Secretary General’s Report For Year 2020

The year began with great fanfare and high expectation. Little did anyone realize that the year 2020 was going to turn out to be an extraordinary and extremely difficult year! In March 2020, Covid-19 pandemic outbreak reared its ugly head to usher in instability in Nigeria. Economic, social and academic activities were thrown into disarray throughout the country. The calendar of the Association was seriously disrupted with the postponement of two of its major events. However, despite the devastating fallouts, the Association was able to weather the turbulence and emerged on even keel. Some of the activities planned or organized by GCUOBA during the year are the following:

 

FOUNDER’S DAY REUNION AND GCU CLASS OF 1970 GOLDEN JUBILEE

GCUOBA activities for the year 2020 started with the celebration of GCU Founder’s Day Reunion in the College on Wednesday, 15^th January, 2020. The Class of 1970 celebrated its 50^th Anniversary of its admission into GCU with the renovation of the Assembly Hall at a cost of N20 million. The asbestos roof was changed to corrugated aluminum sheets and all the degraded wooden doors and windows were changed to metal framed glass doors and windows. The ceiling was adorned with beautifully crafted luxury Plaster of Paris (POP) attached with many electrical fans.

 

GCUOBA AWARDS TO LEADING LIGHTS IN THE HUMANITIES

As part of the 2020 Reunion activities, the National Executive Council (NEC) of GCUOBA Worldwide honoured the following prominent Old Boys with the Leading Light Award in the Humanities in recognition of their contribution in the promotion and projection of excellence in their various professions and spheres of influence:

1. Blessing Clark (1947) – Diplomacy
2. John P. Clark (1948 Sept) – Literature
3. Festus Iyayi (1966 HSC) – Literature
4. Peter Enahoro (1948 Sept) – Journalism
5. Sam Amuka (1949) – Journalism
6. Obaro Ikime (1950) – History
7. Egerton Uvieghara (1951) – Law
8. Itse Sagay SAN (1954) – Law
9. Chief Albert Akpomudje SAN (1969) – Law
10. Chief Charles Edosomwan SAN (1973 Jan) – Law
11. Festus Keyamo SAN (1981) – Law
12. Olisa Agbakoba (1973 HSC) – Law

 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETINGS

The first NEC meeting for the year was the pre-AGM meeting that took place at Ishaka Hotel, Ekpan-Warri on Tuesday, 14^th January, 2020 preparatory to the AGM scheduled for the following day, Wednesday, 15^th January, 2020 at the College Assembly Hall. The second NEC meeting was held in Lagos at the GCUOBA National Secretariat on Friday, 20th March, 2020. Soon after the meeting, the Federal government initiated its coronavirus pandemic lockdown protocols. This led to a new normal as the guidelines compelled NEC to hold all the subsequent meetings virtually in cyberspace via Zoom. Thus the NEC meeting scheduled for 16^th July, 2020 at Ekpan-Warri ahead of the APT Reunion and that of Friday, 16^th October, 2020 at Benin-City before the National Annual Dinner were both cancelled.

 

ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETINGS

The inaugural NEC Zoom meeting was held on Tuesday, 28^th April, 2020 with the participation of diaspora members in the US and UK in the proceedings. As a fallout, Branches and Classes were encouraged to contribute funds and distribute such funds, on compassionate grounds, as a form of palliative to their needy and disadvantaged members during the coronavirus lockdown period. Altogether, about 18 Zoom meetings took place with encouraging attendance.

 

2020 APT REUNION AND GCU CLASS OF 1979 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Due to the closure of all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide, the Awards, Prizes and Testimonials (APT) Reunion initially scheduled for July 17^th was postponed. Eventually, it held on 4^th September, 2020. Prizes were not given out as the students only did first term examination. However, the graduating students each received a copy of the 2020 edition of “THE SHIP” magazine. Members of the Class of 1979 attended the event in their number and were all presented with 40th admission anniversary certificates.

 

ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE BY THE NEW PRINCIPAL – MR. SAM OBOR

The efforts of GCUOBA to secure a competent Principal through the Post Primary School Education Board (PPEB) finally paid off. Mr. Sam Obor who had earlier been deployed, assumed office as substantive Principal of GCU on Monday, 2nd November, 2020. NEC organized a reception party for the new principal at the country home of Chief Miller Uloho. The Principal’s residence was renovated at a cost of N275,000 by the PGWW as his personal contribution to enhance the speedy settlement of the new principal in the college.

 

GCU RELAYS

The third edition of the intercollegiate GCU Relays scheduled for 16th November, 2020 which usually takes place on the synthetic tracks donated by Shell was postponed indefinitely due to the onslaught of Covid-19 pandemic.

 

2020 NATIONAL DINNER IN BENIN CITY

GCUOBA 9th Annual National Dinner scheduled for Saturday, 17th October, 2020 in Benin City was similarly postponed indefinitely in compliance with coronavirus protocols.

 

GCUOBA SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

The Association awarded academic scholarship to four GCU students that should last for five years from JS2 to SS3. It is worth N100,000 per session and covers boarding and tuition fees; their parents are required to pay the balance of the fees that may be needed to make up any shortfall.  The lucky students are Onoriode Jonah, Marvel Chokor, Ogho Uduvwurode and Enifome Omu.

 

EXTRA TUTORIALS FOR SS3 STUDENTS

In order to improve the academic performance of GCU final year students, NEC through its Academic Improvement Initiative Committee (AIIC) organized extra tutorial classes for the students in several subjects. The attitude of the students was very disappointing as many of them shunned the extra lessons paid for by NEC.

 

SCHOOL PROJECTS BY GCUOBA CLASSES

Despite the havoc wrecked by the coronavirus outbreak, the Classes 1971, 1991January and 1995 found time to embark on school projects. The Class of 1991January renovated the main library at a cost of N1.9 million. The 1995 Class celebrated its Silver Jubilee by rehabilitating Sapele, Ashaka and Oleh Houses central water supply units. The Class of 1971 has completed the renovation of the College Pavilion which will be commissioned as their 50^th Anniversary project during the 2021 GCU Founder’s Day Reunion.

 

GCUOBA CLASSES BANK ACCOUNTS

A number of Classes sought and obtained the assistance of NEC to open their individual class bank account. All the classes are encouraged to run their accounts in a transparent manner. They should render the account of their finances twice a year and on a regular basis to their classmates to engender accountability.

 

PASSAGES OF MEMBERS

The number of deaths recorded this year among members of the Association is unprecedented in the history of GCUOBA. The 1959 Class lost six of its members in the persons of Dr. Andrew Onosode, Mac Morgan Asemota, Chief Macaulay Ofurhie, Navy Commodore Joseph Ariri, Valmon Ogbevire in rapid succession. The 1969 Class bade a tearful farewell to two of its prominent members, Engr. Larry Ajuyah and Engr. Donatus Umukoro (Chairman of NEC Infrastructure Committee). Emeritus Professor J.P. Clark, the quintessential Ancient Mariner and literary world guru, dropped his pen unexpectedly on Tuesday, 13th October, 2020. Deacon Stephen Ejomah of Class of 1958 and Prof Samuel Erivwo of 1956 gave up the ghost too. The PGWW lost his son while Collins Lawani (President, Benin branch) lost his wife. May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace.

 

CONCLUSION

No doubt, 2020 will go down in the annals of the Association as a year that tested the ability of GCUOBA leadership and entire membership to refocus and adjust to the new normal invoked by the coronavirus pandemic. The Association did very well to maintain the ship stability in the storm. Kudos to everyone!