By IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY

President of Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi, Old Boys Association, Honourable Paschal Ugbome, said that alumni associations in the country have a critical role to play in the overall growth and development of the education sector.

According to Ugbome, alumni associations all over the world do assist various levels of governments by playing complementary roles to meet the ever increasing demands of educational institution and the citizenry.

Honourable Ugbome, a former lawmaker and Etsako Central Council Chairman, made the declaration in Benin, Edo State capital, at the annual dinner cum award night organised by the Benin chapter of Our Lady of Fatima College Auchi.

The dinner cum awards night, tagged “celebration of life”, was an opportunity to appreciate God for his grace upon the lives of members of the Association considering the great havoc wrecked on the human race by the Covid- 19 pandemic.

A minute silence in honour of the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic was later observed.

Honourable Ugbome equally appealed to every old boy of the school on the need to redouble efforts in rendering financial and moral support to both the school and other members, adding humanity acquires a better recognition and value when people pull together as one.

Chief Tom Uloko, who is the chairman of Edo State Local Government Service Commission, chaired the dinner/award ceremony.

A total of eight awards were conferred on distinguished old boys, two of which were posthumous.

Picture shows Ex Council boss, Paschal Ugbome at the award and dinner night of Our Lady of Fatima College Old Boys Association held in Benin City, the Edo State capital PHOTO SOURCE: IKHILI EBALU

The highlights of the ceremony was the conferment of awards on the world wide President, Honourable Pascal Ugbome in recognition of his contribution to the alma mata and the Association.

Former Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, late Honourable Zakawawu Garuba, bagged a posthumous award for excellence in leadership as well as Late Doctor Simon Imuekemhe, Edo state former Head of Service and Secretary to State Government.

Kindly support our vision of building a community of one million pen soldiers whose successes will be judged based on positive development in the society