{"id":7350,"date":"2026-03-18T16:58:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T15:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pillartoday.ng\/?p=7350"},"modified":"2026-03-18T16:58:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T15:58:39","slug":"spaco-old-boys-celebrate-feast-day-reflect-on-nine-decades-of-discipline-brotherhood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"pillartoday.com.ng\/?p=7350","title":{"rendered":"SPACO Old Boys Celebrate Feast Day, Reflect on Nine Decades of Discipline, Brotherhood"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ita Williams, Calabar<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Calabar Branch of the St. Patrick\u2019s College Alumni Association was a scene of vibrant reunion and reflection on March 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

Old boys, dignitaries, and guests gathered to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick, an event that marked the institution\u2019s remarkable 92-year journey.<\/p>\n

The celebration served as a powerful testament to a legacy built on discipline, academic excellence, and lifelong brotherhood.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Calabar Branch, Arch Ntufam Asikpo Bassey, framed the occasion as a profound moment of pride.<\/p>\n

He reflected on the college’s founding in 1934 by Irish missionaries, named in honor of the sacrifices of its patron saint.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis institution was built on a solid foundation of service and excellence,\u201d Bassey stated, noting its role in producing eminent Nigerians who have shaped national development.<\/p>\n

Bassey stressed that the college\u2019s reputation for quality education and moral upbringing stands unquestioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cSt. Patrick\u2019s College does not require external validation; its legacy speaks for itself,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n

He described alumni as direct beneficiaries of this foundation and confidently recommended the school to parents across Nigeria seeking sound holistic education for their children.<\/p>\n

Highlighting the association\u2019s unique camaraderie, Bassey commended the generous, voluntary contributions of members that fueled the event’s success.<\/p>\n

He stressed a culture of collective responsibility over compulsory levies. \u201cIt is our duty,\u201d he urged, \u201cfor those who are able to support our less privileged brothers, upholding the very values of service instilled in us within those school walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

The celebration resonated with heartfelt goodwill messages from distinguished alumni. Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Charles Archibong, of the 1970 set, spoke with deep nostalgia. \u201cAttending St. Patrick\u2019s was not just an opportunity; it was a privilege that one cherishes for a lifetime,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

He encouraged current and prospective students to value this privilege and remain committed to giving back to the institution that shaped them.<\/p>\n

Dr. Barrister Fedelis Akpan from the University of Calabar enumerated the indelible mark of the college\u2019s
\nstating \u201cThe discipline and strong moral values we received are what distinguish a Patrician in any sphere of society,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

He recalled a school culture that championed obedience, academic rigor, and resilience, qualities that continue to guide alumni through all of life\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n

Adding to the sentiment, Comrade Idognesit Akpan described the annual feast as a crucial unifying tradition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis celebration reinforces the love, commitment, and unbreakable bond within the St. Patrick\u2019s family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He affirmed that the Feast Day remains one of the most significant and anticipated events in the college\u2019s calendar, a permanent anchor for its global community.<\/p>\n

Providing historical context, Dr. Enyi Emmanuel detailed the college\u2019s origins in early missionary work in Calabar.<\/p>\n

He explained that the arrival of the St. Patrick\u2019s Society in 1930 paved the way for the establishment of St. Patrick\u2019s College in 1934, following the transition from St. Joseph\u2019s College.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe institution thrives today because of generations of alumni who remain fiercely committed to preserving this heritage,\u201d Emmanuel stated.<\/p>\n

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on the 17th March from Ireland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Italy, Nigeria and many other countries of the world.<\/p>\n

The event featured Holy Mass for the alumni members who attended the event, dinner night, and SPACO songs rendition among other activities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ita Williams, Calabar The Calabar Branch of the St. Patrick\u2019s College Alumni Association was a scene of vibrant reunion and reflection on March 17, 2026. Old boys, dignitaries, and guests gathered to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick, an event that marked the institution\u2019s remarkable 92-year journey. The celebration served as a powerful testament […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7351,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}