|
I was listening to FRCN's Coal
City FM early this morning via Internet streaming, for I enjoy doing
so whenever I can afford the time. But this morning, an obituary
announcement took me on a fast memory reverse. The passing of one of
the greatest educationist in Igboland in particular and Nigeria in
general. A man who dedicated his entire life to providing facilities
and conducive environment for the education of young people. A man who
for his entire life headed various schools, providing leadership by
example for young students and staff. A father figure, an intelectual
and a gentleman. Chief L U Ukwu the Igwe Adodom II of Abor have joined
his ancestors, marking the end of yet another era.
WHO IS IGWE L U UKWU.
This name may not ring a bell to many Nigerians. Unlike present day
noisy rougues in the cloak of politiics, Igwe L U Ukwu never had
interest in publicity, he followed with passion his main interest.
'Education'. A self-trained intelectual who bagged his university
degree without seeing the
walls of a university. Late Igwe L U Ukwu grew up in the days when
education was highly competitive, the days when communities were
contributing money to send their sons Overseas for further studies.
Chief Ukwu could not afford to travel overseas or attend a local
university, but his love and quest for knowlage took precedence despite
the huge obstacles before him. He bagged his university degree at home
through share hard work and dedication. He did not stop there, for
after his graduation he vowed to set up a school, so as to provide
opportunities for young people to access education more easier than he
did. That dream he was able to make come through, he intiated the
establishment of Christ High School Abor without ready made bags of
money, just mere determination. Many young people benefited from his
efforts, including this writer.
I was opportuned to have gone to school at Abor High in the 70's after
the civil war. At the time, Chief L U Ukwu, the founder of the school
was the principal. Could you believe that after the war when many
Eastern Nigerian schools were struggling to have school desks and
seats, at Christ High we had well equiped library and laboratory, we even had a cafeteria.
This was not because the school was treated specially by the
government, it was due to Chief LU Ukwu's goodwill. You cannot pass
through the great man and forget him with ease. Once you have been his
student, you will want to stay in touch, such was Chief Ukwu the
principal, the educator, the father figure. So what am I trying to say?
The goodwill of past students of chief L U Ukwu was what we were
enjoying immediately after the civil war. That was the reason behind
all the facilities that came our way. Some of his admirers and former
pupils living overseas were responsible for all the facilities we
enjoyed then. We even had a volunteer from a Canadian organization in
the school staff. In 1971 I was the games prefect and the captain of
the school's senior football team, and do you know we had 24 pairs of
Puma boots, and good quality jerseys. I remember the match we played
against Union Secondary School Enugu, during the Academicals
elimination series. The Union team were all bare-footed, and felt
intimidated and scared of us that they had to protest the imbalance. We
had no option that to take off our brand new boots and engage them
without boots. The school cafe was another thing we enjoyed very much.
It was located in the same block where the principal's office, the
staff room was. The coffee cups and plates were of very fine quality,
and the coffee quite affordable, just a few kobo. Also at the cafe, we
were able as students to socialize with our teachers in a more relaxed
environment.
Towards
the end of my youths service at Orile Owu near Ibadan, I was thinking
of what to do next, when I remembered that Chief Ukwu was the principal
of Colliery Comprehensive Secondary School which is located in my
village. I also thought that since the school had no course yet in
agricultural science, it will be a good challange to be the one to
establish one. I quickly wrote Chief Ukwu explaining my intention. He
wrote me back after some days saying how happy he was that I was
thinking in that line, that as a matter of fact, he was badly in need
for an agric teacher, and having one in the person of his former
student will be an additional bonus. By the time I came back from my
service, he had taken care of all the arrangements for my teaching
position, I just had to handle the basic formalities. Such was his love
for education. I worked tirelessly and established agric science
studies in the school before leaving for FRCN the following year.
Chief L U Ukwu had the ability of combining effectively, strict
discipline with genuine love and fatherly care. In my opinion, this
made him stand out among his contemporaries.
In 2004 I was in Nigeria and attended an occasion organised by the Old
Boys Association of Christ High School Abor. Igwe L U Ukwu was the
guest of honour. In his speech, he made a revelation that brought tears to my eyes. He said that seeing all of us was the greatest gift he
could ever ask for. He took us down memory lane on how he struggled to
set up Christ High School. He narrated the ups and downs he went
through. The one that stood out was how he found it difficult to secure
loan for the project. He told us how , after series of attempts to
secure loan from a particular bank, the colonial bank manager sat him
down one day and told him that he should stop wasting his time seeking
loan for the purpose of building a school, that chickens are easier to
raise than people, and moreover they yield money. He told him that if
he opts for a poultry farm, he can have as much loan as he wanted.
Chief Ukwu of course turned down the offer.
All these obstacle did not deter the determined educationist. He kept
trying without giving up, untill he succeeded. This was why acording to
him, we were his greatest gift.
Hear him ”I am happy I lived long enough to see all of you
succeed in life in your various areas of endeavour, if I had gone into
chicken farming, this would not have been possible”
And that is the truth.
ADIOS PAPA; You will always be remembered, for you left glaring footsteps on the sand of time.
|
Posted by Robot| 20.12.2007 21:12