From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo on Tuesday paid a working visit to his alma mater, Government College Bomadi, in Delta State, now Saint Brendan College, where he promised to rebuild the dilapidated Clark House hostel.

Accompanied on the visit by the National President of the school’s alumni, Fedude Zimughan and other old boys of the College, Senator Ewhrudjakpo went round the institution inspecting its buildings and other facilities.

Addressing the management, staff and students of the college, he promised to prevail on other members of the Alumni to pool resources together to ensure the completion and equipping of the science laboratory as well as address the issue of inadequate furniture and desks for staff and students respectively.

The Deputy Governor noted that a lot had changed in the school since he left the institution, lamenting that most of the old landmark structures had completely dilapidated, including the Clark House male hostel which accommodated him during his days as a student.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo advised the students to seek success through hardwork and other time-tested principles of prayer, good attitude, courage, effort and determination.

“The college had truly changed. The five hostels or houses, as we used to call them – the Clark House, the Pere House, the Kpadia House, and others are no longer there.

“I will on my own rebuild the Clark House or hostel where I had lived in my days at this college; while the old students will collectively pool resources to complete the laboratory and equip it.

“The alumni will also look into the problem of inadequate office and classroom furniture for both staff and students of the college.

“To you, the students, I want to encourage you not to be afraid of anything. You must be prayerful, have a good attitude, be courageous, spare no effort at achieving your goals and be determined.

“Make your books your best companions, obey your parents and guardians; be diligent in your studies, and don’t run away from challenges,” he said.

In his remarks, the Assistant Cathedral Administrator of Saint Brendan College, Bomadi, Delta State, Rev. Father Victor Chinedu, thanked Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for finding time out of his crowded schedule to visit the school.

Rev. Fr Chinedu, however, appealed to the Bayelsa Deputy Governor and the alumni to come to the aid of the college in respect of students’ hostels, lack of furniture, laboratory equipment and computer systems for effective teaching and learning.

The National President of Government College Old Students Association, Fedude Zimughan, expressed profound gratitude to the Deputy Governor for visiting his alma mater with other alumni members to see things for themselves.

In his vote of thanks, the Senior Prefect, Okutu Edesere, equally appreciated the alumni for the honour and support to the College, and promised that the students would make the alumni proud through hardwork, prayerfulness and other success tips earlier mentioned by the Deputy Governor.

Some old students of the college who accompanied Senator Ewhrudjakpo on the visit include the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule; and his Ijaw National Affairs counterpart, Godspower Oporomor.

Others are the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue, Mr. Timipre Seipulo; a member of the Bayelsa International Airport Management Board, Chief Torpedo Amananaghan, and the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Boundary Matters, Chief Vote Salem.