Umuhu Okabia Comprehensive Secondary School Alumni Pleads With Gov Uzodimma Over Insecurity

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the President stated this during the first physical meeting of the school Alumni held on Sunday, 3rd March, 2024, at Ago-Palace Way, Okota, Lagos State.

He regretted that virtually all the public institutions in Orsu LGA including the popular Eke Ututu market have been destroyed due to insecurity and stressed the need to restore normalcy in the area and indeed in Imo State.

Iheadiri noted that it was a great reunion for his members to come together after 29 years they left the school for greener pastures within Nigeria and abroad. And he expressed gratitude to God and the members for making it possible.

“This would not have been possible without the power of social media, which has been our meeting place until this day being our first physical meeting here in Lagos.”

He noted that the Alumni Association has been in existence, being powered by various sets with little impact until in 2022 when the 1995 set decided to take the bull by the horn.

The President, Iheadiri, stated that so far  the Alumni has achieved so many things including:

1. Drafting of the Alumni Association Constitution

2. Registration of the Umuhu Okabia Secondary School Alumni Association

3. Opening official account in the name of the Alumni Association

4. Supporting some of their members where necessary

5. Lending helping hands to sick members

6. Funding the business of the wife of their departed member

7. Supporting financially member whose wife gave birth to triplets

8. Reaching out and supporting financially some of their teachers among others as guided by their constitution.

“We are facing numerous challenges and the one giving us sleepless night is in Imo State especially Orsu LGA and in particular Umuhu Okabia, which has left the only Secondary School in the town, being our Alma Mater, completely destroyed just like other communities in Orsu LGA. The rate of students drop out as at today is over 80% as a result of this. In 1996, Imo State won the cleanest and of course peaceful state in Nigeria. But today, the quest for power has turned the state into war zone at the detriment of the innocent citizens.”

Iheadiri lamented that due to the security situation in the State, they cannot hold their meetings in the school and cannot survey the school to know how much help the school needs.

“What is worrisome is that people of Umuhu Okabia have resorted to hosting events nowadays in the State capital for safety reasons. We are therefore, calling on the State Government that is being led by His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, to do everything possible to return the state to its known peaceful nature so that men and women from the State and LGs will reunite with their loved ones and continue their developmental projects.”

“All thanks to Umuhu Okabia United Citizens (UOUC) for the fatherly role towards the remaining students of the school and numerous roles in ensuring that peace returns to Umuhu Okabia in particular and Orsu LGA at large.”

He also thanked the members for their commitment by funding the Alumni Association through Monthly dues, Levy, freewill donations and among others while still calling on the members for more support especially the one that will help in the rebuilding of their school, which is in ruin today due to security problems and can be reached with this email address: okabiaalumniassocition@gmail.com

“All our efforts to have our reunion in our school proved abortive as a result of the devastating security situation in Umuhu Okabia and its environs. And this has brought us to Lagos for a pre-get together and for continuous planning of the reunion in our Alma Mater. We believe this will bind us together and activate our common purpose pending when peace will return to the LG” he said.

The President further explained that the reunion intend to embark on the following:

1. Novelty Football Matches among the Primary Schools in Umuhu Okabia

2. Scholarship

3. Awards and recognitions to distinguished leavers and the graduates of the great Umuhu Okabia Secondary school

4. Visitation of their teachers, to assist them with gifts of either cash or kind.

5. Empowerments

6. Talks

7. Renovations of the school addi

8. Appearing in their normal blue and white school uniforms and morning assembly pprocession.

These and more are some of the activities lined up for the reunion.

“All thanks to the Reunion Chairman, Mr. Dennis Ukaegbu, and Pre-Get Together Chairman in Lagos, Mr. Lambert Iheofore and the Coordinator Alumni Association Women’s wing, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Iheadinotu, who are championing the association.”

The climax of the meeting was the giving out of awards to two members, who have shown commitment towards the progress of the association which included Mrs. Ifeyinwa Iheadinotu and Denis Ukaegbu, who flew from Bayelsa State for the event.

The executives of the Alumni association are :

1. Victor Anunobi- Vice President

2. Denis Ukaegbu- Secretary General

3. Charles Oku- Financial Secretary

4. Lambert Iheofor-Treasurer

4. Emezie Olejeme -Welfare Officer

5. Clifford Eluagu-Provost

6. Theodore Nzekudu- PRO

7. Hycenth Obidike- member of the trustee.