FOPCHEN To Rebuild 128 Years’ Old Premier Building In Calabar

 

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As parts of activities marking the International Day of Monuments and Sites, the Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Nigeria (FOPCHEN), has secured international funding to rebuild the 128 years old Premier building at Hope Waddell Training institute, Calabar, Cross River State.

The one-storey building, built in 1894, is one of the earliest educational buildings erected by missionaries in Nigeria.

FOPCHEN is excited to work on this project because of its significant historical, architectural, educational value and the commitment of the Hope Waddell proprietors (the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria), the school administration as well as the alumni executive of the institution to ensure that the building is back to use.

Bekeh Ukelina, a professor of History at the State University of New York, Cortland who is also the Programme Director/Principal Investigator, said the restoration of the building was overdue.

“It is not enough for it to be listed as a national monument. It is a building where notable Nigerians such as President Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr. Akanu Ibiam were educated and should be properly restored and preserved.

“When I visited the building in 2019, I was ashamed by the poor state of the building and I knew I had to do something about it.

“I gathered our team at FOPCHEN and we discussed it. We were excited about the prospects of working on this building and we started looking for funding for the project.

“In January this year, the team made a formal visit to Hope Waddell where we met with representatives of the Presbyterian Church, the alumni executive and the principal of the school and we agreed to cooperate in carrying out the restoration and preservation of the building.

“They were able to raise funds and put supporting steel beams to hold the first floor of the building. We appreciate this work that saved the building from collapsing,” Ukelina said.

The lead heritage architect on the project, Dr. Tokie Laotan-Brown, said: “the first step of the project is to do an architectural survey and document the building to determine the appropriate action plan and rehabilitation activities. This initial process would take about three months before we will start the actual restoration work beginning from October when the rains must have stopped.”

On his part, the President of the Alumni Executive, Efiota Okon Ephraim, said: “We are happy to hear the news. The alumni board stands ready to assist with the execution of this restoration project and we pledge our support for the ongoing preservation and maintenance of the building when the restoration work is completed.”

The principal of the institution, Mr. Okon Onoyom Ita said he was elated when a representative of FOPCHEN called himto break  the news.

—TRIBUNE