Umuahians In The US Storm The Windy City

 By Obi Nwakanma

Twenty years ago, the alumni of the Government College Umuahia first met in the United States, and decided to take on the challenge of restoring their famous alma mater, the Government College Umuahia, and while at it, have some fun. 

In that first convention that drew many of the “old boys” of the Government College Umuahia – “Umuahians,” as they are best known – for the first time to a national gathering in New Jersey, their distinguished “old boy,” the world famous novelist, the late Chinua Achebe, in wheelchair, tended lovingly all the way from Bard College, in the Catskills by his wife, Christie, reminded his fellow Umuahians, of what every generation of schoolmasters used to say to students at Umuahia: “to whom much is given, much is expected.” It was the basis of the “noblese oblige.” 

The honorable sacrifice drilled into Umuahians, about the obligation of service to the old school, and to society. Umuahians were specifically educated to serve their society, and lead it. For many, exile had foreclosed that. Time too had laid a heavy hand on the old school. The decline of funding by governments to such elite public schools had dwindled the fortunes of Umuahia and her sister schools. Images shared of the broken facilities of this once magnificent school at some point had a botanical garden with a small zoo; a golf course,  vast sporting grounds; a vast orchard, a gun range with an armory, and so forth, inspired the alumni of the college to rally, and organize a “restoration initiative.” The steady and determined steps of the Umuahians towards this project, over the last ten years, has borne fruits. 

The college is now in full swing. The alumni negotiated for the government to concede the School to a Trust, the Fisher  Education and Development Trust (FEDT), or simply the Fisher Trust, endowed by the Government College Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) to run the great old school as an independent school. It is an experiment which came with both great trepidation and great boldness, and not without its teething problems and challenges. 

So, the Chicago convention was for stock-taking; it was an evaluative conference to measure the progress, as the new school enters its third year, of the outcomes of this experiment, which has many, many hands on the deck, but many still detained by a deeply Nigerian scepticism, about everything new and out of the box. It is worthwhile here to say, from the reports of the School Management Board (SMB) of the Fisher Trust,  delivered to the convention on the Saturday morning, this past weekend by Dr. Eugene Ibe ’55, in his very words, “Umuahia is back!” 

Indeed, the pictures reflect this new confident spring. It was a very warm convention of Umuahians. Many arrived Chicago, the famed windy city by Lake Michigan, on Thursday at the Sheraton Suites, venue of the conference, not far from the O’Hare airport. I did arrive at O’Hare, to a delightful, late summer evening in Chicago. It was not windy. But it was pleasant. I quickly spotted Dr. Bato Amu, ’65, logging his Golf sticks, and we quickly joined Dr. Emeka Njoku ’73, who had flown in from London, and was waiting for the Hotel shuttle.

To our pleasant surprise, Dr. Okey Eneleamah, ’74, former Minister of Trade, who is a Trustee of the Fisher Trust, as well as guest speaker at the convention dinner was already inside the shuttle, which in due course took us on the short haul to the hotel. There, already were, Dr. Emma Okafor, ’65, Chair of the Board of the GCUOBA-USA Trust, and Mr. Ed Ukaonu ’74, President of the GCUOBA-USA, and a few others.  A very important attribute of the Umuahian experience is, even if Umuahians themselves say it, that they can walk and chew gum at the same time. Umuahians work hard, andplay hard, as the saying goes. 

It wasn’t long, having settled in, and made an acquaintance with the bar of the Sheraton O’Hare, that these Umuahians left to the very elegant, very posh home of Mr. Fidelis Umeh, ’53, President of SEI Solutions, one of Chicago’s distinguished Technology companies; a pillar of the Nigerian Community in Chicago, and patron of the GCUOBA-USA. 

A humorous, sprightly and lively man, Mr. Umeh, still ramrod and firm even in his ‘80s, laid out a generous fare for Umuahians. Under the distinct charge of Teddy Anagbogu, a friend of Umuahians, an oldboy of the sister Government Secondary School, Owerri, and a close associate of Engr. Fidelis Umeh, the repast went swimmingly. There was gourmet food, very good wine, rare cognac, and very decent scotch. The beer also was good local brew. It smoothened the conversation, and eased time, so much that  we felt seduced enough to overstay our time, but thankfully, not our welcome. Friday: many Umuahians arrived from across the US, and from other places outside the US. By noon the lobby of the Sheraton suites was bustling with a distinctly Nigerian tinkle. 

We Nigerians are loud, and we are colorful; and we are unselfconscious about it! We make no apologies for our loud celebration of each other’s company. By evening of Friday, we also had another meet-and-greet reception,  hosted by the Midwest Chapter of the GCUOBA-USA, with Mrs. Funmi Moka, a very warm Umuahian “young girl,” (that’s what spouses of Umuahians are called), holding forte, laying out the grub, and doing a yeoman’s job because she and her husband, Engr. Charlie Moka ’65, virtually organized all the logistical necessities for this convention, literally alone.

There was the sudden, and unfortunate death of the brilliant Dr. Okey Okolo ’71, a Medical doctor in Chicago, who was neck deep with the Mokas in the plan. Dr. Okolo died suddenly at the O’Hare airport, on hisway back from Nigeria. His sudden death, three weeks ago, left a very wide gash, and an open sore. Umuahians, their spouses, and their guests socialized and danced past “lights out.” Luckily, the three School Captains in the room – Edward “Tim O” Ukaegbu ’61, Reggie Momah, ’67 and Denis Onwualu ’70, had mellowed.

