By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

The outgone Chairman of Edo College Old Boys’ Association (ECOBA), Class of 1970 – 1974, Mr Clifford Enobun, has stated that old students and Nigerians must always be in one accord in order to move their alma maters and the country forward.

He stated this at Edo College, Benin-City during the ECOBA’s class of 1970 -1974 Biennial Conference held physically and virtually.

Enobun disclosed that Edo College, Benin’s class of 1970 -1974 had produced two governors Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and a former helmsman in Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, as well as other outstanding professionals that are doing the college proud across the globe.

He said: “The conference is so named biennial+ conference because the tenure life of the executive committee has exceeded its statutory two years.

“It is indeed a thing of exceeding great joy that after witnessing our inaugural meeting, held in April 2018, and the 50th-anniversary celebration (1970 -2020) of our entering Edo College, in February 2020, that we are alive and in good health to yet be part of the biennial+ conference of our highly-endowed class set of the ECOBA family. This is indeed the first of its kind.

“That we have made ourselves available, either physically or participating virtually through the wonders of science and technology, despite all else, underlies the undying interest, love, affection and bond we share among ourselves and to our alma mater, Edo College, and ECOBA, our umbrella body.

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“It is, therefore, no gainsaying that as we congregate, we are here for serious strategic reasons for x-raying our over three years’ activities that defined our achieving our set objectives and goals through the mirror of our Strengths and Weaknesses (SW) and Opportunities and Threats (OT), which confronted us. Through a truthful and unbiased assessment and due adjustment of these strategic factors, we shall be able to achieve more guaranteed outcomes in the years ahead.”

The outgone chairman also stated that he was so proud of members of ECOBA’s class of 1970 -1974 for their dedication, commitment, hard work and understanding, while hailing friends of the set for their support and assistance.

He said: “That we have achieved very significant and measurable successes are not in doubt, that we have excess capacities in our arsenals is a truism.

“Therefore, let us be in one accord and truly show that we are the most endowed class and the class to beat. We are indeed an eminent class of distinction.”

Enobun also singled out some prominent members of ECOBA’s class of 1970 – 1974, whom he noted had been instrumental in lifting the set, especially a former Executive Director of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, who facilitated the NDIC-financed N30 million Edo college science laboratories’ renovation project.

Another supportive member of the set is an accomplished Chartered Accountant, Mr Bernard Osaghae, who is a retired top banker, while now constructing a cricket pitch and a football field for Edo college, after earlier funding two cricket kits’ bags worth N500,000 for his alma mater.

Another outstanding member of the ECOBA’s class of 1970 – 1974 is a younger brother of the renowned environmentalist, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, Dr Owens Wiwa, who is currently the Global Vice-President, Human Resources for Health, and the Director for West Africa/Central Africa, as well as the Country Director, Nigeria for Clinton Health Access Initiative, which funded the tree planting, grassing and ornamental flowers project in the college for N500,000, with a promise of replication in the next two years, if successfully executed.

The incoming Chairman, Dr Emmanuel Egharevba, who was elected unopposed, in his inaugural/acceptance speech, hailed the hardworking and committed outgone chairman (Enobun) and all members of the set for their contributions towards the growth of the body and also for giving him the opportunity to serve.

He promised to make concerted efforts to bring back all the aggrieved old members who exited the association, while stressing the need to remodel Edo College, in terms of infrastructural development, so as to remain a true monument.

Egharevba said: “One of the things that we are going to do is to build a hall of fame, which will encompass the history of Edo College, Benin City. It will be a monument and a centre of attraction.

“Inside the hall of fame, there will be a gallery and things of interest, especially our heroes past, all our great principals and teachers, as well as our old boys, who have excelled all over the world.

“The Edo College’s 1970 – 1974 set is the leading light within the ECOBA’s family. This is the only set that has produced two state governors. Edo College is not just a college, it is a monument, by virtue of the fact that it has produced legends in Nigeria and beyond.”

Other members of the newly-elected executive of ECOBA 1970 – 1974 set, as announced by the electoral commissioner, Bishop Victor Aghedo, who performed the inauguration, included Emmanuel Enukpere (Vice-Chairman), Ndudisi Onwuanyi (General Secretary), Samuel Friday Osaseri (Financial Secretary/Treasurer), Edo Samson Taiwo (Welfare Secretary), and Ephraim Onobun (Public Relations Officer/Social Secretary).

A renowned Accountant, Patrick Iruru, who participated virtually through zoom, presented the association’s financial report.

The Chairman of ECOBA 1970 – 1974 biennial+ conference planning committee, Peter Imarhobobhor, an Engineer, thanked all the old students of the college, particularly members of the set and their friends, for their cooperation, advice and support for making the conference a huge success.