Barr Paul Edeh emerges president of GSS Otukpo Old Boys

Renowned activist and lawyer, Barrister Paul Ankwa Edeh has been elected as National President of Government Secondary School Otukpo Old Boys Association.

Edeh, who doubles as convener of One Idoma Initiative was elected as the new leader of the association at the just concluded 50th anniversary of the school.

The soft-spoken lawyer, who passed out from the school in 1996 was rated among the best students of his set.

Speaking shortly after his emergence as the new leader, Edeh revealed that his first goal as President is to effectively engage all alumni to give back to their alma mata.

According to him, the current state of GSS Otukpo, having churned out big wigs in the society; falls below minimum standard of an educational institution.

His words, “Firstly, the purpose of an alumni association is to provide a sustainable and efficient means of engaging alumni and to provide alumni with a sustainable means to interact with their alma mata. My first goal as President is to effectively engage all alumni to give back to their alma mata.

“Secondly, the current state of the school falls below minimum standard of an educational institution. The infrastructural decay is a product of long neglect by government and Old Boys alike. One cardinal goal we intend to achieve is to restore the school back to its lost glory.

“Under my watch, we shall work with the school authority to ensure that the academic standard of the school is lifted beyond its current state.

“I believe that we need the good old days back when the school was truly a unity school. Once upon a time we had names like Akume, Pam, Akange as students. Names such as Olaniyan, Aper Aku featured as principals. But today, the school appears to be filled with 95 per cent of Idoma people. I think that an educational institution is a citadel where learning and unity should be the order. How do you unite if you stay all by yourself without mingling with others?”

Edeh would be pilot affairs of the association alongside his other exco members including, Dr Sam Onminyi as Vice President, Lt Cmdr AA Audu as Secretary while Engr. Pam Paget would serve as the Treasurer

Others included, Mr Isaac Ukpoju, Financial Secretary, Mr Onche Egwa, PRO, Edoh Omafu, Social Secretary and Dr. JY MUSA (Legal Adviser).

Some of the Old boys who witnessed the golden jubilee include the former Benue State Governor now a Distinguished senator of the Federal Republic, George Akume, Prof Ejembi Michael Onobi, Justice Adam Onum-Chief Judge of Benue State, Prof Sunday Ochoche and his wife, Dr Yusuf Musa, SAN, Prof Igbana Ajir, Prof Elvis Ihaji, Barr Paul Edeh as well as other notable old boys from the 1971-2017 sets of the School. Comrade Abba Moro the former Minister of Interior was also in attendance.