130-year anniversary: Hope Waddell offers free medical outreach, upgrades facilities
The fifth oldest secondary school in Nigeria, Hope Waddell, located in Calabar, Cross River State has disclosed plans to flag off free medical outreach to communities in the state as part of activities to mark its 130 anniversary.
This was disclosed on Monday in Calabar, during a press briefing to commemorate the 130th anniversary celebration of the institution with the theme ‘A Glorious Heritage Inspiring the Future.’
National President of Hope Waddell Alumni Association, Efioita Okon Ephraim, while commending the old students, maintained that this is another unprecedented activity aimed at giving back to the immediate community.
He noted the donation of blood at the General Hospital, Calabar as another act of goodwill and gesture to ameliorate the dearth of blood in the blood bank.
Ephraim maintained that the old students association have carried out major infrastructural projects that would be commissioned during the anniversary, such as the upgraded ICT centre, drawing studio for performing architecture and surveying students, counselling hall, and museums among others.
He disclosed that the ICT centre is a project executed by the North American branch of the association and recounted the infrastructural development carried out by various branches of the old students.
He said “The infrastructural development you have seen here in this institution are projects done by the old students association, both branches in Nigeria and in the diaspora.
“The Chemistry, Physics, and Biology laboratories are all renovated by the old students. They did not just develop the infrastructure, but also provided all the equipment and chemicals required in the laboratories.”
He added that a N1 billion legacy fund will also be launched to help improve facilities in the institution.
The Chairman of the Hope Waddell 130th Anniversary Committee, Toni Ikpeme said that different sporting competitions have been lined up, including golf, cricket, volleyball, inter-house sports and others as part of activities for the celebration.
Ikpeme said, “As part of our 130-year anniversary, we will be opening our artefacts, trophies, memorabilia and logbook for the public.”
