The alumni of the iconic Hope Waddell Training Institute has concluded arrangements to officially launch a trust fund and upgraded Artificial Intelligence centre, to boost education in Cross River State, Southern Nigeria.
This is part of the Institute’s commitment to drive quality education especially for thousands of rural children.
The National President of the Hope Waddell Old Boys Association, Mr. Efio-Ita Ephraim, during an interaction with journalists in Calabar, the State capital, said that over the years, the alumni had undertaken several infrastructure upgrades as part of their contributions to boost quality education.
Ephraim stated, “the old boys either as class-sets, branches, individuals or the national body have done so much to upgrade infrastructure in this school. For instance, the laboratories were renovated, upgraded and equipped by the north-American branch of the association.”
He further announced that due to the volume of infrastructure development within the institution, Hope Waddell has reclaimed its status as a designated centre for the Cambridge Local Examination, which stated in 1921 and which several old students including foreign students benefitted from.
Ephraim said; “Hope Waddell lost that status as a Cambridge examination centre. But, we requested that Hope Waddell be certificated again as a Cambridge examination centre.
“So, the people came and inspected facilities at the school and found that they were good enough. Now, Hope Waddell Training Institute is a Cambridge examination and we are urging every student to tap into this achievement. It is not only for students of Hope Waddell to benefit from, but for Cross River State community and Nigeria at large.”
130 Years of Excellence
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Hope Waddell Training Institution’s 130th anniversary celebration, Mr. Tony Ikpeme said that the essence of the weeklong event was to create awareness on the successful contributions the old students have made to bequeath a more conducive teaching and learning environment to the future.
Ikpeme noted that the 130th anniversary would feature different fun family oriented activities.
Ephraim said; “this one week event is filled with pump and pageantry, panache and style. We were deliberate about this 130th anniversary because it encompasses the entire Hope Waddell community.
“In tourism, Cross River State pride itself as Nigeria’s foremost tourists’ destination and we at Hope Waddell have a very big part to play in Nigeria’s sports tourism. Football was first played here in Hope Waddell. As an institution established in 1895, we have many first in sports besides football.
“Cricket was first played in this school and the game of Golf was also first introduced by a Hope Waddell missionary. So, we are using this celebration to impress on the Nigerian Government to invest on developing those sports. To that effect, we have reached out to the different sporting organisations in Nigeria,” he stated.
He said; “the north-American branch in projecting students into the future decided to rebrand the ICT centre. The facility is the best AI compliance centre amongst secondary schools in Cross River State and east of the Niger; the first to be certified by JAMB (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board) and WAEC (West African Examination Council).”
The weeklong activity would be rounded off with a dinner and award celebration of present students, teachers and other staff, who have continued to perform outstandingly.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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