SAFOBA to mark 80th anniversary of the founding of St. Francis College

The Ambassador Ogbole Amedu Ode led national executive of St. Francis College Otukpo Old Boys’ Association (SAFOBA) has released a 7-day programme of events (spread over 9 days) to mark a significant milestone in the history of the college; the 80^th anniversary of the founding of the college in 1944.

According to a press release by the Chairman of the SAFOBA 80^th Anniversary Local Organising Committee (LOC), Professor Edward Omudu, the celebrations will begin on Thursday 26^th September 2024 in the premises of the college with inter-school invitational quiz & debate competitions, and then culminate with a celebration/awards ceremony on 4^th October 2024, the day of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the college.

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Some of the other events lined up during the 7 days of celebration include free medical outreach for the college’s host community, a train the trainer workshop for teachers from selected secondary schools, information technology (IT) and entrepreneurial skills workshop for final year students, a gala night and the foundation stone laying ceremony of a SAFOBA legacy project.

The 7-day event will commence at 9am daily, with the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Diocese and the Proprietor of the college, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi as special guest of honour. Invited secondary schools include St. Anne’s Secondary School, Wesley High School, St. Monica’s Girls Secondary School, Agbenu College, Varma College, Odumu Ocheibe College, Holy Child Secondary School & Minor Seminary Ochobo.

The full programme of events as released by the LOC is shown below.

26^th September 2024

1. 9am to 12 noon: Inter-school invitational quiz competition between students of St. Francis College and invited secondary schools.
2. 1pm to 3pm: Inter-school invitational debate competition between students of St. Francis College and invited secondary schools.

27^th September 2024

3. 9am to 3pm: Choral music competition between the choirs of St. Francis College and invited secondary schools.

29^th September 2024

4. 2pm to 4pm: First football match for boys from St. Francis College and invited secondary schools.
5. 4pm to 6pm: Second football match for boys from St. Francis College and invited secondary schools.

30^th September 2024

6. 9am to 3pm: First free medical outreach for St. Francis College host community.

2^nd October 2024

7. 9am to 2pm: Capacity-building training on innovative teaching methods and classroom management for tutors (train the trainers workshop).
8. 9am to 3pm: Second free medical outreach for St. Francis College host community.

3^rd October 2024

9. 9am to 12 noon: Capacity-building training in ICT & entrepreneurship for SSIII students of St. Francis College and early career college old boys.
10. 2pm to 4pm: Town hall interaction between old boys, the proprietor and Catholic Education Board.
11. 2pm to 4pm: Third football match for boys from St. Francis College and invited secondary schools.
12. 4pm to 6pm: Fourth football match for boys from St. Francis College and invited secondary schools.
13. 6pm to 9pm: St. Francis @80 Gala Night for all old boys and invited guests.

4^th October 2024

14. 9am to 11am: St. Francis @80 Reunion Mass for all old boys and invited guests.
15. 11am to 12 noon: Foundation stone laying ceremony for legacy project.
16. 12 noon to 1pm: Remembrance and unveiling of Mr. Regis Kanagasuntherie’s memorial painting.
17. 12 noon to 1pm: Commissioning of classroom blocks renovated by Major General Alechenu Alechenu.
18. 1pm to 4pm: St. Francis @80 Celebration & Awards ceremony for all old boys and invited guests.