Seniors (please), My Mates and Oins,

Your postings on the Forum invoke so much nostalgia of the GSSA ‘yester-years’. Postings on the celebration of America’s Memorial Day and the Declaration of Biafra are reminiscent of the GSSA Cadets.

 In my mind’s eyes; I can see the cadets hurrying from the dormitories to the the main field for their late afternoon (evening) parade.  I can see the dark skinned ‘Hydra Finger’ towering over the cadets. Some junior students gather in clusters along the Ibiam House flower hedges to watch the parade in admiration. The Cadet Corp was a superb extra-curricula activity.

When genocide was unleashed, cadets from Military School Zaria came to GSSA. The merger of the GSSA and Zaria cadets heralded a new dimension in  the cadet formation and training. With this new impetus, Cadet parades became much more interesting.

In my mind’s eye; I can see Mr. G.C. Akabogu (‘Egbe’ of good memory) and Mr. Wilson (‘Equa’) in their military fatigue with the cadets. I can see the Cadet-in-Charge, Okafor E. (Zaria cadet) checking his formation. Okafor (RIP) was the epitome of a an ‘Officer and a Gentleman’. He commanded respect and authority from both the former Zaria and (old)GSSAstudents alike. It all seems like a beautiful dream, but it was all real. What a lovely memory of GSSA.

The Cadet Corp was just another extra-curricula activity; but the high GSSA standard made it more or less the real thing.  All GSSA cadets and many GSSA students answered the clarion call for survival. A good number of our students – Our Fallen Heroes – did not return from the civil war. Most of these fallen Old Boys were among the creme de la creme of GSSA. As we contribute to re-establish GSSA; let us remember that they paid the greater price. As we celebrate Nigerian Democracy and American War Memorial; let us remember these old boys and pray for the repose of their souls.  

In conclusion, I suggest we establish an Alumni War Memorial for all old boys who died in the civil war.

Uyanwune,Patrick

1966 – 1973