By Okeke Okenta

Old students of Federal Government College (FGC) Nise, Anambra under the aegis of Concerned Alumni of FGC, Nise have condemned what is termed campaign of calumny against their alma mater and the Principal Mrs Ijeoma Ekumankama.
The alumni which spoke in a statement made available in Awka on Thursday said they received with utter shock the publication on petition entitled “Save The Soul of Our Children” sponsored by one Kenenna Obiatuegwu.
The petition raised a number of allegations including fraud, poor infrastructure, unhealthy environment, malnutrition and intimidation of parents by Ekumankama.
The statement which was signed by Mr. Chinedu Aniagboso said the poor state of infrastructure and amenities in the school did not start with the current principal who had spent just about two and half years.
They said they were worried about the damage the publication would do not only to the management but the institution which has nurtured great minds for 26 years now and still counting.
According to them, the malicious petitions is a product of vendetta because the petitioner does not have a child or ward in FGC Nise, rather he is fighting the battle of his sister who made failed attempt to have the school adopt her hospital as a referral centre.
“We wish to state that just as the case in most government owned institutions, FGC Nise, has its own infrastructural challenges which to the best of our knowledge are being genuinely addressed.
“We will not allow anyone to malign and ridicule the school or its management in the name of pursuing personal vendetta.
“Therefore we clarify that the infrastructure and amenities in the school were inherited by the current management and based on our findings, the management has demonstrated genuine efforts and commitment towards making them better.
“That the pictures and videos used in depicting the state of affairs were taken at a time the facility was undergoing maintenance and so, no longer valid as the facilities have been fixed.
“Under the current administration, collapsed e-Lib was reconstructed, JS1 boys and girls hostels was tiled and painted, 12 classes comprising JS3 and SS3 installed with ceiling, fans and painted.
“Embankment was constructed on five block of classes to check erosion on the structures, a new principals house building was built, and a modern gate house was constructed, the dining hall was tiled and painted while the school toilet seats and bathrooms were repaired and new ones built.
“A number of other projects were also executed including construction of drainages in the hostels, installation of solar powered street lights on strategic areas, construction of school pavilion, completion of Home Economics Department among others.
“The petitioner's niece was admitted without paying a dime even when she did not meet the cut off mark, this makes his claim of admission sale surprising,” it stated.
The group called in the Federal Government to increase funding to the school to enable management meet the educational and facility needs of the school, while appreciating it the capital projects and intervention projects funded through the annual national budgets.