 

Besides, they had turned “human.” We did remind Denis Onwualu’s wife, Amala, who wondered what the ruckus around her husband was all about, that in the good old school, the School Captain had the power of Caesar. And Umuahia, shaped by the ethos of Sparta, was not a democracy.The raucous Friday “jump” in the good old Umuahian style, went way beyond 2:00 am, but did not stop Umuahians from waking up, sharp and ready for the business meeting on Saturday morning. It was serious and it was precise; handily presided and led by the GCUOBA-USA president, Ed. Ukaonu. 

Umuahians have a surfeit of talents, many of whom could so easily be the real presidents of the federation of Nigeria. Inside that room on Saturday was evidence of this: high-flying professionals, ranging from the oldest who entered the school in 1953 to the youngest, Ike Onyeadi, who entered the college in 1994, and traveled from the UK to come to the convention. Many of these were kids in their time who set and smashed National academic and sporting records in Nigeria. Dr. Ibe ’55, gave the Schools Management Board report. In Dr. Ibe’s report, he indicated that the GCU admitted two international students for this year. More are expected to apply. Mr. Uche Orji ’80, former CEO of Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, gave the report of the Endowment Committee of the Fisher Trust.Dr. Okey Eneleamah, former Minister of Trade and Trustee of the School, gave the Trustees report. 

The GCUOBA-USA presented a check of One Hundred Thousand dollars as foundational contribution to the GCU Endowment. Within thirty minutes also, they raised over One hundred thousand dollars for the reconstruction and modernization of Erekosima House. My wife, Mira had arrived Chicago on Friday, and joined other spouses of Umuahians, to visit Dr. Okolo’s widow, and the late Dr. Okechi Nwabara’s widow, Ijeoma, and while at it, the “young girls,” had taken time also to tour some quite interesting spots in Chicago, which I have been warned not to reveal, because what happened in Chicago, among the “young girls,” remained in Chicago.

Among the roll of Umuahians who came to this year’s convention include, Mr. S.I.C. Okoli, ’53, former Chairman of National Oil, Mr. Fidelis Umeh, ’53, Dr. Eugene and Prof. Stella Ibe ’55, Mr. Edward Ukaegbu, ’61, Dr. Martin Nwankwo ’62, Mr. Udobi ‘Bronco’ and Ngozi Ikeji, ’62,  Dr. Chinwendu and Ruki Mbanugo ’63, Innocent Egedigwe ’64, Dr. Bato Amu, ’65, Engr. Charlie and Funmi Moka ’65, Dr. Emma Okafor ’65, Dr. Anele and Chidilim Ebizie ’65 (UK),  Mr. Y.C. Anya, ’66,  Dr. Osita and Chinwe Okpalaoka ’66, Professor Chike and Liz. Igboechi ’66, Attorney Reginald and Chelsea Momah ’67, Dr. Cas and Pat Okoro, ’67, Dr. Godswill and Naya Okoji ’67, Enyi and Dr. Eneni Kanu ’67, Mr. Ali and Seje Talib ’67, Mr. Randy and Att. Angie Nduka ’67,Engr. Okey and Prof. Ihuoma Eneli’70, Dr. Okey Ifediora‘70, Engr. Onyema and Att. Oma Nkele, ’70, Jay and Ngozi Oji’70, Ikechi and Nnenna Uko ’70, Gordon Ilogu ’70, Denis and Amala Onwualu ’70, Chimdi Ejiogu, ’70, Prof. Maco and Nneoma Onuigbo, ’71, Dr. Noel and Mrs. Ilogu, ’71, Prof. Ike and Chibuzo Ukeje ’71, Dr. Johnny Uyanne ’71, Chukwuka Eke-Nweke (Mogambo) ’72 (HSC), Nnamdi “Stability” Egbukichi ’72 (HSC), Att. Don and Dr. Wendy-Neal Egbuchulam, ’72, Okey and Ifeoma Wachuku, ’72, Att.Nedum Ejiogu, ’72, Bob and Dr. Jane Akponye ’72, Acho and Joy Ofo, ’72, Att. Charlie and Barbra Chikezie ‘72/76 (HSC),Att. Uche and Amelia Emelumadu ’72, Dr. Emeka Njoku ‘73(S), Maxie Ehieze ‘73(S), Arch. Vince Ogbuehi ’73 (J), Ed and Angela Ukaonu ’74, Dr. Okey Eneleamah ’74, Prof. Kingsley and Marianne Moghalu ’74,  Att. GCU Okedi’74, Att. Sebastain and Blessing Ibezim ’75, George Ezeikpe, ’75, Dr. Austin and Ngozi Umezurike ’75, Mr. Bonnie and Ijeoma Olumba ’76,  Att. Vincent and Ngozi Eke-Nweke ’76,  Dr. Chuks and Chika Ibeku, ’76, Vin Onyirimba ’78, Kofi Okoroafor ’78, Dr. Kingsley and Stella Umezurike ’78, Mr. Ejike and Ngozi Atulomah, Mr. Amadi and Mercy Nwokocha ‘79, Mr. Uche Oji ’80, Dr. Chikwendu and Dr. Oyoyo Nwosu, ’80, Engr. Chuma Mmeje ’82, and Mr. Ike Onyeadi, ’94. Widows and many friends of Umuahia like Mrs. Maggie Nwaobasi, Ijeoma Nwabara, Dr. Nwogo Agbasi, and so many indeed, too numerous to name here, joined Umuahians to rouse this windy city, for the old school. 

*Nwakanma is a US-based Professor of English