ST CHARLRES COLLEGE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION

REUNION EVENT - 19TH OCTOBER 2024

The old boys of the school in different locations within the country and those in the diaspora had the reunion celebration at the school premises on Saturday, 19 October 2024, for fundraising geared towards assisting the school in capital projects.

WELCOME ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL

REV. FR. VICTOR OFILI

On The Occasion Of the First Reunion/Fund Raising Activity Organized By The Old Boys Association of St. Charles Collage, Abavo

Good day to everyone!

My Lord Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Michael Odogwu Elue, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku and the Proprietor of the school

The Chairman of the Occasion, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; the immediate past executive Governor of Delta State

The Chief Launcher, Senator Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, Senator Representing Delta North Senatorial District.

The Co-chief launcher: Barr. Chiedu Ebie; Chairman, NDDC

The Royal Fathers of the day: HRH. Uche Irenuma II, the Obi of Abavo Kingdom and the Agbogidi Olo Ome, Anthony Ogbolu, the Obi of Ejeme-Aniogor

The Chairman, St. Charles College Old Boys Association Worldwide; ChukaIghade

The Chairman, Organising Committee, Fidelis Ogbeni and his team.

All the Invited Guests

Members of Staff and Students of the School

All the Old Students here present,

With great honour and pleasure, I welcome you all to this auspicious occasion of our institute’s First Alumni Meeting and Fund Raising. This day is very important, as it provides an opportunity for many of us to meet each other after so many years. It is also a Home-coming, which avails us the opportunity to once again see our Alma Mater, our home for many years, and join hands to upgrade it to standard. I thank God for granting you travelling mercies to this place.

St. Charles College is a historic school that has produced great men in the society from its inception in 1963. It is one of the greatest citadels of learning in Ika land, whose name resounds home and abroad on the lips of her old students. The purpose of the Old Students Association is to provide a forum and platform to foster, encourage and build the sense of belonging among the members of the Alumni, the present students, staff and management of the school, with the common goal of all round development. To achieve this, the Old Students of St. Charles College have come up with our gathering today.

I cannot go on with my speech without first of all commending the efforts of the old students of this great institution. It was not easy to arrive at where we are today were it not for the effort of some dedicated individuals. I want to thank and appreciate the different branches of St. Charles Old Boys Association, SCOBA (Asaba and Agbor). My greatest appreciation goes to the international body of SCOBA which stands today as the main unifying umbrella body of the Association, under the able leadership of Mr. Chucks Iyade. I pray that every other branch will find a shelter under this international body.

The school has received a lot of support from the different branches of the Old Boys Association, each according to its capabilities. The Asaba and Agbor branches have been of great help. The donation of chairs for the students, generator and other items by them came when we were in dire need of the items. We highly appreciate it.

The international body of SCOBA since its existence has continuously taken the great challenge of developing the school. As the big umbrella of SCOBA, she has been able to take the school from her dismal state to the present stage of development. The face lift of the school was done by this body under the leadership of Mr. Chucks Iyade. With this giant stride, any passerby will always exclaim “Hmmm, St. Charles don come back”. This implies for them that it was lost but now is found. May God reward all those who have contributed to this development.

My appreciation also goes to the Government of Delta State under Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for the donation of Ten million Naira (N 10,000,000) to mission schools of which St. Charles was one of the beneficiaries. I cannot forget to thank and appreciate our host community - the Abavo kingdom for the donation of this massive land, security and continuous love shown to us.

Last year, the Old Boys made a promise of giving Awards to exceptional Staff and Students. Due to some constraints, this was not achieved. The school had to take it up herself. We still implore this   house to look into the Award programme and see how to come in. The Bishop has dedicated an Account solely for this Award in which anyone can make donations specifically for it. Zenith Bank;1310063725.  This will help to encourage and motivate the staff and students to optimize their performance.

Counting on this generosity and extending it to all gathered here today, may I, at this point, like Oliver Twist, present to us some of the present needs of the school. I know for sure that SCOBA is always ready to chest the challenge of the development of the school. For the sake of time, I will like to itemise these needs in the order of priorities

Equipment for the Science Laboratories

-Computer (ICT) lab

- School Hostel

- New Administrative Block

- Library

- Solar power

- Good Access Roads

- Renovation of Classrooms

- Lawn Mowers

- Renovation of Staff Quarters

- Games Facilities

This speech cannot be complete without a word of appreciation to the proprietor of the school - Most Rev Michael Odogwu Elue, who made sure that the school is still functional today through his prayerful and financial support. To the Parents-Teachers Association (P.T.A), the great Staff and Students of the school, and the management, may God bless and reward you all for your many sacrifices, dedication and cooperation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Once again, I welcome everyone to today’s occasion. It is my prayer that the activities of this day will make a great impact in the life of St. Charles College, Abavo. We invite all to support us in one way or the other.

Cheers!