By Henry Iyorkase, Makurdi.
Alumni of Air Force Secondary School, Makurdi, set of 1996 have launched a Five Million Naira Cooperative Society fund for the benefit of its members.
They also honoured 18 others for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of humanity during a maiden home-coming ceremony.
Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, (LOC) for the meeting, Arc. Davidson Echidike, said the main aim of the meeting was to appreciate their teachers and institute the said cooperative society.
According to Echidike, the discipline they acquired while in the School has shaped them to their present status and the need to come together and to say thank you to their teachers and the school for the training became imperative.
He said furthermore that the get-together would enable them to identify challenges faced by some of their mates with a view to helping them stand on their feets, hence, the institution of the cooperative society.
One of the class’ teachers, Adejo Morgan, who was honoured with an award for his ‘Dedication to Duty’, was thankful to God that he was alive to see his students again, 25 years after they had left the School.
Adejo, who received the award in that category alongside two others; Prof Imoko Benjamin and Samuel Ogwuche, urged the 1996 class to love their children but bring them up in strict discipline. He said the reward a child can give to his parents and by extension, teachers is to be successful and not failures.
Others who received the class’ award are the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC) Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Makurdi, Air Vice Marshall I. G Lubo who was honoured with a Meritorious Service award; Commandant of Air Force Secondary School Makurdi and Education Officer, TAC, Kenneth Kumzhi who received an award of Excellence.
Mrs. Becky Anchaver, teacher and mother of a member of the class, Terhemen Anchaver as well as the School’s first Head Boy, Tajudeen Ayinde received awards for Outstanding Performance in Leadership and Morals.
Eight others also received award of Dedication to Duty by the class including the President, Makurdi Chapter of Air Force Secondary School Old Boys Association, (AFOSSA), Moses Ojongwa honoured with an Outstanding Performance in Leadership and Morals and the best Arts Student of Air Force Secondary School, Makurdi.
The homecoming and launching ended with a Thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makurdi.