The Samuel Bill Secondary School in Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom state is set to reopen after it was shut down 33 years ago.
President Alumni Association of the school, Mr. Churchill Udoh told to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday that the Qua Iboe Church-owned institution will reopen its gate to students come September 2022.
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The school was shut down in 1989 after a student’s demonstration and since then the doors have remained closed.
Speaking at the 12th annual alumni reunion, Mr. Churchill Udoh confirmed that a lot of work had been done towards rebuilding infrastructure and putting the right structures in place to reopen the school.
He said that the school would be reopened in partnership with both the Qua Iboe Church and United Evangelical Church, who are the two factions of the original Qua Iboe Church that berthed the school.
Mr. Churchill Udoh explained that the school operated for only ten years since 1979 but due to the quality of training, many graduates of the school are today in various leadership positions in government, business, professional practice and church administration.
The vision of the alumni was to reopen a school that would continue the tradition of excellence, train children how to lead in the next generation and compete as one of the best schools in Africa.
During the reunion ceremony, Rev. Dr. Samuel Udeme Ebukiba, the Conference Chairman of the United Evangelical Church was inducted as Honorary Member, Samuel Bill Old Boys Association (SOBA), and the awardee was decorated by Rev. Ekpedeme Effanga, Conference Chairman, Qua Iboe Church, in a historic warm embrace.
Rev. Effanga is an Honorary Member of the association having being earlier inducted in 2017.
Both churches assured the alumni of their support to the new school. The honorary membership award is the highest honor given to a non-student and the award is given in recognition of the contributions and commitment to the mission of the Late Samuel Alexander Bill.
Other awardees in past events of the association include Professor Akpan Hogan Ekpo, former Director-General, West African Institute for Finance and Economic Management (WAIFEM) and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo, Barr. Aniekan Ukpanah, Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie, and Ntufam Elijah Iyak, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDGs. Admission forms and prospectus for the new school will be available soon.
Source: The Nation Newspaper
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