner for Science, Technology, Innovation and Engineering, Hon. Ikenna Elezianya, expressed concern over what he described as the deteriorating condition of the institution. Elezianya, who said he left the school about 40 years ago, noted that its current state was markedly different from what he recalled as a student, saying the college was once among the best in the state. He nonetheless commended the 1988 set for its commitment to improving the school, and urged teachers and students to remain focused on acquiring the knowledge and skills required to succeed.

The acting National President of the Emmanuel College Owerri Old Students Association (ECOOSA), Sir George Nwachukwu, and the Project Lead and member of The Progressives, Chukwueke Junai, also commended the 1988 set for initiating and funding the project. Nwachukwu called for greater collaboration among old students, stakeholders, and friends of the college, arguing that such partnerships would help restore the institution to its former standard. He urged students to remain dedicated, humble, and hardworking, and to set clear personal goals as part of broader efforts to restore the school's reputation.

Junai assured the school community that the group would extend its intervention to the teachers' block in future phases, describing the renovation programme as part of a broader effort to improve the overall learning environment at the college.

The event also featured a novelty football match involving students of the college and the presentation of awards to outstanding students and staff in recognition of their performance.

Among the dignitaries present were Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Evaristus Obinna Onyeocha; Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hon. Emeka Mgbudem; and a member of the Progressives Project Team, Dr Iyke Amadi. Others in attendance included the Chairman of ECOOSA's Board of Trustees and the school's Principal, Mr Ferdinand Emeka Achonwa.

The initiative adds to a broader pattern of old students' associations across Nigeria stepping in to fund infrastructure upgrades and support disadvantaged students at their former secondary schools, often filling gaps left by limited public funding for ageing institutions, particularly those that once ranked among their states' most prestigious schools but have since seen their facilities decline over subsequent decades.