The Federal Government College, Okigwe Old Students’ Association (FEGOCOOKOSA), has called on the Federal Government to award scholarship to the students of the College who achieved the feat of launching a “rocket” in Umuchime Ubahu community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State using local materials.
Two students of FGC Okigwe, successfully launched a “rocket,” which travelled more than the programmed five kilometres. The “rocket” was built from local materials.
The FEGOCOOKOSA said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that scholarship to the two amateur scientists will not only help them to improve their skills but will rub-off on the nation’s quest for technological advancement.
The statement signed by National Publicity Secretary of FEGOCOOKOSA, Paul Ibe said that a reward for excellence and innovation as being recommended will spur other budding amateur scientists to channel their skills and energies to constructive endeavours that will benefit the nation in the long run.
The association commended Commissioner Katsina for the professional manner the police under his watch in Imo state handled the investigation arising from the fears from the community and the conclusion that there was no criminal intent on the part of the students, but merely a case of innovation and adventure.
The alumni association said this feat once again brings to the fore the need for Special Schools, especially for the sciences for the incubation and nurturing of talents that will serve as a pool for our much-needed scientific breakthroughs.
It commended the authorities of the school for providing the competitive environment that threw up these students who were inspired to launch the “rocket” by the National Space Development Agency’s plan to launch a climate-monitoring satellite into space next year.
Ibe who underscored the imperative of proper funding for the nation’s schools, especially at this incubator stage recalled that this was what motivated the alumni association of the school, FEGOCOOKOSA to launch N100 million Endowment Fund for the school last year in which former Vice President and Grand Patron of the association, Atiku Abubakar contributed N20 million.
“As alumni committed to giving back to the Federal Government College, Okigwe, we are proud of the feat of our students and will continue to partner with the school and other stakeholders to improve its learning environment and engender excellence for the benefit of our nation,” an elated National President of FEGOCOOKOSA, Okey Chikwendu enthused.
Chikwendu said that FEGOCOOKOSA was backing the one-day summit on education on October 24 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja under the auspices of the Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA) because it recognises that government alone cannot bear the burden of delivering on quality education.
He urged stakeholders in the education sector to take advantage of this dialogue to chart a new course for the crisis-ridden education sector on which our national aspirations for growth and development is predicated upon.
