Fides Media Living the Faith
. . . Donates N1.5 Million to Institute
By Jude Atupulazi
The Vice Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 elections, Mr Peter Obi, has encouraged students not to undermine the educational opportunities at their disposal, but see them as avenues of empowerment that will enable them to change the world.
Obi, who spoke to the Catholic Diocese of Awka owned St John Innovation Institute of Management and Technology, Neni, during a visit to the school, urged the students never to be weary of creating a better future for themselves through education. He maintained that human capital investment was the best kind of investment any individual, organization or nation could make.
Mr. Peter Obi presenting a cheque of 1.5m to the Rector of St John Innovation Institute of Management and Technology, Neni, Rev Fr Francis-Michael Enyosiobi, for continued infrastructural development
Obi reminded them that getting good education did not necessarily mean attending a tertiary institution. He explained that acquiring basic education, to primary and secondary levels, were enough to equip an individual with the requisite knowledge for success in life.
‘Now, you have no reason not to succeed in life, having acquired primary and secondary education. Apple Inc. which, today, is the most valuable company in the world, has an annual revenue greater than Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
It might shock you to know that the company was founded by a homeless child, Steve Jobs, who never went to the University. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, was a university drop out, so was Bill Gates, Mercedes Benz, and so on. But they all had their basic education which greatly helped their journey to success,’ Obi explained.
He presented the school with a cheque of N1.5 million and urged the Management of the Institute to keep upholding high moral and educational standards.
On behalf of the Proprietor of the Institute, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor; the School Rector, Rev Fr Francis-Michael Enyosiobi appreciated Obi for his wonderful show of love and affection to the youths, the future leaders. Fr. Enyosiobi said the Institute was grateful for what Obi had done for them in the past and prayed God to continue to bless Obi and take him to higher heights.
The Ag Registrar, Mr. Jude Dike, thanked Obi for his continued interest in the development of education in Nigeria.
The student leader of the Institute, Ebiji Ebere Stella-Maris, thanked Obi on behalf of the students. Echoing the Rector, She said: ‘Ever since 2013 when you stepped your feet into this Institution, the life of the Institution changed for the better. You donated to us an 18-seater bus, 30KVA sound proof generator, and 30 laptops for our academic needs. May God bless you today and always.’
Other distinguished persons at the event were the Awka Catholic Diocesan Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Hilary Nwajagu; the Rector of St Dominic Savio Seminary, Akpu, Rev Fr Maximus Okonkwo and the Deputy Rector, St John’s Vocational and Technical Institute, Rev. Fr. Raymond Umennajiuba.