The ever moving philanthropic train driven by Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, SAN, made a stopover recently at Wesley High School Otukpo, occasioned by the handover of an ultra modern students hostel, built and tastefully furnished by the GODWIN OBLA FOUNDATION in honour of Emmanuel Obla.
The commissioning ceremony of the edifice was scheduled for 10 o’clock in the morning of 18th February 2023. By 9:30 the students (in crisp white on blue uniforms) and staff were already all seated in a well arranged arena infront of the hostel awaiting dedication. Emma Obla, with his name conspicuously printed on the building, milled around in company of the Principal and the Wesley Old Students (WOSA) President, welcoming guests who were mostly old students.
At exactly the appointed time, the Methodist Archbishop of Benue, Most Rev Joshua Yusuf Ngbede, was ushered into the arena, accompanied by Very Rev Mark Ochengele, Education Secretary of Otukpo Diocese, and the Chaplain of the School, Rev Buba. As if on cue, the first Headboy of Wesley High School, HRH Chief Dr John Onuminya Eimonye, Och’Otukpo Odu, walked in. A few minutes later Chief Godwin Obla himself had his presence announced, accompanied by a wild cheer from the estatic students. And the occasion commenced with the Nigerian national anthem and the Wesley anthem.
The Wesley High School compound was a place to behold. Bright and beautiful in white and blue colours. Even the balloons used to add some aesthetics were also white and blue. Not a single piece of paper was on the ground anywhere. All those who spoke extolled the commitment and dedication of the Principal and his staff for the level of cleanliness and orderliness.
Wesley High School Principal, Mr Emmanuel Achigili, in his welcome address, prayed to God to bless the Obla family for their magnanimity. He also made special appeals for more interventions, especially in the area of staff welfare.
Emmanuel Obla, 1976 graduate of Wesley and immediate elder brother to Chief Godwin Obla, gave God all the glories for actualizing the project. He praised his brother for showing him another dimension in giving-back-to-the-society and charged others to emulate the gesture. In his own speech, Chief Dr John Eimonye made a passionate plea to the School proprietor to enhance staff emoluments. To this end, an Old Student, Dr Edward Amali made a donation of five hundred thousand naira towards an increment in the take-home pay of teachers.
Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, was so impressed with what he saw on ground that he made a donation of five hundred thousand naira towards the maintenance of the Emmanuel Obla Hall, and thirty thousand naira to each teacher, saying that teachers rewards should no more wait till heaven. He also instituted an annual prize of a computer set for the best behaved student in honour of an old student, Francis Eimonye Adakole, and another computer for the best graduating student, in honour of the first Headboy, HRH Chief Dr John Eimonye. Chief Obla added that in honour of the hardworking WOSA President, Ene Okwa, the GODWIN OBLA FOUNDATION would renovate the girls hostel.
An elated Archbishop Joshua Ngbede was beside himself with joy, commenting that he had never seen anything like the type of humanitarian gestures exhibited at Wesley. He was full of special prayers for the Oblas and all other benevolent souls.
The Wesley students musical band performed so well, despite a torn band, that they reminded many of the OFEGE Band in the seventees.
The colourful occasion was witnessed by the Director General of GODWIN OBLA FOUNDATION, Elder Michael Uba Obande, as well as many Old Students including Hon Christy Adokwu, Dr Edward Amali, John Akume, Matthew Ogwujor, Oada Ogom, Eka Inalegwu, and many others.