AN ADDRESS BY THE SPECIAL GUEST, DR. EFE ODJIMOGHO (KSC), PRESIDENT, EDO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION, EDO STATE BRANCH, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA , AT THE FUND-RAISING CEREMONY FOR THE SCHOOL LIBRARY PROJEECT BY THE U.S.A. CHAPTER ,ON THE 24TH OF APRIL, 2010.
PROTOCOL.

Let me start my brief address by tendering my sincere apology for my inability to personally attend your fund-raising ceremony meant for the upliftment of our alma mater here in Nigeria. This is due to unavoidable circumstance. But I must commend you and your branch for this wonderful initiative for the organization of such a laudable ceremony in New Jersey, USA, including the honour done to the Benin branch by your invitation.

I must say the Benin branch of our “Oid Boys Association” heaved a very big sigh of relief last year, when your branch sent in the sum of about N400,000.00 (i.e.S2,600.00) through Dr M.A. Sede ,for the rehabilitation of the school library and completion of an on-going water project in the school. I say this because it was the first time we received any concrete form of assistance from any other branch. All through the years, the Benin branch had single-handedly fought several battles to secure the school, especially in the area of protecting the vast school land, rehabilitation of dilapidated structures and facilities, etc. I am therefore happy to inform you that the money you sent had been judiciously used for the purpose it was meant for. The school library has been properly fortified with iron doors and windows. And if not for a little hitch we had in the procurement of the water pump for the bore-hole, the taps in the school would have been running by now with the over-head tank already secured.

We also received the over two thousand books you sent to the school in Janaury, this year. This was another major intervention by your branch because the books covered wide subject areas which the students will find very useful after they would have been formally presented to the school.

Thus, your fund-raising ceremony slated for later part of this month is a clear demonstration of your resolve to join hands with the Benin branch to restore the lost glory of our alma mater. This is very encouraging and commendable.
At this juncture, let me inform you, on a very happy note, that the Edo State Government recently commenced massive renovation work in some secondary schools (including our alma mater). We were reliably informed that this renovation work would be extended to all the buildings in the school including a wall fence to properly secure the entire land mass of the school. That EDO BOYS is among the first set of schools to receive this level of Government’s intervention is eloquent testimony to the numerous efforts and activities of the Old Boys over the years.

Infact, by what the State government is doing right now, coupled with the efforts of the Old boys, I have no doubt that EBHS will regain its lost glory (infrastructure-wise) in the very near future. And if things continue to move the way they are now, we will all have every cause to look forward to a well deserved GOLDEN JUBILEE/REUNION ceremony, hopefully within the next 3 months.

It is on this happy note that I wish to, once again, commend all your wonderful efforts that have been geared towards giving our alma mater a face lift. I wish you all a very successful fund-raising ceremony.
Please, always endeavour to keep the old boys flag flying very high in all you do.

God bless you all.