AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY ENGR. AGHO OGIEVA EMOKPAE (KSC) NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF HOLY TRINITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL (HTGS), SABONGIDDA-ORA OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
ON THE OCCASION OF THE FORMAL COMMISSIONING OF SOME COMPLETED PROJECTS IN THE SCHOOL PREMISES ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2004
AT SABONGIDDA-ORA.
Mr.
Chairman Sir,
Your
Excellencies here present or represented,
The
Edo
State Commissioner for Education,
Members
of the House of Assembly,
My
Lords Temporal and Spiritual,
Our
Respected Chiefs here present or represented,
Our
Special and Distinguished Guests,
Fellow
Trinitarians; My Seniors, Classmates and Juniors,
Distinguished
Ladies and Gentlemen.
In
all humility, I rise on behalf of the Holy Trinity Grammar School (HTGS) Sabongidda-Ora Old Students Association, staff and
students of this great school to welcome you all God’s people joining us today, to share this joyous occasion, the occasion
of the formal commissioning of some development projects in this school premises. I
specially welcome into our midst the school benefactors here present or represented who by God’s Grace made this occasion
possible.
THE SCHOOL H.T.G.S
Holy Trinity
Grammar School, Sabongidda-Ora is perhaps one of the few secondary schools in Nigeria which hardly need any introduced. It’s conception, its foundation, its growth and development, its recovery from her travail and setback
in 1968, shortly after the school reached the apogee of its fame, the insistence of the first generation of alumni on stemming
the indiscipline in 1968 and restoring the characteristics of HTGS discipline as part of its educational requirements, its
academic achievement, its students products and the fraternal attachment of its alumni over the decades have established for
“THIS ISLAND FORTRESS” divinely christened Holy Trinity Grammar School a reputation which, for its age, may be
regarded as second to none in Nigeria if not in African.
I
humbly crave your indulgence to hail “BRAVO” to the first generation of our Alumni spanning 1948-68 but notably
the first sets 1948 to 1952 of pioneer alumni (to which I also belong) – whose dogged indomitable quest for knowledge
and invincible pursuit of the golden fleece set the pace for the subsequent five or six sets of our Alumni. These sets formed the pioneer Alumni who founded H.T.G.S noble tradition.
These PIONEERS who by dint of hard work, instilled self-confidence and faith in their ability to buffet life’s
stormy waves sailed into arena of success gloriously with civility and humility.
There is joy and satisfaction in the knowledge that from that humble environment in Evbiobe (Sabongidda-Ora) H.T.G.S
has produced erudite and illustrious Ambassadors. There is an endless roll call
of H.T.G.S Alumni who are distinguished Medical Doctors, Engineers, Chief Executives in the Oil and Gas sector of National
Economy, Consultants of International repute in our Public and Private sectors, Clergymen, Lawyers including SANs, over 25
University professors – (at least two or three of HTGS Alumni are Vice Chancellors in two or three of the Four Universities
in Edo State. The Rector of Auchi Polytechnic being himself and alumnus), High
Court Judges, Educationists – (My immediate predecessor as Alumni National President retired a few years ago as the
Registrar of WAEC), Permanent Secretaries or Director Generals in United Nations, State and National Administration, UN Ambassadors,
Statesmen in National and Senate Assemblies, State Deputy Governors, Secretary to State Governments, State Commissioners/Attorney
– General, distinguished Service Chiefs in the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police etc.
God bless them all for doing H.T.G.S proud.
The
first generation of HTGS Alumni has left its mark on the sands of time and is looking forward to the emergence of a National
Head of State and/or Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). This is my
challenge to the younger Alumni. I pray by God’s Grace, that H.T.G.S Sabongidda
be so honoured.
To
the younger generations of H.T.G.S Alumni and the current students of the school, I would concede thus: “Tempus Fugit,
Sed Festina Lente”. It is true time fliers and we continue to adapt to
changes in its tide but please make haste cautiously, slowly and steadily. The
pursuit of your respective goals must not be by a “Hook and crook” or lustful desire for materialism which today
is the cankerworm that has eaten through the national bones and destroyed the marrows of Nigerian society and polity.
Rather,
let the tenets of your discipline in H.T.G.S Nigerian society and polity. Rather,
let the tenets of your discipline in H.T.G.S spur you on. Be also reminded that
the heights which great men/women reached and kept was not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slumbered
went toiling upward at night. “Our fathers worketh so we too must work”
was once a popular watchword taught us by our first Principal – Rt. Revd J. S. Adeniyi
of Blessed memory.
