… As Udoka Primary, Nursery School, Awka, Celebrates 22nd Graduation Ceremony 12 Pupils Get Scholarship from Nursery to Varsity Level
By Michael Nnebife and R.A. Yakubu
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, has commissioned ultramodern education facilities at Udoka Nursery and Primary School, Awka, to enhance the quality of education for the pupils.
The facilities included six-room modern toilet facilities with metal overhead tank water reservoir funded by Chief Ignatius Onyeka Aguowo, in partnership with IG Aguowo Health and Academic Foundation; a mini-auditorium named after the Bishop; and a refurbished school manager’s office.
The event took place on Thursday, July 24, 2025, as part of activities to mark the school’s 22nd Graduation Ceremony, and Bishop Ezeokafor’s pastoral visit to the school.
The double celebration began with a Pontifical High Mass presided over by the Bishop.
In a homily, Ezeokafor emphasized the reason the Church came into education, reiterating that every human being had spiritual and material parts, which, he argued, needed to be simultaneously nurtured academically and morally, for him to be a complete human being that had the image of God.
The Bishop advised the entire pupils to be hardworking and obedient to their teachers, congratulating the graduating pupils, whom he urged to uphold the knowledge they had acquired, for their good.
Noting that parents, the Church and the school played complementary roles in the training of the child, Bishop Ezeokafor enjoined the parents to allow teachers to discipline the child for its good.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who doubles as the Proprietor of Udoka Nursery and Primary School, expressed gratitude to the school management and the staff, for their dedication and commitment.
He thanked the donor of the ultramodern toilet facilities, Chief Aguowo, and prayed God to reward him and all the supporters of the school.
In his remarks, the School Manager, Rev Fr Mark Obiora Ikeh, appreciated the Bishop for what he described as his fatherly care, and the guests, for finding out time to come and celebrate with the school.
While speaking with Fides, Fr Ikeh expressed joy and satisfaction with the level of progress of his school, noting that the school was a place to be.
‘We have facilities – very conducive classrooms, new ultramodern mini-auditorium, ultramodern restrooms,’ Ikeh said, thanking Chief Aguowo, for his overwhelming support to the school; the Governor of the state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for posting teachers to the school; and a former Governor, Mr Peter Obi, for returning the school to the mission.
In her address of welcome, the School Headmistress, Mrs Stella Asiegbu, said since October 2023 when the School Manager assumed office, the school had been experiencing commendable developmental strides in terms of aesthetics and conducive environment.
The Headmistress said, among others, that the school employed special teachers in Mathematics and English, an initiative, she stated, resulted in the school taking the second position at a Spelling Bee Competition organized by the Land of Goshen International College, Awka.
‘One of our learners at the competition was granted a 50% Scholarship,’ Mrs Asiegbu revealed, and expressed joy, saying, ‘We have gone miles in transforming the school positively.’
Highlighting a playground, a gateman’s house, a school bus, and solar power system as challenges facing the school, she appealed to friends and alumni of the school to come to its aide to enable it to attain greater heights.
During the event, Chief Aguowo announced awards of scholarship to 12 best pupils of the school, from their present levels to university level. The pupils are Martha Nkweagu, Munachi Ogbonna, Mmasinachi Ndukwe, Goodluck Machie, Victory Ejike, Faustina Okoye, Dennis Chukwudubem, Chisimdi Anekwe, and Mmesoma Obi.
Others are Sunday Akachukwu, Chinwendu Udeozor, and Chinenye Chukwuemeka.
Highlights of the event included among others, presentation of awards to Chief Aguowo; the Senator representing Anambra Central in the National Assembly, Sir Victor Umeh; the Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr Osita Onuko; Dr Frank Uzoh of Madonna Hospital and Maternity, Awka; and the Chairman, Arnold and Associates Group, Mr Chukwuebuka Ekweoba Arnold, in appreciation for their unwavering support to the school.
Numerous priests, and Anambra State Government officials, who included St Patrick’s Cathedral Administrator, Rev Fr Anthony Nwafor; Rev Msgr John Anyika; Rev Fr Prof Eugene Anowai; the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, represented by an education officer in the Ministry, Chinyelu Nwachukwu; her Culture, Entertainment and Tourism counterpart, Mr Don Onyenji; the Chairman, Awka South Local Government Area of the state, Prince Chinedu Okafor, among others, attended the event in which Bishop Ezeokafor administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 101 candidates.