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An Address Of Welcome Presented By The Principal, Tansi International College, Awka On The Occasion Of The 16th Annual Patron Saint Feast
AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL, TANSI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE, AWKA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 16TH ANNUAL PATRON SAINT FEAST, PARENTS’ AND SPONSORS’ DAY CELEBRATION, THIS DAY, 24TH JANUARY, 2015.
My Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor (The Catholic Bishop of Awka diocese)
The Diocesan Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Chudi Akaenyi,
The Diocesan Education secretary, Rev Fr. Dr. Sebatian Onuorah,
Msgri, Rev Fathers and Sisters,
Your Excellency, Gov. Willie Obiano, Executive Governor of Anambra state,
All Honourable Commissioners present,
Vice Chancellors and Provosts of Academic Institutions present,
The Chairman of this occasion, Pharmacist Ezenwa S. I.
Our Guest of Honour, Dr. Hygers Igwebuike,
The P.T.A chairman, Engr. Emmanuel Eyisi,
Diocesan CWO Madam Director and her Organizers,
Our benefactors and benefactresses,
All alumni present,
Men of the press,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
COURTESIES:
I bring you all, greetings of joy and peace of the Lord as we have traditionally gathered here in the college to celebrate the glorious life of our own brother, namely Blessed Iwene Tansi. On behalf of the college family therefore, I feel greatly delighted and consider it a privilege to welcome you one and all to the college where the future of our children is gradually taking shape. Nnonuoooo.
THE REASON FOR OUR GATHERING:
Perhaps, from historical perspective, it is worthy of note for me to quickly refresh our minds on the reason of this ceremony. Founded in 1999 with symbolic number of ninety nine (99) students, the catholic diocese of Awka stormed the education industry with a view of providing sound moral formation and qualitative education to the Nigerian youths of all denomination across the federation. The vision of the founding fathers was to produce saints, scholars and polished gentlemen through qualitative education. The Church chose to name the college ‘TANSI’ as a way to immortalize the glowing virtues of our own brother, Blessed Iwene Tansi, while calling the attention of the youths to look up to him as their role model.
The college has since inception fifteen years ago, kept very impressive records both in disciplinary behavior and academic excellence. Most of our finished products are doing so well in their various fields of endeavors. It is on this note that traditionally we gather every year, to celebrate the gift of our own brother to the church as well as the academic excellence of the college. Once more, you are welcome to the college.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR:
I concur entirely that, the journey of ten thousand miles start with a step. Like a mustard seed planted some fifteen years ago with 99 students and seven external academic staff, Tansi college has made a name in the education industry. The name rings like a bell across the length and breathes of the federation. Currently, the college for some administrative convenience has a population of seven hundred and ninety (790) students, fifty six (56) academic staff and twenty two (22) non academic staff.
Admittedly, though we have not made the best result in the external examinations but am proud to place on record from verifiable past records that we have done very creditably well annually securing at least ninety five to ninety eight percent success in WAEC and NECO examinations. This academic success record has remained consistent over the years but this time around we are working hard to improve on the statuesquo to achieve the best possible. In the last year result, our best student, Master Finbarr Ifechuckwu Orji made the following grades in the various subjects: Civic Education A1, English Language B3, Igbo Language A1, Further Maths A1, Mathematics A1, Biology A1, Chemistry B2, Physics B2, and Auto Mechanical Work B3. He is being celebrated and honoured today.
Discipline is another essential aspect of our formation in the college. Much as we prioritize academic excellence, discipline is not left out nor compromised in the general scheme of things. This already underscores the reason for the choice of the college for secondary education of children by many parents.
Permit me at this juncture to pay glowing tribute to all my predecessors and administrators of this college for the good job well done since the college was founded. They have laid a firm foundation and I am challenged to sustain and manage the success and even reposition the college on the significant pages of history. As the fifth principal of the college, my commitment like that of my predecessors is total in overhauling the system for improved learning environment that will facilitate greater learning outcomes. Armed with the grace of office and the support of my colleagues, staff, students and parents, we are gradually rewriting the history together.
PROJECTS AT THE MOMENT:
On assumption of office on September 26th 2014, I was greatly challenged by the enormity of responsibilities before me. Without compromising the disciplinary and academic standards of the college, we considered first, the aesthetic appreciation of the college environment. Thus on October 20th, we commenced the ongoing landscaping project in the college, showing the drive and walk ways. Accordingly, we are planting flowers, grasses, royal palms and installing garden lights to give the college a befitting aesthetic outlook.
