Hope Bay College Class of 98 Exstudents ‘Return Home’
Uchechukwu Nnaike Chris Asika
May 24- 25, 2018 will remain memorable for staff and students of Hope Bay College (HBC), Lagos, as its 1998 set of old students returned 20 years after graduation to thank the school with cash prizes, which includes awards to teachers and three term scholarships to best students from junior secondary one (JS1) to senior secondary two (SS2).
The gesture, which was part of activities marking the reunion of the set, was its way of maintaining the culture of excellence and to give back to the school that groomed the members.
The event featured an interactive session with the current students, facilitated by an ex-student, Dr. Ann Ankoma, a physician with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, and a UN ambassador, who gave career advice, peer pressure management and health tips.
Mrs. Ngozi Obi, a member of a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Amazing Amazon Initiative which works to curb domestic violence among women and children, educated the students about the social menace of domestic violence, sexual abuse by adults, sexuality education for teenagers, etiquette; while Mr. Ebere Iwueze, an ex-student and a legal practitioner also gave the students motivational talk.
Other activities included Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba cultural dance, choreography and a novelty football match between the ex-students and the current students. The scholarship recipients were the best students namely: Jack Joy, Nsoma Treasure, Ugbama fejiro and Akachukwu Nmesoma.
Exceptional teachers were also rewarded during the reunion lunch with plaques and cash prizes in appreciation for the role they played in the upbringing of the ex-students. They are: Mr. Aqua (principal as at 1998); Mr. Joseph Okedu (current principal), Mrs. Margaret Nwogu, Mr. Princewill Chime, Mr. Chima Iruamaka, Mr. Boniface Amusan, Mr. Adesakan Isiaka, Rev. Kemdi Akobundu, Mr. Ayemoni J.O, Mr. Egbegbara, Mr. Uche Madu, and Mr. Afam Madumere.
Other award recipients were Miss Komeh Odhe (98 ex-student) in apprecia- tion for the formation of the HopeBay Class (HBC) of 98 reunion in 2010 and her tenacity in keeping the group alive. Another recipient, Mr. Obinna Chinedu, the CEO Lounge Thirty Eight was honoured for his contribution towards hosting HBC 98 reunion in the last decade.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the HBC 98 reunion, Mr. Victor Ejike Kanu said giving back to the school that made them what they are in the society today was the main reason the members decided to return to the school that they see as their home.
“We got the foundation here on how to become responsible citizens of this country and we excelled in whatever we do today because of the morals, discipline and quality education we got here in HBC. Just like most of my colleagues doing well in their various professions, I am an entrepreneur; the founder and the CEO of Woolwich Group Limited, an engineering and electrical multibillion naira group of companies employing over 100 Nigerians with branches all over the country, United kingdom and United States.”
Kanu stressed the need for entrepreneurship and financial management to be integrated into schools’ curriculum to equip youths to be self-reliant and not to wait for white collar jobs after graduation, but to become employers of labour. In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school, Miss Jumoke Oladapo (eldest daughter of the founder who took over after the death of the founder) commended the kind gesture of the 98 set and urged other sets to emulate it which is the first set of ex-students to return and give back to the school since its inception.
“I was so excited when the principal told me that members of the 98 set approached him that they want to give back to their alma mater which is very commendable and it is something that I hope other ex-students will emulate and do for us in future. Because at the end of the day no matter how you look at it, we have contributed positively to their lives.
“I am not saying we take all the credits for who they are today but we have impacted their lives positively otherwise they won’t see the need to come back. A lot of them are doctors, lawyers, technocrats in all sorts of professions represented in that set and we are very proud of that.”
The CEO stressed the need for the government and parents to prioritise education, as it is the bedrock of development in every society and regretted the alarming rate of out of school children.
“The government should wake up and smell the coffee. The education system is rotten. We have a huge population of children who are out of school and for whatever reason it could be because of funds and there is no school located for their particular need and this is where vocational education comes in. It is not everybody that is a university material.
“The government should look into vocational education where people can be trained in various professions like carpentry, tiling, plumbing, electrician etc. It doesn’t have to be about being a lawyer, doctor, accountant, engineer or IT specialist and what have you. There is always a place for those who do not have the wherewithal to go to the university. Here at Hopebay College, part of our pipeline dreams is to set up a centre for vocational studies.”
The Principal of the school, Mr. Joseph Okedu lauded the ex-students’ efforts to make the event a success, especially those who had to fly in from other parts of the world.
“Gathered here today are our ex-students from within Nigeria and the diaspora; we graduated about 400 students in 1998 and most of them are in various professions. Seated here today are leaders of sort: technocrats, doctors, business tycoon, lecturers, entrepreneurs, etc. We thank God for your achievements. We recall that the graduation of this set tallied with the year the college won the Bournvita brain match.
“This set is the first to bestow this honour of returning to the school to say thank you. The other graduates from 1992 upwards should emulate this gesture. You have come a long way, some of you from the ends of the world to make this visit to your alma mater; your visit is highly appreciated.”