Golden Jubilee Anniversary: EGSOSA Celebrates Her Alma-Mater In Grand Style
BY STANLEY MBULU
The old boys and girls of Ede Grammar School Umunede, under the aegis of Ede Grammar School Old Students Association (EGSOSA), over the weekend celebrated the school that nurtured and tutored them as she clocks fifty.
The all weekend-long event and funfair which began with a Public Lecture titled, ‘Education ~ The Best Legacy,’ was held at the Agadagidi Civic Center Umunede, Delta state, on Thursday, the 22nd of December, 2022. It was well attended by members of EGSOSA, students, teachers, stakeholders and other members of the public.
The main event of the ceremony, which featured Awards/Recognitions and the Unveiling of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Project, took place on Friday, the 23rd of December, 2022, inside the school compound located off new Lagos/Asaba road, Umunede.
The occasion was very colourful and packed with varieties of activities, as reunion, speeches, citations, accolades, encomiums, presentations and give-aways were redefined in the most exciting and scintillating ways.
The President General of EGSOSA, Engr. Henry Idama, while addressing the members of the association and other invited guests took the audience to an all-around tour down memory lane, on the formation of EGSOSA, viz-a-viz the association’s impacts so far on the welfare and development of the Alma-Mater.
The Principal of Ede Grammar School, Mr Onwuemerie Amechi, in his speech, enumerated the challenges confronting the school and solicited the association’s nipping at the bud of the various identified matters, before they degenerate and become issues of emergency.
Highlights of the occasion were the formal conferment of various Awards ranging from that of Leadership Excellence, Good Humanitarian And Societal Services, Academic And Career Excellence, as well as other categories on deserving Awardees.
The Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa (CON), who was represented at the occasion, Hon. Anthony Elekeokwuri, member representing Ika North East Constituency at Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Evangelist Moses Kamanya, the Director-General of SPONCO, who also represented his principal, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial District at the Red Chambers and Hon. Sebastine Okoh, were among the Awardees.
Others were Mr IG Ukpaka, Mr Greg Omeife, Barr. Jimmy Ojeh, Mr Linus Ugbechie and a host of other selected personnels in Delta North Senatorial District Community, that have been remarkable and outstanding in their commitments to mankind and the society at large.
Some of the members of EGSOSA like, Engr. Henry Idama, Dr (Mrs) Patricia Dede, Pastor Sunday Nkwor, Sir Abel Aliemeke, Mr Jude Isibor, Hon. Justice Marcel Okoh, Sir Frank Apokwu, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, Pharm. Dominic Obimah, Dr Roy Maduka, Dr Happy Ilekendi and Prof. Chinwuba Okafor, to mention but a few, were equally honoured with various awards for their individual strides and excellence in their chosen careers, as well as their impacts on the development of EGSOSA and the general society.
Earlier that same day, members of the association led by the President-General, Engr. Henry Idama, paid a courtesy visit to the Royal Father of the host community to the school, HRM Ezeagwu Ezenwali Agadagidi (JP), the Obi of Umunede Kingdom, who joyfully received the entourage and commended them for the many brilliant and thoughtful initiatives that have been productive with regards to the welfare of the school. The Monarch who was at a particular time a student of the school, was very proud to identify with the association, including his wife, Queen Anthonia Ezeagwu, the Esor of Umunede Kingdom. He aporeciated EGSOSA for their visible commitments to the school’s affair and urged the members to do more in that regard either collectively or individually, in order to restore and maintain the glory of the institution.
A cocktail party was also put together on Saturday, the 24th of December, 2022, by the brilliant crew of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Planning Committee, as led by Dr Andrew Uyanwanne, at the prestigious De Gellys Hotel, Umunede, where members took the prime opportunity to socially familiarize and fraternize again with unprecedented unwinding that were powered by memorable way-back melodies from the music box of the DJ.
The celebration was concluded with a special ‘Thanksgiving Service’ at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Umunede, on Christmas day, amidst special prayers, super testimonies and wild jubilations, to the glory of God.