AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF EKIUGBO GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, COMR. IBEBE RUFUS AKPOBOME ON THE OCCASION OF EGSOSA MADIEN ANNUAL LEACTURE HELD ON THE 24TH OF NOVEMBER, 2016 AT EKIUGBO GRAMMAR SCHOOL HALL.

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF EKIUGBO GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, COMR. IBEBE RUFUS AKPOBOME ON THE OCCASION OF EGSOSA MADIEN ANNUAL LEACTURE HELD ON THE 24TH OF NOVEMBER, 2016 AT EKIUGBO GRAMMAR SCHOOL HALL.

Protocols…

It gladdens my heart to be given this great honour and privilege that money cannot buy to address this noble gathering of intellectual personalities.

I wish to specially express my profound gratitude to God Almighty for making this day a reality. I also, wish to greatly appreciate the efforts of my fellow Organizing Committee Members, all members of Ekiugbo Grammar School Old Students Association (both at home and abroad), Principal, Staff and Students of this noble institution of learning and my dynamic Guest Speakers towards the successful planning and organizing of this program.

Some years ago, January 1st 2014 to be precise, some great personalities found it necessary to form an Association for all past students of Ekiugbo Grammar School. The vision of these great men and women for the formation then (which is still applicable today), is to effectively ensure the tremendous growth and develop of Ekiugbo Grammar School and all students that have pass through this school. This vision, which transformed into our motto (Developing the school for greatness) has been the light that has brighten our path in this journey so far.

To many people then, it was a vision that was too big judging from the fact that, many of us spear heading the vision were young people. They believed that we were too young to actualize such vision. But I dare to say today, nobody or association is too young to actualize its vision. All that is needed to actualize any vision is; determination, ideals and support from great personalities like you all seated here and others that could not make it due to one thing or the other. Our gathering here today is a testimony that, this vision can be actualized. And together, we shall actualize it.

This program is aimed primarily at inspiring ourselves and rewarding hard working students. It is also aimed at creating an avenue to interact with one another by bringing forth our challenges and providing solutions to them. We equally aimed at, showcasing the talent of students of this institution. Above all, this association, through this program, aimed at, telling the outside world that we are determined to developing “our” school and we can achieve this through programs like this with your help.

Today, we are gathered here to witness the Median Annual Lecture; a program that we hope to organize every year. This program is a unique and historic one. It is unique because we see it as the beginning of more great things to come. It is historic because it is the first of its kind in the history of this school and association. To us, it is the foundation upon which, many other greater programs will be built upon in the future. It is equally our hope that, future Annual Lectures would be bigger and better. This is the beginning of an Annual program that will have head of states, great academicians and captains of industries, great philanthropist, clergymen and men from all works of lives in attendance in the nearest futures. Rome was not built in one day. We all gathered here today, have started something great; the building of our Rome. This is the beginning of many great things to come from us to this school that has given us education.

Today as we are seated here, we should count ourselves lucky to be part of this historic event. This program has opened a new phase in the history of this school and Association. It is not just a seminar; it is the beginning of the actualization of what we promised the school. It is the commencement of building a better generation of students that will leave here to touch the lives of others. It is the beginning of a positive revolution that would touch and change the way we see and react to things, the way we interact with ourselves and others.

 This is a great program to this association. It is to us, what the “I have a dream speech” is to Martin Luther Kings (Jnr.). It is to us, what the “crucifixion of Jesus Christ” is to the Christian Faith. It is to us what the “I am prepared to die speech” of Nelson Mandela is to the People of South Africa. It is equally, to us, what the “America Civil War” is to the Independence of America. These events stated above changed the course and lives of individuals and nations. It is equally our dream that, this program would bring about the much needed positive changes we so much desire in our lives. And we know that, our dreams will come to pass, just the way the dream and vision of Martin Luther Kings  (Jnr) came to pass.

The road towards the organizing of this program has not been smooth. The fact that we are in recession almost affected the success of this program. But I thank God and all those he (God) used to bring about the success of this program. What we see today, is the result of sacrifice and dedication of men and women who believed in this vision. This program is a manifestation of the ideal that we must not wait to become rich before we help others. Hence, I wish to plead with us all to make the best use of it.

Let me conclude by thanking you all once more, for your support and encouragement so far. We look forward to better days ahead.

I wish you all safe and peaceful journey back to your respective home in Jesus Name, Amen.