Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, through her Non-Governmental Organisation, the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation, on Friday, handed over the school dormitory she renovated in collaboration with the Later Day Saints Church to her alma mater, Anglican Girls Grammar School Awkunanaw, Enugu.
In her speech at the event held at the school premises, Ezeilo thanked God for bringing her to the school “for quality formation “and for making it possible for her to return to the school years later to “literally thank the institution for contributing to what” she is today.
She thanked her parents and education authorities of that era, whom God used to bring her to the school of first choice not only in Enugu State but also among all the schools in the entire old Eastern region. She also thanked all her teachers especially her form and dormitory mistress espect, who directly played key roles in her ability to pass through the school.
” There efficient discharge of their formation responsibilities impacted very positively on us and helped shape our future lives.
“Through their exemplary behaviour and positive influence, we were left to imbibe the virtues of trust, patience, honesty, responsibility, empathy and self-reliance, virtues that have so much helped us in our individual life journeys.
“We are here today to witness the handover of a school dormitory ( my own school time dormitory) that had just been renovated and rehabilitated by my NGO, the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation in collaboration with the Charity arm of the Church of Jesus Christ Later Day Saints also known as the Later Day Saints Charities”, she said
The Deputy Governor said that Later Day Saints Church has a very robust and active philanthropic arm that facilitates donations and assistance to humanitarian and educational iinitiative and that when opportunity came she pointed at her alma mater to the dormitory where she lived as as a boarding student and a House prefect.
She said that, “Anglican Girls Grammar School,Awkunanaw, has been widely known for very high standards of discipline academic performance and moral rectitude. On an account of this reputation the ambition of very many female, Primary school pupils in the Enugu metropolis and surrounding Communities is to end up as students of Anglican Girls Grammar School,Awkunanaw.
Ezeilo appealed to the students to “priotize discipline, piety, prudence, honesty, wisdom, deligence and industry.
“You must be ambitious and work genuinely hard to achieve your own chosen goals and aspiration. You must be people of good character, achievements and success.
“Not too long ago, I was just like you, a little girl, pupil of this school and a boarding student , living in this dormitory, but to the glory of God and by His grace, my diligent and honest application of my modest efforts, have seen me attain some reasonable heights in public service in our society. If it could happen to me, it can also happen to any of you All that it would take is the grace of God,”Ezeilo said.
In their brief remarks, the president of Later Day Saints, Chris Oguama expressed happiness partnering the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation. He said that education is the greatest gift parents should give to their children.
” When you give education to your children, you have given them a future .
Oguama explained that it was as a result of that the Later Day Saints pays great attention to educational development.
On his part, a representative of the Later Day Saints of Jesus Christ Charities, Chidi Ibeakuzie ,thanked God , the Church of Later Day Saints , their partner, the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation, for the successful of completion of the project. He commended the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation and Ikechukwu Ezeugwu Foundation for their collaborations in bringing development to the people.
Ibeakuzie expressed the hope that they will do more next year(2023).
Leader of the Enugu state House of Assembly, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, in a brief remark, thanked the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation and the Later Day Saints for renovating the dormitory. He urged individuals, Corporate bodies to support the government in developing the educational sector, as government cannot do it alone.
To the students, Ezeugwu said that the Deputy Governor was like them, as a student and had excelled through hard work and good character. He therefore urged them to be dedicated to their studies.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board(ENSUBEB), Ikeje Asogwa , commended the Deputy Governor for giving back to the school that moulded her.
The Bishop of Enugu Diocese and Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province,Most Rev( Prof) Emmanuel Chukwuma, was represented by Venerable Christian Nweke.
In a vote of thanks, on behalf of the students, the senior prefect, Faith Agbo, thanked the Deputy Governor for the good work she did for the school. She prayed God to bless her so that she could continue doing the good works.
Earlier in her welcome address, the principal of the school, Nnaemeka-Chigbo Harriet, thanked the Deputy Governor, the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation and the Church of Later Day Saints for their kind gesture. The principal who was represented by the Vice Principal, Udeh Comfort, prayed God to bless the Deputy Governor, Hon( Barrister) Cecilia Ezeilo, her NGO, the Cecilia Ezeilo Foundation and the Later Day Saints Church.
