By Ngwuoke Ngwuoke
The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Enugu North has debunked allegations that it is neglecting and mismanaging Colliery Comprehensive Technical College, Ngwo.
The founder and Chairman of Old Boys Association of the school, Donald Agu, recently alleged that the management of the Colliery Comprehensive Technical College Ngwo has been characterised by Neglect, dilapidation and mismanagement since the Church took over the management of the school in 2009.
In a swift reaction, the Church described the allegations as false, baseless and misleading.
Spokesman for the Church, Venerable Professor Madubuko Cyril Ubesie, Chairman, State School Based Management Committee said the allegations are coming from persons pursuing their personal and selfish agenda.
“To start with, I want to state that the Church is in close and regular contact with the Chairman and other members of the Old Students Association of the school and they have been commending our intervention in the school management. It is therefore doubtful if the persons that spoke with you are members of the Association.
“To put the records straight, Colliery Comprehensive Technical College was among the schools taken over by the government after the Nigerian civil war in 1970. It was not until 2010 that the school came under the joint management of the Enugu State Government and the Church. The Church was granted full management of the school just 2 years ago, in 2023.
Ven. Prof Ubesie said the Mission had done a lot of wonderful work since it got involved in the management of the school.
“For example, with a few of N9,800.00 per term for junior students and N10,500.00 per term for senior students, the school charges the least school fees among Mission schools in this area.
“From this meagre resources, the Mission has done some interventions which include solving the manpower deficit in the school by employing 17 teachers to supplement those employed by the government.
“We have renovated the Administration and examination hall as well as the Principal’s house while other works are on going.
“In terms of school population, it is laughable that someone can say that we have only one hundred students. This is not true as we have more than 400 students in the school.
The Chairman also addresses allegations that the Church is running a non existent College of Education, using part of the school compound.
“This is another lie from the pit of hell. The College of Education we are running is approved by the appropriate authorities both at the Federal and State levels.
“We are temporarily using a section of the premises pending when work is completed at the Permanent site. The College of Education is run on part hi time basis where students have physical contacts only on weekends.
“It is ridiculous that someone can say we are running a non-existent College of Education. We have verifiable members of Council comprising prominent indigenes of Ngwo and former students of the school.
“The include Prof Agu Gave Agu (Chairman), Minister of State for External Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Prof Chijioke Agbo, Prof Okey Orji, Arc Sir Okechukwu Chukwuogor, Rt Rev Dr Onyeka Onyi, Rt Rev Dr Emma Ugwu, Dr Sir Dickson Ani and representatives of the Federal and State Ministries of Education.
“Can these calibre of people be on the Council of a non existent school?”
Prof Ubesie has some words of advice for the people.
“I advise the people of Ngwo to disregard the people spreading this blasphemy with the aim of dragging the name of the Church in the mud,” Ubesie said.