In
a nutshell, I implore you to keep the spirit of the noble flag of H.T.G.S aloft and its flame alight and bright; sustain its
mantle of the noble flag of H.T.G.S aloft and its flame alight and bright; sustain its mantle of “primus inter peres”
handed down by your elder alumni. Give onto Caesar that which is due to Caesar,
in like manner give annually to your Alms Mater no less than 2% (think about it) of your annual income in appreciation of
her moulding you to aspire to the relatively noble and enviable status in your various endeavours in life today. No sacrifice is too great or small for H.T.G.S where the founder was laid.
H.T.G.S BENEFACTORS
AND BRAIN BEHIND THE PROJECTS
Our illustrious
alumnus Col. Solomon Giwa-Amu has demonstrated this by taking his providence inspired initiative not only by donating sports
jerseys and numerous sports equipment for the use by H.T.G.S students; he further made our alumni and his noble Giwa-Amu family
proud when during one his visits to Ora for the youth Leadership Training/Seminar he successfully organised and took some
of his friends to his Alma Mater H.T.G.S premises.
They were conducted
by the school Principal round the deplorable ruins of the infrastructural and learning facilities resulting from several years
of neglect of the school once a bubbling citadel. It was in a sorry and pitiable
state. our special Guests of honour here present or represented; God sent “Good
Samaritans with spontaneous reaction pledged to help renovate the dilapidated Assembly and Dinning Halls as well as restructure
the school Library amongst other projects highlighted in the Report and Recommendations of a Committee earlier set up by the
current National President in collaboration with the Warri Branch of the Alumni.
Thus bringing
relief to the heartache and anxiety of sourcing for funds to implement the recommendations contained in the Presidential Committee
on H.T.G.S. Knowing a noble Giwa-Amu family, so loving and thoughtful is a wonderful thing.
The wonderful role they played in sustaining the survival and progress of our Alma Mater can never be forgotten. The
Annals of HTGS Sabongidda-Ora will remain incomplete without at least two chapters, each respectively devoted to the Giwa
Amus and that indemitable visionary colossus among the Edos, Ven. Samuel O. Akinluyi, the uncrowned Bishop who sewed HTGS
as a mustard seed in 1948.
I recall that
in 1953, during my second year in a student of this school, our then Principal Rt. Revd. J. S. Adeniyi, (The first Principal
of H.T.G.S) of Blessed Memory walked into the school Assembly Hall one Wednesday morning with a silver cup trophy, raised
it up high, and announced that the trophy has been sent to the school by Chief (Dr.) Victor B. Amu who at that time was still
a medical student in Great Britain. That
was the first ever trophy available in the school for student in Great
Britain. That was the first ever trophy available in the school for any Inter-House competition. History has again repeated itself, by the formal commissioning today of some of the
projects by the Edo State
Commissioner of Education.
The Alumni, staff
and students of H.T.G.S and indeed the entire Ora/Emai Communities should please join me in thanking the Giwa-Amu family and
to let them know that they are highly appreciated as we celebrate this joyous occasion.
My God be gracious unto their family, and grant them their heartfelt desires in multiples.
Not to our benefactors
here present or represented, namely,
(a)
Remi Okunlola Esq
(b)
Alhaji Aliko Dnagote
(c)
Mr. Olaiya Phillips
(d)
His Excellency Govt. Donald Duke (cross Rivers
State).
(e)
His Excellency Gov. Peter Odili (Rivers
State)
(f)
Mr. Tony Ezekiel
(g)
Architect Michael Giwa-Amu
(h)
Ifueko Omoigui (Restral Conslutants)
(i)
Mr. Arumeni Johnson
(j)
Nduka Educational Foundation
(k)
Mr. John Onwahand last not the least
(l)
Mr. Lucky Omoluwa (Businessman)
All distinguished
men of honour; the few to whom so much is owed by so many. Were do we start? What accolade or encomium? Nations, like
individuals, derive support and strength from the feelings that they belong to an illustrious race, that they are like the
heirs of their greatness. Men such as these are the true life-blood of the country
to which they belong. They elevate and uphold it.
Fortify and ennoble it, and shed a glory over it by the example of life and character which they have bequeathed.
By this example
we hope and pray that God will make other observers here present practical instruments for use to do likewise, for the benefit
of posterity and mankind. If H.T.G.S Alumni, staff and students have silver and
gold they will lavish them on your families in appreciation of the numerous ways you have been of help to us.
All be to God
does pay as H.T.G.S would pay, in goods that perish and decay, but this is sure, let come what may, who does God’s work
will get God’s pay.It is our fervent prayer that the kindness you show to others, the help you render to those in need,
your generosity and every favour you show to others be richly rewarded by God in a thousand folds.
Distinguished
Guests, thank you for your patience and God bless you all.
___________________________
ENGR. A. O EMOKPAE (KSC)
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
