- The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor have grant scholarship to two students of Angel Gabriel’s College, Okpuno,
Emmanuella Ugochi and Rosaria Ifunanya Igboanugo became lucky beneficiaries of scholarship by during the 9:00am Pontifical Mass, at St. Gabriel’s Parish, Okpuno, with many people in attendance, including parishioners, staff, students, parents and friends of the college.
Bishop Ezeokafor granted Emmanuella and Rosaria scholarship for one full academic year. They thrilled the audience with their distinct voice and articulating manner of presentation.
ANN reports that the event also witnessed the investiture of 124 students, as well as the two students who went home with scholarships for one full academic session.
The Holy Mass was presided over by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka and the proprietor of the school, Most Rev. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor in thanksgiving to God for making the day a reality and for the wellbeing of the college.
Speaking about the joyous and maiden investiture of the students, the Bishop said the thought to have something like St. Patrick’s College down at Okpuno was intensified by October 2021, noting that around February, 2022 the translation of that thought into reality began.
‘The target was to start the 2022/2023 Academic Year here, We thank God that it happened as planned and we are celebrating it today,’ said the Bishop who disclosed that the establishment of such schools was not for monetary gains but rather in imitation of what he described as the good legacy of the early missionaries who, he said, allowed the opening up of churches to go hand in glove with the establishment of schools.
Again, it is our conviction that since man is a composite of body and soul, the two must be developed and nurtured simultaneously. Because the human person is born tabula rasa, nurture and nature are paramount in the formation of any human being and the choice of school is highly essential. Parents are the first teachers of every child and those who are teachers in missionary schools must also be good Christians; they are to inform and not deform,’ Bishop Ezeokafor advised.
He lauded all who contributed in making the school to have a very promising future and encouraged the students to be docile to formation and to be malleable.
The overjoyed Emmanuella Ugochi Ogu while speaking to newsmen said, ‘I have never won any scholarship in my life before and I thank God that I was privileged to be among the students chosen to present the address.’
She went further to thank the Bishop and her supervisor, Mrs Nfor MaryBruno, and her English Teacher, for their tutorship and encouragement.
In a similar vein, the excited Rosaria Ifunanya Igboanugo said she was filled with tears of joy because as the scholarship would help relieve her parents the financial difficulties they passed through.
For her part, the principal said she was filled with goose pimples while her students were performing because their performance was superb.
‘To cap it, his lordship surprised them with scholarships,’ she said, thanking the Bishop, even as she noted that the whole event provided hope and journey to excellence for the school.
It was a memorable, historic and joyous celebration for the students and all who came to see the newly built school which had discipline and character formation as her watchword.
