Our Lady of Fatima College Institutes Award in Honor of Zakawanu

By DADA AYOKHAI

 Even in death, the former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, continues to be honoured.

The latest of such honours is the institution of an award of excellence to be given to the best graduating student of Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi, his Alma mater.

This cheering news was disclosed by the Worldwide President of the School’s Old  Boy’s Association (OLOFOBA), Hon. Paschal Ugbome at the 60th Founders Day Anniversary of the Institution.

The low key anniversary celebration because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which held in the Auchi premises of the elite missionary institution, attracted a motley crowd of guests, in strict adherence to the  COVID-19 protocols.

 Announcing the birth of the Zakawanu Garuba Endowment Award to the best graduating student of the school, with an attached princely sum of Fifty Thousand Naira as cash prize, Hon. Ugbome said the award was in recognition of the late Speaker's contributions to the growth of the institution during his lifetime.

He said, "As an Exco, we wish to announce the institution of an award of excellence in honour of late Zakawanu Garuba. This award is to be presented to the best graduating student every year and it is in recognition of his commitment, deduction and contributions to the school as well as the Association whilst alive. It will carry a sum of N50, 000".

Hon. Ugbome noted the award is expected to spur the students to excel, while also ensuring that Olofobaites show sufficient dedication towards their Alma mater as well as the Association.

Our Lady of Fatima, Auchi, was established in 1960, same year Nigeria won her independence from her colonial masters. The Catholic Church, with support of the then Western regional government, of which Edo was part of, established the school to cater for the educational needs of the people. Since then, the school has churned out notable graduands who have impacted positively on the society

A particular event which brought the upscale school to national limelight occurred in 1977 when it won the top position in the All Secondary School football competition

 Following the controversial takeover of schools during the military regime, the school was renamed Otaru Grammar School, Auchi. It later reverted to its original name of Our Lady of Fatima when the state government decided to return missionary schools to their owners.

One of the saddest moments in the rich history of the school was in 1981 when, as a result of a communal conflict between two of its neighbouring communities, a  huge inferno, ostentibly sparked by unknown persons, engulfed and damaged the school facilities, reducing them to rubbles. Like a phoenix with nine lives, however, the school rose from the ashes and took its rightful place.

Some of the products of the school occupy vantage positions in diverse fields of human endeavours. Among the top Edo North politicians who are graduands of the school are Chief Dan Orbih, Hon Paschal Ugbome, late Zakawanu Garuba and Late Alhaji Chalton Mogaji.

 Others include seasoned technocrats and academicians such as Dr lmokuemeh; Head of Service, Edo State; Prof Eragbe, Vice Chancellor, Edo State University, iyamho; Profs Aluyor and Omogbai respectively.

The highlights of the ceremony was the commissioning of some projects donated by different Sets of the school.which includes, standard Olympic table tennis sets  by  98 set, washing hands sets ,white boards, 1993 set , renovations and replacements of iron doors, windows and white board's  98set, brand new world class basketball court  1982 set, presentations of books  87set and  lock up shops by Olofoba worldwide.