TheCable

Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) says it will honour some of its members who have distinguished themselves in their professions at the 75th anniversary of the school next Wednesday.

Among those to be honoured at the event taking place at the college’s premises in Ughelli, Delta state, are Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Olisa Agbakoba, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and productivity.

Charles Majoroh, president of GCUOBA worldwide, during a press conference held in Lagos on January 9, said the old boys are proud of their heritage.

Eulogising the school, Majoroh said in its 75 years the school has produced well-rounded individuals including “top diplomats, public administrators, corporate titans, and leaders in various professions and academics”.

But the old boys decried the poor quality of teaching and learning at the school in recent years.

Majoroh accused the government of neglecting the school, saying it has forced the old boys to deploy resources in order to restore the facilities at the institution.

He said already, the association has fixed and in some cases, upgraded all the student hostels, classrooms, laboratories, library, administrative block and recreational facilities in the school.

Majoroh also criticised the admission process into public schools, which he said has lowered the standards and encouraged examination malpractices.

He added that the association is committed to “restoring the lost glories of the school to ensure a good place for current and future students to learn”.

Other professionals produced by the college that will be awarded during the ceremony are:

• B.A. Clark (Class of 1947), Nigeria’s one-time permanent representative to the United Nations and chairman of the UN special committee against apartheid
• John Pepper Clark (Class of 1948), a leading African literary personality with global recognition who has been described as the “the most lyrical of Nigerian poets, whose poetry celebrates the physical landscape of Africa.”
• Peter Enahoro (Class of 1948): Famous for his wit and wry humour, he is perhaps Africa’s best-known international journalist.
• Sam Amuka Pemu (Class of 1949): Veteran journalist, publisher and founder of the Vanguard newspaper.
• Late Festus Ikhuoria Iyayi (HSC Class of 1967): He was an extremely versatile academic who wore many caps: award-winning novelist, outstanding academic and trade union activist.
• Obaro Ikime (Class of 1950): A distinguished academic and an outstanding historian who was visiting professor at the departments of History at the University of California and Harvard University in 1975.
• Egerton E. Uvieghara (Class of 1951): A former Commissioner at the Nigeria Law Reform Commission.
• Albert Akpomudje (Class of 1969): A distinguished legal practitioner and life bencher.
• Charles Edosomwan (Class of 1973): A distinguished legal practitioner.