President’s Opening Remarks

Guest of Honor, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the third biennial fundraising event of EDO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL Old Boys Association, USA. Every member of this association appreciates you taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us today.

EBHS Old Boys Association, USA

The founding of this association was motivated by the pathetic state the institution was in prior to 2007. The buildings were dilapidated, the library was a shell of itself, and there were neither books nor desks and chairs that would motivate serious-minded students. There is no doubt that the morale of teachers and workers in the school were at their lowest levels given the condition of the physical infrastructure in the institution at the time. To most of us, this was a call for action. To insure the speedy revitalization of the institution, the EBHS Old Boys association (North East, USA Chapter) was established on August 4, 2007, by concerned and like-minded Old Boys. The founding members are: Mr. David Amedu, Dr. Esokpan J. Ebose, Mr. Robert Igbinovia, Mr. Godwin Izevbizua, and Dr. Braimoh D. Oseghale.

ccomplishments:

Since its inception, this association has made significant contributions to the process of alleviating most of the acute problems confronting the institution. Accomplishment of the association to-date include–

• Providing clean water:

In 2008, this organization completed a Bore Hole project that was initially stated by Dr. Ugiagbe. We consider the more than $3000.00 spent on the Bore Hole project as money well-spent since it now permits students easy access to clean drinking water and also for use in the laboratories. Specifically, this chapter provided the over-head water tank, built an iron-stand for the tanks and also did the plumbing works.

• Providing books for the library:

In 2008, this association donated more than 2500 books covering a wide-range of subjects to the school at a total cost of $25,000.00.

• Providing transportation for the students:

During the golden jubilee celebration in December 2010, this chapter contributed $2700.00 towards the purchase a Bus to the school. Students are now able to attend outside functions as a group using the school bus.

• Scholarship:

During the golden jubilee celebration we awarded scholarship to five students at $100.00 each (a total of $500.00).

• Computer lab:

We donated desktop computers to school at a total cost of $14,000.00.

• Refurbishment of the library:

Furthermore, we renovated the dilapidated main library and replaced all the wooden doors and windows with reinforced iron doors and windows, in efforts to burglary-proof it. The cost of renovating the library was $3000.00. This association was at the verge of purchasing desks and chairs for the library when we received information that the state government was planning to embark on a massive renovation of the two-story building where the main library is housed.