Marco @70: Alumni Commissions Chapel, E-library, Donates Computers, Others

To enhance the academic, spiritual and social well being of students and staff of the prestigious Mary Knoll Collage Okuku, the alumni association at the weekend commissioned a newly built chapel, E-library and donated 12 computers, two 250kva generators amongst others.

This was done by Mary Knoll Alumni Global Association during the Platinum (70th) Jubilee Celebration (1953-2023) of the college situated in Okuku, Yala LGA of Cross River State, tagged Marco @70. The event which was organised in collaboration with the college management has the active participation of its old and present students including staff of the college in what would be described as The Great Reunion.

According to the organisers, the event was to mark the milestones achieved in these progressive 70years of delightful journey down the memory lane. The event which began on June 12th —Sunday 18th June, 2023 marks a week long activities of celebrating 70 years of educational excellence and remarkable milestone of the foremost College in Nigeria, featuring Mass, dedication of chapel, quiz, debates, awards, dinner and gala night.

The epoch-making gathering was presided by the outgoing Alumni President General, Sir Lt. Col. Rtd. Paul Edor Obi, Professor Anthony Wonah Odaji as Chairman of the occasion and His Lordship the Bishop of Ogoja Diocese Edet Akpan as the special guest of honor and Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Amoji Ujor, the college Principal.

It would be recalled that in 1945, the idea of establishing the college in Ogoja Province to cater for the increasing demand for higher education was mooted by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas McGettrick, the founder of Mary Knoll College and on the 15th of January 1953, the first batch of students arrived. Since then the College has produced the best of the best in different fields globally.

Keynote addresses mentioning the great contributions made by the founder of the college and many sincere socially committed old boys for supporting such a wonderful institute which has produced high quality education for generations along with positive contributions to the society were delivered.

The week long celebration featured visit to the Bishop/College Proprietor, visit to leprosy home, medical outreach, lecture/interactions, novelty football match, mass, cocktail, dedication of chapel, quiz and debates, presentation of Alumni projects, awards, dinner, focused alumni meets, and gala night.

In it’s strong desire to continually impact the college positively, the Class 79 made a further donation of 12 computer sets, while the first President of the Alumni Mr PK Bello made a personal donation of two (250kva) transformers to the college to address the epileptic power supply challenges in the College. Several other personal and class donations were equally made. Focus was on activities beneficial to the society other than those of celebratory nature.

The Grand finale featured the commissioning of newly built Chapel, E-Library, renovated laboratories and hostel blocks by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Edet Akpan, Bishop of Ogoja Diocese/Proprietor, Mary Knoll College. These projects were fully funded by the Alumni.

High point of the event was the election of the new National Executive Committee of the Alumni presided by Chief Joe Agi (SAN) where AIG John Abang (Rtd) emerged as President General of the Alumni.