Kogi East senator, Echocho says OLS taught them religious coexistence

The senator Representing Kogi East in the National Assembly, Isah Jibrin Echocho has described Our Lady Of Schools, (OLS) Anyigba, his Alma mater as an institution that promoted peaceful religious coexistence among the students that passed through the citadel of learning.
This, he said has instilled in them the culture of tolerance that has become part and parcel of their lives.
He spoke recently when he singlehandedly embarked on the overhaul of the infrastructures in the school that have since become dilapidated after over 60 years of its establishment.
He said as a Muslim he is giving back to a missionary school with passion because he tolerates all irrespective of the faith.
“By way of background even though it is a missionary school, when we were students, a portion of the school was carved out for us as Mosque even when it is a catholic school and during the month of Ranadan, they used to cook for us early in the morning, and in the evening they used to cook specially for us to break our fast.
“So that has cultivated in me the consciousness for me to be tolerant with other faiths.
“The Principal then was a Canadian. He did all these without any biases especially as he was not of our faith.
“We used to call Salat, for morning prayers as if we were in a Muslim school, in the morning, Afternoon and in the evening and during the Ramadan they used to treat us specially, special food in the morning around 4am to 5am, the cooks will come out that early and in the evening they  gave us special diet for breaking of the fast. “Whatever I have become today, that school has contributed majorly to it. By the grace of God Almighty, now that he has given me this opportunity of being in the Senate for the second term, I will overhaul the school but it will be done in phases.

The renovation work on the classrooms and other structures have reached advanced stage.
The senator had earlier donated a 32 seater Toyota Coaster Bus when he was in the banking industry.
He had also provided a fully equipped computer Laboratory, Dual desks for students, solar light, Text books and exercise books for students and instructional materials as well as payment of School fees for some of the indegent students.
Speaking on why he embarked on the renovation work, Senator Echocho said,

“The school was a missionary school which was established in 1965. It has produced very important personalities in Nigeria. I graduated from that school in 1977.
“The school modeled me in terms of character and in learning, and so I feel like giving back to the school. “The first thing I did some years ago when I was a banker, was to donate a new 32 seater Toyota Coaster bus and it is serving them till date but upon recent visit to the school I realised that most of the structures are dilapidated especially the classrooms.
“So I now thought that the best thing is to start renovating the classrooms. So I started with the first block of classrooms which we finished about a month or there about ago, then we started with the second phase which has also completed and we are going in to the third stage now.
“My intention is to overhaul the entire school but in phases.

On how he feels after his decision to renovate the entire school and having crossed the phase 2, he said he is fulfilled because in the first place that is the school where he was groomed in character and in learning.
“I am happy that I am alive and I have the opportunity to bring the school back to its glorious days in terms of infrastructure.
“The classrooms, hostels were built a long time ago, the structures were strong and they stood the test of time. However, I feel like overhauling the structures, we have removed the roof, worked on the walls, put ceiling and then I want to do everything over a period but on instalmental basis.
The Principal, Mr Awodi Roberts Yusuf expressed fulfillment that the school which was established in 1965 is being overhauled for the first time by the benevolence of Senator Representing Kogi East, Dr. Isah Jibrin Echocho.

Yusuf was reacting to the recent effort if the senator that has set a record in the annals of the institution with his benevolence in giving back to the institution that was instrumental to his attainment in life.
He thanked the senator for remembering where he comes from.
“I know there are many who have come through these stages and have not remembered where they come from.
“This is not the first, neither is it the second, he had provided for us a computer Laboratory equipped, Dual desks for our students, solar light, Text books and exercise books for our students and instructional materials and of course payment of School fees for some of our indegent students.
“These are laudable achievements and the most critical one is the donation of a brand new 32 searter Toyota Coaster Bus. The 32 seater bus is not only serving the school but the community.
“We are greatful to him on behalf of the parents. For the new project, God will be with him. we know he has a lot of interest in us.

“W appreciate him for deeming it appropriate to givw back to the school and for thinking of the school in his time. I am so impressed by the quality of the job that is ongoing. Because it is of standard and we want to appreciare him for giving back to the school for what the school has contributed to his own upbringing.

“As a muslim he was impressed by what the school did for them. The school is more of a secular school than a religious school because each religion is accorded its own respect and it allows for every student to practice his or her religion.
“The school though a catholic institution we have come to understand that it is more into the building of students for an egalitarian society where everybody is allowed to practice his own religion but highly monitored and teleguided to avoid misuse of the freedom.

On where the school is today on morality, he said the school has continued to maintain an image more than expected going by the prevailing situation in schools across the country. “The standard of discipline, academic attainment and every other thing have come to stay and the interest and the objective of the founding fathers have been sustained and we are keeping faith with these values.

“The school was founded in 1965 and Government came to take over running the school in conjuction with the mission in 1992.”