A former student of St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Obollo-Afor, Enugu state, Noel Alumona, has launched a five-year Impact Fund.

The fund tagged  “Noel Ifeanyi Alumona Impact Fund,” offered scholarships and awards worth five million naira to teachers and students in its 2026 edition.

The schools, located at Udenu Local Government of Enugu State, is owned and managed by the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka.

The awards and scholarships were grouped into three categories namely, One-Year Full Scholarship Based on Financial Needs, 2026 Excellence Impact Awards and Outstanding Teachers Awards.

Beneficiaries under one-year scholarships include Chidiebere Victory, Zita Ogbonna, Chukwuemeka Victor, Catherine Egwu, Shadrach Nnaji and Elias Eze.

Those under excellence Impact Awards include Chukwujekwu Faith who emerged best in Science, and Martha Odo who emerged best in Arts and Humanities.

Others are Mercy Nnaji, who won rising scholar award, and Faith Agbedo, who won the student community impact award.

The outstanding Teachers award went to Mary Obule, Elizabeth Ugwu and Amos-Glory Obinna, and they were rewarded with sum of N100,000 each.

Speaking at the launch, the School Administrator, Fr. Eric Uroko, said the philanthropic gesture would help the indigent students to complete their secondary education and encourage teachers to be more dedicated in imparting knowledge.

Mr Uroko said that six students who manifested financial needs received a one-year full scholarship as Mr Alumona paid for their three terms.

He said that four other students were recognised for their impressive records in both academics and community service.

 According to him, the gesture is a form of loyalty that shows student that success is not just about soaring high but about remembering the ground from which they took flight.

He said, “In Noel Alumona, we do not just see a benefactor; we see a son of the soil who was shaped by activities that took place here several years ago.

 “This invaluable exercise he embarked on, starting from today, emphasises his decision that the footprints he left behind should serve as a staircase for those coming after.

“It tells struggling students that their dreams matter. It tells dedicated teachers that their time at the laboratory, library, and classrooms are valued.”

The school’s administrator said Mr Alumona’s journey from classrooms to global platforms where he contributed to great ideas, touching lives, shaping young minds, and championing equity had been inspiring.

“Through his Hope for African Children Initiative and Boys Champions, Alumona has touched the lives of numerous vulnerable children and children with disabilities.

“He has also helped in the education of young men on healthy masculinity and how to respect women and girls, to end violence against women,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Alumona said the initiative was designed to encourage academic excellence, reward teachers for their dedication and inspire students to take their education seriously.

The international award winner and founder of Boys Champions Foundation also said that the fund would serve as a platform to mobilise former students of the institution to contribute to its infrastructural and academic development.

He attributed his achievements to the foundation he received at the school, stressing that the initiative was his way of giving back to an institution that played a significant role in shaping his future.

He stated, “St. Patrick’s made me. Whatever I see myself doing today is because of the foundation I had in St. Patrick’s. If you have ever been in doubt that the work you are doing as teachers is not productive, I think you have one story now to share.

 “The work you do here is productive, and we are grateful for the hard work and upbringing you continue to give these children.”

He said that his passion for humanitarian activities began while he was in Senior Secondary School Two (SS2), when he established his first nonprofit organisation, Youth for Change.

He added that there were plans to introduce another award category in 2027 to recognise long-serving teachers who had spent more than 20 years in the institution.

A teacher and beneficiary, Amos-Glory Obinna, commended Mr Alumona for the recognition, saying that the award would spur her and other recipients to do more

 “I feel so grateful for receiving this wonderful award as the best staff of St. Patrick’s Secondary School. I also want to thank our sponsor for appreciating the staff and remembering his root,” she said

The highlight of the event included the award of recognition, generosity and commitment to education to Mr Alumona by the school. 

(NAN)