Former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai have lauded Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State for his vision of establishing Rochas Foundation Colleges in Nigeria and other achievements of the foundation in the last ten years of its existence.
Both leaders showered the commendation during Okorocha’s 50th birthday celebration and the 10th Anniversary of the Rochas Foundation College.
The five colleges of Rochas Foundation are located in Owerri and Ogboko, Ideato South LGA, Imo state, Ibadan, Oyo state, Jos, Plateau state and Kano.
Babangida, who chaired the occasion, described Okorocha as a man of many parts who has excelled in most of his endeavour, stressing that the 50th birthday of the governor is a celebration of a vision that laid the foundation for the total eradication of ignorance, poverty and hopelessness in the life of many Nigerian children.
He further described Rochas Foundation College as an institution of unity and nation integration, which has continued to erase lines of differences in religion, ethnicity and class in Nigeria.
He stressed that the establishment of Rochas Colleges in different parts of the country with free tuition, accommodation for students from diverse background is a great achievement that even politics has failed to achieve in the country, adding that the foundation has achieved a lot having graduated students from secondary education and another 500 students of the University including other areas of human endeavour in the last 10 years.
Babangida expressed happiness that with these achievements ,there is tangible reason for Governor Okorocha and his Rochas Foundation to celebrate his 50th birthday and the 10th Anniversary of the college stressing that from a lowly beginning of a former street hawker, a class room teacher, former member of Constitutional conference, a member of Federal Character Commission and Boards, one who has twice sought to rule the country and a philanthropist of repute, Owelle has stories to tell having achieved all these in 50 years.
He further congratulated Okorocha on his 50th birthday and a sound 10th year Anniversary of Rochas Foundation College, as well as for the massive infrastructural development Imo State has witnessed under his Rescue Mission Agenda in the last 17 months,
The ex military ruler however, advised the governor to close ranks with all to continue the good work especially in the area of free education and attraction of foreign investment for development of tourism industry in the state.
Speaking also, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Hon. Morgan Tsvangariai said that time has come for African leaders and government to borrow a leaf from the programmes of Rochas Foundation and change their attitude towards the less privilege in the society.
According to him, Rochas Foundation is a demonstration of individual commitment and dedication to help the African child to overcome ignorance and poverty through the provision of free and qualitative education especially for the less privileged.
He congratulated the Governor on his birthday and the 10th anniversary of the Rochas Foundation, urging the graduands to use the opportunity of the education to become good ambassadors of the country.
In her welcome address, the Ag D.G of the Foundation, Miss. Uloma Okorocha and first daughter of the governor said that the 10 years of existence of the foundation has been most rewarding having started in Oweri with few students and today with over 6000 students.
She thanked God for the speedy growth of the foundation which she said has established schools in six states of the federation.
Highlight of the occasion was the graduation of 1638 students of 2007-2012 sessions proclaimed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state for students of Ibadan campus, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Kastina state for Ogboko College, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano state for Kano College, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangaraiai for Owerri College and Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state for Jos College.
The governor also took salute from the students who March passed during the occasion and seized the opportunity to present a car gift to a London Paralympic’s Gold medalist, Miss. Lovelyn Obiji who is an
indigene of Imo state .
Many other dignitaries graced the occasion, including Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and his Rivers state counterpart, Chibuike Amaechi while Deputy Governors of Kogi, Abia, Kwara represented their Governors.