The Federal Ministry Education has welcomed digital classrooms as well as ICT Labs in the Federal Government Girls College Abuloma which is located in the southernmost ends of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Maruf Olatunji Alausa, the Minister, who rendered the commendation on Thursday, October 9, 2025, while speaking as special guest of honour to mark the 50th anniversary of the College said it was a big privilege for the College to be showered by smart classrooms and other sensitive projects which were executed by the FGGC Old Girls Association.
The Minister, who was represented by Inyang Ukpe, Principal of Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, mentioned the projects that set the college high as the 21st century leap which is the four STEAM-enabled smart classrooms.
The Minister said the N50m investment is not just about technology, but about preparing young girls for the future of work and innovation, ensuring they were globally competitive in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
The Minister said ICT and Infrastructure upgrade being embarked upon by the FGGC Old Girls was in addition to provision of 23 laptops for the ICT Lab and the crucial renovations of the Biology Laboratory and the school library. “Access to clean water, which you addressed through the repair of the water reticulation system in the hostels, speaks directly to student welfare, a top priority for the Ministry.”
The Minister mentioned other projects such as legacy of giving, a mentorship programme. He harped on the theme of this anniversary, ‘Roots to Golden Fruits: Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Empowering the Future’, saying; “The Roots are the pioneering efforts of the founders, the dedication of the early teachers, and the investment made by the FG 50 years ago.”
In a major speech, Itoro Clement Isong, the national president of the Association, said the school was founded to be a beacon of light that shaped young minds and molded future leaders. Thus, the school has produced doctors, engineers, teachers, artists, entrepreneurs, homemakers, beauty queens, politicians and public servants and all careers in-between, who she said were making a difference not just in Nigeria, but across the globe.
Isong went on: “Over the years, we have worked to support the school and its students. Today, we are proud to launch our two legacy projects: The Alumnae Legacy Park and the STEAM-enabled Smart Classrooms.”
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She noted that the ‘Alumnae Legacy Park’ is more than just a beautiful space but a testament to the enduring bonds of friendship and sisterhood that were forged in the school years back. “The STEAM-enabled Smart Classrooms represent our commitment to the future. In a rapidly changing world, we must equip our students with the skills they need to lead and innovate.”
She mentioned how the projects were executed and mentioned Sterling One Foundation, BGI Energy Services LTD, Zomay Group, Seplat Cares -Seplat Energy’s comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiatives, Sparkle MFB, WOWBII, Ceion Innovations Limited, and X3M Ideas.
Ibim Semenitari, chairperson of the Board of Trustees, threw some light on the projects after the commissioning of the Legacy Park and the digital classrooms by Inyingi Brown, the head of service in Rivers state.
Semenitari, former information commissioner in the state and former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said the Old Girls decided to execute two strong legacy projects; the Legacy Park, and the Smart Classrooms for the girls.
“This is not the first time the Old Girls are executing projects here. We have complete ICT Lab, Sick Bay, Tractors for the school, Scholarship Scheme that helps indigent children. We have even supported some Old Girls who found it difficult to go the University to accomplish the dream. We have a mentorship programme where Old Girls mentor the younger ones.
“So, this 50th anniversary, we said, let us do something different. The Smart Classrooms are simply next generation, the most current you can have. It allows the children and teachers interface in realtime in manners that make the children enjoy the content, and to access virtual reality to make things happen.”
She said the children make the Old Girls proud with academic excellence.
“In national competitions, they do well. This is the breeding home for queens: Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), an old girl (senior prefect 1980) is the one in charge of electricity in Washington DC, an old girl was the very first black person (male of female) to be president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association
“So, we are proud of the quality of girls that this school has produced. The Almuni was started in the early 1990s.”
The highlight of the event was N20m donation by Dumo Lulu-Briggs, a chief and lawyer who said he married from the College. He called for reflections that would help return Rivers State to old values and dreams of unity and looking out for one another.
The monarch of Abuloma, Bright Ateke Fiboinumama, said the school impacted the community positively. He pledged the commitment of the community to continue to support and protect the school.
