QRC Onitsha Alumni In The US Raise Funds To Support Special Needs Students In Their Alma Mater

By Our Correspondent

6 August 2016, Atlanta, GA: Ex-students of the Catholic legacy school, Queen of the Rosary College (QRC) Onitsha, gathered in the City of Atalanta, GA in the United States for their 2016 biennial convention. The convention theme was "improving academia and empowering students with special needs."

QRC alumni used the event to raise funds for blind students in their alma mater. Guests at well-attended event responded in kind by graciously doling out donations in dollars or Naira.

The two event speakers, Barrister Ngozi Nwosu (QRC Class of '74) and Hon. Oseloka H. Obaze, (guest speaker) MD/CEO Selonnes Consult and the immediate-past Secretary to the Anambra State Government set the stage for the responsive donation with their very insightful speeches.

Barr Nwosu said that with only paltry N360billion allocated to education in the 2016 Nigerian budget, there was little leeway to fund special needs education. Mr Obaze noted that challenges faced by special needs student derives mainly from "our indifference, which often starts at homes, is compounded by societal perceptions and disposition, cultural beliefs, poor advocacy; poor or dismal policy articulation and legislation and consequently, dismal or nonexistent service delivery". He thus encouraged QRC alumni association to do the heavy lifting in raising funds for dedicated projects in their alma mater.

QRC alumni had recently built and equipped an ultra modern science laboratory in their school. The 2016 convention also marked the end of tenure of the long-serving president of the association, Dr. Ngozi Okose and the installation of the new president, Mrs Nneka P. Eto. Two former principals of the college, Sr. Mariam Threse Ozonma and Mrs E. Erinne were honoured.