By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt

In a major initiative to bolster educational development in Nigeria, the Government College Ughelli Old Boys’ Association (GCUOBA), Lagos Branch, has announced the construction of an ultra-modern Secretariat.

The facility is designed to enhance administrative efficiency, deepen alumni engagement, and expand the Association’s long-standing support for its alma mater, Government College Ughelli (GCU).

To mobilise support for the project, GCUOBA members and friends will converge on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Grand Ballroom of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, for the 2025 Annual Luncheon. The event aims to celebrate alumni unity while raising funds for the Secretariat and other educational initiatives.

According to a statement by the Association, the Secretariat will serve as the permanent national headquarters of GCUOBA, providing a central platform for coordinating activities across Nigeria and the diaspora. The facility will also support structured planning and implementation of strategic interventions for GCU, including infrastructure upgrades, scholarship schemes, student mentorship, staff welfare, and programs to promote academic excellence.

Beyond its administrative functions, the Secretariat will host conferences, leadership and professional development programmes, reunions, and youth empowerment initiatives. The project also incorporates income-generating features to ensure sustainable funding for future educational projects.

Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosmwan, SAN, President of GCUOBA, Lagos Branch, described the Secretariat as a legacy investment reflecting the Association’s commitment to preserving the heritage of Government College Ughelli while positioning it for greater national impact.

“The GCUOBA Secretariat building project is an important step toward strengthening educational activities in Lagos State, Nigeria’s vibrant commercial hub,” he said.

Engr. Okosubide Mozimo, Vice-President and Chairman of the Luncheon Organizing Committee, highlighted that the ₦2 billion Secretariat is more than a physical structure, calling it “a symbol of unity, continuity, and our renewed pledge to give back to the institution that shaped us.”

The Annual Luncheon will be hosted by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with Mr. Atedo Peterside as Guest of Honour. The event will be chaired by former Cross River State Governor, Mr. Donald Duke, while Mr. Sonny Iroche, a finance and infrastructure policy expert, will deliver the Keynote Address. The Fathers of the Day are Chief G. T. S. Adokpaye and Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu, Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper.

GCUOBA has called on its members, corporate partners, and well-meaning Nigerians to support the landmark project, which is expected to further strengthen alumni-driven contributions to national development through education.