By Felix Ekwu
After about fifty years, members of Federal Government College, FGC, Warri, Class set of 1970, 74/76 on Friday reunited.
Former member of the House of Representatives and Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Chris Oghenechovwen, who is a member of the Class set of 1970, 74/76 hosted the dinner that brought them together at his Ekapn residence in Uvwie Local Government Area.
The reunion of the Class set of old students of FGC coincided with the inauguration on Saturday of a multi-million naira covered walkway executed by them in furtherance of their contributions to their alma mater.
Until Friday, March 4, 2022, only a few members of the Class set of 1970, 74/76 of the Federal Government College, FGC, Warri, who reside in Delta State, could occasionally see themselves.
Many mostly outside the state could only keep in touch via a Whatsapp group opened to bridge the communication gap amongst them since leaving FGC about fifty years ago.
So, it was a feeling of nostalgia seeing themselves almost five decades in different shapes and looks at a dinner for their reunion hosted by one of them, Dr Chris Oghenechovwen, at his Ekpan residence in Uvwie Local Government Area.
Joining them in their reunion were some of their friends which included a former Commissioner in Delta State, Chief Moses Odibo and former Chairman of Udu Local Government, Pastor Raymond Edijala.
Together apart from wining and dining, they danced to old school jams including gospel songs as well as contemporary Nigerian songs beautifully delivered by popular Warri-based music entertainer, Emma Grey.
The occasion was a very fascinating one for Dr Chris Oghenechovwen and current Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, both of whom after leaving Federal Government College, FGC, Warri, continued their friendship at the University of Ibadan, where they studied Medicine.
Retired Head of News & Current Affairs Department, Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, Mrs Evelyn Utunye, summed it up by saying that it was an occasion when one is getting old to meet with one’s mates which helps in keeping young and staying away from health challenges like dementia.
On Saturday, March 5, 2022, for the inauguration of the multi-million naira covered walkway, the Class set of 1970, 74/76 of the Federal Government College, FGC, Warri, and invited guests were thrilled by match past and cultural dances by students of the college.
The 521 meters covered walkway which gulped 16 million naira, runs from the school gate to the students’ dormitory and extends to their classrooms thereby helping the students from being exposed to inclement weather.
Chairperson of Federal Government College, FGC, Warri, Class set of 1970, 74/76, Engr Olubukola Ojurongbe, who inaugurated the covered walkway, said the project was among the paramount needs of the school.
Global President of Federal Government College Warri Old Students Association, Maureen Akpofure while commending the old students for the walkway project harped on the need for members to liaise with themselves so as to bring more infrastructural development to the school.
Other old students who spoke called on the school authorities not to relent in their effort in consolidating the giant strides of the school and maintaining the walkway in order to ensure the durability of the project.
It was a consensus among the Federal Government College, FGC, Warri, Class set of 1970, 74/76 on the need for them to step up their interactions so as to make the event an annual one for the overall benefit of their alma mater.