At the moment, we are aggressively renovating the academic block. We have changed the louvers to modern almaco windows; we are changing all wooden to iron doors, installed ceiling fans and have aggressively commenced the reflooring of the classrooms with terrazzo and tiles. This same renovation works shall be carried out in the administrative block and the refectory before we move into the hostels. We are carrying out these projects because of our understanding of the fact that every child is a product of his environment. Thus, our vision is to make the college home away from homes and school away from schools.
On the evening of January 2nd, 2015 we installed the new gate and thereafter did the neon sign to give the entrance to the college a befitting outlook.
Furthermore, the health department of the college has just received serious attention ever. We now have a functional clinic or sick bay with an employed visiting doctor to the college to handle health challenges of the students and the staff. This arrangement will definitely go a long way in reducing prevalent cases and tendencies of students requesting for permission to go home on health reasons that could have been comfortably taken care of by the college health department.
With a view of widening the horizons of learning and thus exposing our students to the outside world to interact and compete favourably with their counterparts, the college for the first time is sending her students on educational excursion to different continents of the world. We are currently packaging our students for educational excursion to South Africa. We equally have plans to send them to Canada, U K, and United States of America in the subsequent years.
CHALLENGES BEFORE US:
Like an aircraft taking off from the run ways, the college has actually taken off but is yet to reach the cruising level of the aircraft when passengers on board the aircraft can now relax and enjoy their trip.
- We still need another academic block to house the Auto mechanical engineering,
all the laboratories and standard WAEC examination hall.
- Construction of Father’s rectory to accommodate priests working in the college is
something that needs to be done as urgently as possible.
- A befitting chapel for our liturgical worship is just more than a necessity for us
in the college.
GRATITUDE:
First to God, who answers more infinitely than we can ever ask or imagine, deserves our thanks and praises for His continued love and mercies towards us. His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, the proprietor, deserves special thanks and appreciation for his concern towards the rapid transformation and progress of this college. My Lord, the college family appreciates you immensely for the christmas cow gift you gave us. We are grateful to you for confirming one hundred and five (105) candidates as soldiers of Christ. Kindly accept this token from us… God bless and keep you.
I thank my colleagues in the formation team as well as my staff and students for their individual talents, collective efforts and cooperation in taking the college to the next significant page of history. God bless you all. I appreciate the PTA executives and the entire members, for their understanding and support which have enabled us achieve the much desired progress within a record time. You are all my pillar of support and I am very proud of you. Let me on behalf of the college family; thank all invited guests as well as government parastatals here present. Your presence is enough encouragement to us. Dalunuoo.
My appreciation note will never be complete without particularly thanking Dr Sir Eric Ifeanyi Okoye, the CEO Juhel Nig Limited, who upon my request letter to him on 19th November 2014, approved on 10th January 2015, donation of his drug products to the college. As I speak to you now, am happy to announce that the very first supply has been made to the college on 16th January 2015. God richly bless his family and company. Rev. Fr. Eliseus Ezeuchenne, upon his return from the States for christmas vacation donated a sizeable quantity of rosaries for the staff and students of the college. We appreciate you Fr. Thank you Fr James Okafor who visited and celebrated for the students on 7th January 2015, and donated fifty (50) inches flat screen LG television for the viewing pleasure of the students in the refectory. I equally on behalf of the college family appreciate Fr. JohnPaul Ezeonyido who donated to the college, the book stand we are using for the first time today at mass. We appreciate Very Rev Fr. Jerry Okeke, my immediate predecessor for the bag of beans and ram he gave the students. Mrs Francisca Onyebuchi donated on resumption day, tin tomato and groundnut oil for students’ kitchen. Thank you madam. Thanks too, Dr. Mrs. Uju Onwusowulu Ezenekwe who paid and sent to the college, the Ivy can water we are using for today’s ceremony.
Finally, I appeal to all and sundry, to support us as we navigate to the next page of history in the college. Families and individuals are encouraged to pick up projects mentioned above. We are already on the move; why not join the moving train.
Once more thank you one and all and welcome to the college, the citadel of learning and discipline, where the future of our children is taking shape.
God bless you. Enjoy your stay and the rest of your day.
………………………………..,
Rev. Fr. Paul Onyebuchi II,
The Principal.
