It was an evening of glamour, glitz, reunion and thrills, when students of the premier Urhobo College, Efurum, Warri, Delta State, recently gathered at the Alvan Ikoku Hall, Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, to honour the President, White House Group, Dr. Austin Avwero Eruotor and others including Prof. Joseph Abuju, Mr. Ogaga Orovwuje and Barrister Lucky Nengite, as pillars of the Urhobo College Old Students’ Association and for their uncommon service to humanity.
The well attended event was a threefold in one annual event, tagged: The 2018 Annual Dinner, Lecture and Award’. The event chaired by Chief Oghenekpobo Jonathan Idudu, the Ughegbe of Agban Kingdom, was attended by prominent old students of the institution and their spouses who have carved a niche for themselves in their various fields of human endeavours. Some of the eminent men present at the dinner include Mr. Victor Hammond, Chief E. F. Esisi and Mr. Tajudeen Adegboyega Akande, President Lagos Country Club, who was the guest speaker. He spoke on Successful Succession Planning, which he treated excellently and professionally to the admiration of the audience.
President of the association’s Lagos Branch, Mr. Igho Okor, expressed his excitement on the turn out of the members and called on them to wake up to the clarion call of seeing that the great institution that would turn 70 years on January 24, 2019, takes her rightful place as the admirable and enviable champion it used to be.
He revealed that the 70th anniversary celebration would be used primarily to raise N100 million to revamp some structures in the school that require urgent attention.
He appealed to the old students to use their positions and engage individuals and corporate bodies that they know, that can do something for the college in furtherance of their corporate vision and social responsibility.
Lifting from Mr. Okor’s words, Chief Idudu told the old students not to rest until they ensure that, their alma mater has taken back the championship position she was known for worldwide when students and teachers came from all over the world.
“From the caliber of the men assembled here you can achieve much more than your intent to do if you all direct your energies and pulled your resources together with the quest to achieve the extra ordinary success in the shortest time span. It is achievable…” he stated.
He added that, where there is a genuine will, there must surely be a way to actualise one’s dream and Urhobo College, Effurum, Warri should by no means be an exception.
He emphasised that, a school that produced such people like Justice (Mrs) Roseline Bozimo, immediate past Chief Judge of Delta State and Justice Gladys Ekperin, who did their Higher School Certificate (HSC) should not be left to decay and die, while she should actually lead the pack of prominent sought- after post primary schools in the country.
The special guest, Prof. Chris Ugolo, National President, UCOSA Worldwide, who spoke through a representative frowned at the neglect and pitiable state of the infrastructures in the college and the living condition of the staff and called on the relevant authorities to collaborate with the students’ association in bringing back the glory of the school for the good of the state and for the betterment of the heritage of the Urhobo nation.
He advised that the anniversary celebration committee should focus more on raising funds for the purpose of rebuilding the dilapidated buildings in the school.
This, he said, should be given an urgent attention. The speeches were punctuated with soul lifting music and comedy performed ‘ostensible’ by Emma Sax and the ace comedian Micky Mouse who came all the way from Warri, to add flavour to the occasion.
Chief E. F. Esisi, the immediate past President of the body worldwide presenting the certificate and plague to Dr. Eruotor on the behalf the body, said that rewarding and recognising him for what he has done is encouraging him to do more and inviting him to always stand up to the occasion when there is a genuine opportunity to do so.
He mentioned that, for Dr. Eruofor to be chosen as a UN global peace Ambassador, an honour given to very distinguished and well tested select few, is a well-deserved call for him to do more. And that the college is proud to have him as her product.
Dr. Eruofor, who spoke on behalf of the award recipients, said his passion for excellence, hard work, innovation, versatility and astute interest and zeal for knowledge and capacity, endeared and motivated his induction into the famous London Institute of Banking as member.
In the same vein, the reputable Pacific Western University, Denver, Sate of Colorado, USA, awarded him honourable doctorate degree-Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration.
‘For a body like UCOSA with very highly placed people in different spheres of life and well recognisable eminent and erudite international scholars as members, to choose to honour us, especially in Lagos, Nigeria’s center of excellence, is a gross way of humbling us…It also means more responsibilities like Chief Esisi, the elder statesman mentioned earlier…’ he stated.
He added that with his little knowledge, he believed that, for every soul on earth there is a designed divine purpose to be of immense benefit to humanity. That charity and good works is not only meant for the so-called rich. That every person no matter on which societal strata he or she is,has contribution to make for the good of the larger human society.
He called on the millennia generation to be focused, patient and direct their vibrant energies positively and shun vices that are the surest way to doom, not only for the individual involved but their immediate family and the global human society.
He promised to do more to help the youth in his little way indirectly growing a peaceful and crime-free society.
Chief Mudiaga Okumagba, a member of the Organising Committee, thanked the Pillars and members of UCOSA and reminded them that all is expected to wake up to the task, for there is too much work to be done. To live this dream all hands must be on deck, for a smooth sail.
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