UPDATES FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT- June 22, 2020
Fellow Umuahian’s,
I hope that you and yours are safe and well. I hope that you are all practicing “physical distancing”, masking and good hand hygiene, while heeding to the advice that you have been receiving from the medical experts about the COVID 19 pandemic. With prayers and God’s grace, we will all come through this in due time.
In my last update, I announced that GCUOBA USA and UK old boys had adopted the construction of the Dining Hall as our contribution to GCU restoration efforts. Attached is a flyer on the status of all the adopted projects and those waiting for adoption. I am aware that several class groups are contemplating the adoption of some of the remaining phase 1 projects. The estimated budget for this dining hall is $500,000.00.
Some of you will recall that we started fund raising in 2014, however due to the elections in Nigeria and uncertainty on the path the Fisher Educational Development Trust was taking us, our fund-raising efforts slowed down in the intervening years. With clarity of direction and purpose from the FEDT in late 2019, we are now on a solid path to breaking ground on the phase 1 projects, of which the Dining Hall is a key corner stone. I convened a Diaspora Fund Raising Committee (DFRC), consisting of our original fund-raising committee from 2014, plus our old boys in the UK, to restart the fund-raising campaign. The team has been hard at work, meeting every week for 2 to 3 hours for the better part of the last 4 weeks. To understand more and contribute to this campaign, please join us in “An Umuahian Call To Duty” , a gathering on Zoom on Saturday, June 27th @ 3.00 pm EST. Our Grand Patron and Chief Hosts Nnabuenyi Momoh “44 and Arunne Ethel Momah, will be present, as well as other Umuahians, in an epic gathering in RED (flyer attached). I hear those “Erekosima” house boys will be there in full display of “effrontery and gallantry”. Do not be outdone by them. We will regal the past and raise funds to stand up the Dining Hall for the next generation.
On the Construction front, I have convened a projects Committee to work with the project management team of the (FEDT). The team will be meeting next week to select a contractor and negotiate the financial and technical terms for the delivery of the project. The current schedule calls for construction to start in July, when the Abia State shut down is lifted. This kick off date is critical to meet a target opening date for new students in September of 2021.
Remember to visit our website at GCUOBAUSA.org to register, so you have access to the restoration drawings for the Dining Hall, plus other details about the GCU restoration. The website is also tracking donations from all our old boys and you can view the list of donors from 2014 to date under the “donate” button. We have raised approximately $160,000.000 and it keeps changing every day. Log in regularly to see how we are marching towards our target. Much more is needed; if you pledged in the past and have not redeemed your pledge, please do so. If you have given in the past, please give more. All hands must be on deck. We talk about our great institution on various platforms with immense pride, well this is the time to dig very deep and give to the institution that made us who we are today. Our Board, Executive and I will leave no stone untouched to meet our charge. Please join the Board, DFRC and fellow Umuahians this Saturday, June 27 at 3 .00 pm EST, to continue this journey.
Finally, I recognize that we also face a grave and deadly pandemic, and these are challenging times; however, we must and cannot fail to deliver the Dining Hall for future generations. Please join us on Zoom, on Saturday June 27th , 2020 @ 3.00 pm EST in “An Umuahian Call to Duty”, to do your part.
In UNUM LUCEANT!!!!
Okey Eneli
President
GCUOBA USA
Documents:
Renderings of adopted and yet to be adopted buildings in phase 1
Dress Red v5 Flyer
Romie Ogbolu says
Thanks for keeping us updated. Keep up the good works.
Nnabuenyi Ogbolu, PhD, PMP
1962 House Captain, Nile House
215 431 9720