Dominican Order Unveils College

Funmi Ogundare

The Dominican Order of the Catholic Church, a body renowned for promoting evangelization and social causes particularly in the education sector, has unveiled its ultra-modern educational facility, Dominican College, Abuja, as part of efforts to bridge the gap in the access to quality education especially for out-of-school children in the country.

The Director, Dominican Vocation Support and Project Coordinator, Rev. Father Stephen Ogbe, who briefed journalists recently in Lagos, said the facility upon completion, will provide succour for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds across the country, adding that they will be able to enjoy the same quality education as those from stable backgrounds.

“The project, upon completion, will provide quality education for a number of out-of-school children and also help parents understand the value of education. The children from the economically disadvantaged backgrounds will be able to mix with those of the rich background and we will ensure that we build their self-confidence.”

He said the order is saddled with the task of raising N250 million for the completion of an unfinished part of the project, which includes a one-year running cost and the indigent scholarship fund.

He appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to support the college by sponsoring as many indigent students as possible.

According to him, “there is a breakdown of N40 million for the completion of the physical structures, N120 million operational/running cost for one year; and N90 million proposed as seed capital for the indigent scholarship fund for the six-year period of studies.

“With more donors and sponsors, more children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds will be adequately catered for.”

Ogbe expressed concern that more children are out of school due to the growing insecurity in the country and the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the order decided to situate the college in a remote part of Abuja, which is educationally disadvantaged so as to give them the opportunity to impact lives and build the next generation.

The director said the college will be inaugurated in July, while the 2021/2022 academic activities will commence by September 2021.