Ezeji Pharm J C Agwu, FIMC/CMC, KSJI, JP (UNESCO), Chairman, POSA Ivory National Convention Committee speaks on preparations for the Convention. He spoke in an interview with Content Team (CT)
Happy reading.
CT: What is the theme for the 2024 POSA Convention? In what ways is this theme different from past ones and what does it intend to achieve?
NCC Chair: The Theme is “IVORY CONVENTION FOR CONSOLIDATION; HARNESSING THE EFFORTS OF OLD STUDENTS FOR QUALITATIVE EDUCATION & IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURES IN NIGERIAN COLLEGES”.
The theme is different from previous convention themes in many ways than one; Ivory is the acronym for 62nd Anniversary, Presbyterian College ( PRESCO) now known as Abakaliki High School was established in 1962 and is 62 years this year while the formation of the Old Students Association has been undergoing fledgling beginnings until the immediate Past President Elder JBO Nonyelum took the bull by the horn and courageously established a formal PRESCO Old Students Association in 2016 and became the Pioneer National President for six (6) years with Gen Obi Abel Umahi as the BOT Chairman. So you can see that PRESCO @ 62, it’s formalized Old Students Association is just 8years old. The capacity incumbent President, Dr Cyril Aninwike of 1980 set, who two years ago took over from the Pioneer President, therefore has the daunting task of consolidating the Association and fast tracking the standard of the Association to match the age of the school (PRESCO). To achieve this, he and the National Executive Committee have been implementing programs that engender confidence of the Old Students Worldwide so as to harness their various potentialities/capacities towards improving the infrastructure in the current PRESCO School Site and encouraging the Students/Staff by way of academic excellence and best behaved Students awards as well as best Teacher Awards for JSS & SSS Teachers. So the theme of this convention is reflective of the philosophy and leadership agenda of this incumbent NEC ably led by Dr Cyril Aninwike, FPSN.
CT: When is the Convention starting, duration and venue?
NCC Chair: The Convention will start on Thursday the 29th of August and end with a Thanksgiving Church Service on Sunday the 1st of September 2024. The Venue of the Conference is the beautiful REMERITONA HOTELS & SUITES, MILE 50 ABAKALIKI, EBONYI STATE.
CT: Who are going to be major speakers and their topics, resource persons and special guests?
NCC Chair: The Special Guest of Honor is the innovatively – Dynamic Executive Governor of Ebonyi State H.E. Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru & his amiable Wife, the First Lady of Ebonyi State, with the Distinguished Senator Representing Ebonyi Central District, Sen Kenneth Eze who is of PRESCO 1988 set as the Chairman of the Event while the ebullient and legendary Amazon of our time, the incumbent Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Mrs Nnenna N. Oti will be the Keynote Speaker, to do justice to the Convention Theme in her characteristic brutally frank manner and exposition.
CT: What activities are expected to feature during the ceremony.
NCC Chair: The Convention programs are action/fun packed like never before. There will be the National President’s Gala Nite, Daily Health Checks, Health walk round the Abakaliki Capital City, Sensitization radio-phone-in program, Interaction with the Students/Staff of PRESCO, Attendance of the 2024 PRESCO PRIZE GIVING DAY on 30/8/24 with presentation of POSA Awards from National, Branches and Individual Members, Donation of teaching and learning materials/equipments to the school, Class-sets interactions, Tour of infrastructural monuments within and around the Abakaliki capital city including tour of the original Mgbabor site of PRESCO, AGM, Elections, Opening ceremony/Dinner & Awards/Dance Nite and a crucial lunch interaction with the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly, the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Most Rev Dr Ekpenyong Nyong Akpanika, the leadership of the Church in Abakaliki Synod at the end of the Sunday Thanksgiving.
CT: How many Prescorians are expected to attend the convention?
NCC Chair: More than 500 DISTINGUISHED PRESCORIANS are expected to grace the convention.
CT: What are your expectations from participants?
NCC Chair: To relax, have fun, appreciate the developmental dynamics in Abakaliki and in PRESCO in particular and to donate generously towards the upliftment of our Alma Mater, especially towards our Convention Star Project- Perimeter fencing of the current PRESCO School site with a modern security gate and security gate house to cost us over N20M as government cannot do/provide everything alone.
CT: What’s your advice to Prescorians concerning the convention?
NCC Chair: Let the convention 4 days be seen as VACATION and they should feel free to come and enjoy the hospitality, convivial, clean city with well paved road networks and well secured environment of Abakaliki, the home-city of our Alma Mater and Ebonyi State great State capital and at the end of the Convention an indelible positive impact must been left on our Alma Mater, the Students and Staff, and participants satisfied that it was worth the attendance!
