Well deserved.....Congrats to these men.....Read the article below
Yesterday, two great men of Issele –Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State were honoured by the Government of Delta State and were.G sworn in as Justices of Peace (JP) by the Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro. They are Mr. Sunday. I. Chidi and Mr. George Ukponu. Both of them are very good friends, academicians and from the Umuezeisei Royal Village in Issele-Uku.
Proverb 22:29 says “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” The honour to them is a pointer to the fact that a teacher’s reward is not only in heaven but also here on earth.
Mr. S. I. Chidi has been my mentor, a great Mathematician, a Physician, a Computer Scientist and a School Proprietor. He studied Mathematics and Physics at the College of Education, Abraka (now Delta State University) and Computer Science at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria Premier University in Oyo State.
I came in contact with him the very first time as my teacher when he was posted to St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku in 1984. Then, the students dreaded Mathematics and Additional Mathematics as the College lacked very qualified and experienced teachers in the subjects. The story changed when Mr. Chidi resumed duty at St. Anthony’s College, my great alma mata. He started teaching students especially the seniors from the foundation of the subject. Within a very short period of time, many of his students regained interest in Mathematics and some were further encouraged to offer Additional Mathematics. He also introduced Statistics at the College where he taught us very interesting topics like Regression and Correlation Analysis as well as Moving Averages. He was the only Teacher teaching Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Statistics in the senior classes. He made Statistics compulsory for all the Additional Mathematics students and also taught Physics on Fridays when our Physics teacher, now Prof Azih travelled to receive lectures in the University on part time basis.
In 1984/85 session, only five students registered for Additional Mathematics in the WASC Examinations. Some of them were Engr. Bruno Okoh who studied Production Engineering at the University of Benin and currently working in the United State of America, Emmanuel Ofunne who studied Computer Science, Prince Ndubuisi Ofulue and two others that I cannot easily remember right now. The WASC results for Additional Mathematics in 1985 was 100%. This feat was repeated during my set in 1986. My classmates who offered Additional Mathematics with me were the likes of Dr. Paul Osemeke Nwani, a Consultant Physician and lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Engr. Val Emefiene Ifejika and Engr. Akpuh Jude. He never allowed students who offered Additional Mathematics in the examination classes to enjoy the fifteen minutes short break during school hours to enable us cover the subject’s syllabus. The overall school’s results in Mathematics was improved upon greatly and when he left for the Banking Industry after five years, some of his students taught Mathematics in the College using their Mathematics notebooks.
He was a disciplinarian and never spared the rod for any of his students that aired.
Mr. Chidi worked briefly with the Commercial Bank for Credit Lionel in the Information Technology Department, contributed his quota but called it quits after a few years because of his love for education. He retired to Umunede where he founded Divine Academy. He has been training and teaching students for over twenty years now in the Academy.
Many of his students are today graduates in different fields of human endevour. Some who were my school mates in St. Anthony’s College were Dr. Wilson Ofunne, Dr. Emeka Izediuno, Dr Ifeanyi Izediuno, Engr. Lawrence Ogbolu, Engr. Sylvester Ogbolu, Dr. Lawrence Obokoh (an Associate Prof. based in South Africa), Engr. Jude Enyogai, Engr. Ijeoma Eboagwu, Engr. Edwin Bardi, Engr. Edward Bardi, Engr. Edwin Emordi, Engr. Boniface Anyifite, Engr. Tony Ufoegbune, Engr. Anthony Omogolo, Arch. Charles Ogodi, His Royal Majesty, Zaiki Barrister Victor Ehizoge, Dr. Emmanuel Ajudua, a Regional Bank Manager, Sir Jonathan Monye, Very Rev Fr. Stan Odiegwu, Very Rev Fr. Peter Enuanwa, a Polish footballer, Olisadebe Emmanuel and captains of industry. The likes of Engr. Ikechukwu Adigwe, Engr. Osy Okocha, Engr. Ekene Diei, Hon.(Engr) Emeka Nwaobi who is representing the good people of Aniocha North Local Government Area in the State House of Assembly and Prince Victor Efeizomor, a media aide to His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, were also his students.
He was very diligent and disciplined in his profession. He never missed his classes while I was a student of St. Anthony’s College. He was teaching students who were in examination classes in the public College with the permission of the then Principal, Mr. I. E. Akaraiwe of blessed memory, on Saturdays from 9am to 12noon free of charge. He still teaches his students who are preparing for SSCE examinations in Divine Academy during weekends till date. Many Parents bring their children from far and wide to learn from this great man. This was my observation when I visited him on a weekend recently. His wife is a trained teacher. All his children passed through Divine Academy and also taught in the Academy while awaiting admission into higher institutions of learning. To the glory of God, he has Medical Doctors and Engineers in his family today.
One of his students, Chukwunonso Ogorchukwu graduated from Divine Academy, Umunede with excellent results in 2010, had his JAMB lessons in the same Academy and scored 285 in 2011 JAMB examination. He also graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ibadan with a First Class Hons.
Above all, Mr. Chidi is a socialite and a Catholic faithful. My wife and I were present when he celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his marriage about ten years ago in Umunede. The Rev. Father that preached at the Holy Mass eulogised him and his dear wife for always showing good examples to many Christians by participating actively in church programmes and for attending morning masses daily. His first daughter, Engr. (Mrs.) Ada Uche Ani was the choir mistress at the mass that day.
You will all agree with me that there is no controversy about the greatness of Mr. Chidi as a Teacher, an Administrator and a Christian. I am privileged to be associated with this great man. I also thank God I have this wonderful opportunity of writing this citation to appreciate my mentor and a great teacher. Congratulations sir.
I specially thank the Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Marshal Umukoro and also His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State for recognising the good work of teachers today especially this great man of Issele-Uku extraction and for finding him worthy of being called a Justice of Peace (JP). He remains “Ekwueme” Governor.
Sir, I pray that God Almighty will satisfy you with divine health, wisdom, long life and good things of life in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Nwakogo Anthony Nkete was a student of the recipient, holds a Master of Science in Information Technology, a staff of Project e-Delta and was a Special Assistant (Technical) to the Governor of Delta State from 2011-2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment