Erinne Pledges N250m To Rebuild GSS Afikpo Assembly Hall

Dr. Paul Erinne, a 1967 old boy of Government Secondary School, Afikpo, has pledged N250 million to rebuild the school’s Assembly Hall after a technical review showed that the work would cost far more than first planned.

The intervention, announced during the 2026 National Delegates Conference of the Government Secondary School Afikpo Old Boys’ Association, is being described by stakeholders as the biggest single alumni-backed infrastructure effort at a secondary school in the South-east.

Erinne, who is a structural engineer and founder of the Paul Erinne Foundation, made the commitment at the GSS Afikpo premises in Ebonyi State.

A statement issued in Abuja on Friday said the project was earlier projected to cost N100 million. The budget later rose to N250 million after Erinne inspected the hall and asked that the work be expanded to address deeper structural concerns.

Chief Ifeanyi Eleje, a former national chairman of GSSAOBA, said Erinne did not want to release funds without first understanding the true condition of the building.

Eleje said the assessment found serious defects that required a fuller reconstruction plan, rather than a limited renovation.

Under the new plan, the Assembly Hall will be rebuilt as a multipurpose facility for the school and the wider Afikpo community. The hall is expected to have improved audiovisual equipment, stronger sound systems, upgraded interior fittings and solar power support.

School officials and alumni said the rebuilt hall would support learning, civic gatherings and cultural activities long after the construction work is completed.

Speaking at the event, Erinne said the project was not merely a donation but a duty to the students who would pass through the school in the years ahead.

“GSS Afikpo gave me and countless others the tools to succeed. It is only right that we give back in a manner that endures for generations,” he said.

He also urged the contractor and the school authorities to protect the investment through proper supervision, accountability and maintenance.

GSSAOBA National President, Dr. Bobbie Iwe, said the project showed the strength of the relationship between the school and its former students.

Iwe said alumni support remained important to educational development, especially at a time when many public schools require new facilities and better maintenance.

He said the association was proud that one of its members had chosen to support the institution on such a large scale.

According to him, the rebuilt Assembly Hall would stand as a reminder that old students can play a major role in improving learning environments for younger generations.

The school community also welcomed the pledge, saying the project would give students a better space for assemblies, examinations, debates, meetings and other school programmes.

The intervention adds to growing calls for alumni associations, private foundations and community leaders to support public education infrastructure across Nigeria.