Father Tagbo mounted the podium for morning assembly on that faithful day (GSSA). He pulled out an envelope from his pocket and read a love letter written by one of the students to a girl. He called the student to approach the podium. I am sure everyone that was present that day still remembers what happened to the student. He used the opportunity to drill into our “blocked heads” the importance of etiquette in everything we did. He was not against the student writing a love letter, but was concerned about the image of GSSA. I could not recall the name of the student, but his nick name was “stormy weather”. When Father Tagbo came home that day, he told all the boys that lived with him to mind our manners with our “Bembelas”. I was shocked that this “old man” knew what we called girls at CKC.

Fidelis O. Mkparu, MD., FACC.

When we returned to Afikpo in 1973, GSSA had limited financial resources. I remember days of long hours with Father Tagbo’s driver (Obed) under a tree shed in front of Ofia Nwali’s office while Father Tagbo was inside pleading for fund to help GSSA return to Afikpo. Eventually, some funds were made available for our return to Afikpo. Much work was needed when we finally returned that our limited fund ran out. When GSSA played Arugo boys for soccer final in Enugu1975/1975, GSSA jerseys were in deplorable state. Father Tagbo had to use his own money to buy jerseys for GSSA. What was available and met “international standard” was gold shirts and black pants. Our boys looked majestic in their new jerseys and boots. He was never reimbursed by the school. He really did not ask for a refund from anyone. They were his “boys” and he owed them the best jersey for making it to the finals.

 Fidelis O. Mkparu, MD., FACC.

Dear Fidelis Mkparu MD:  Well done and thank you for this beautiful write-up on The great Reverend. Of course you also write with great advantage, having lived with him as closely. My sense is that for most post war students, all have upon them, their own special Father Tagbo influence. For me, the great Reverend Father was a very civilized personality who merged polish with decency in an era of significant indecency, lawlessness and confusion. Perhaps his greatest strength lie in being able to tame the “Wild East” when the initial post war students arrived back at GSSA, mostly half students and half soldiers. In my house – Afikpo House then, I still remember my great dread for the likes of Omile CC aka “Tears of Agony” who minted out stress and misery as fast as one could say JJC!. Father Tagbo tamed all that. He was to me a quick study who came from CKC after the war to quickly learn and restore the great traditions of GSSA, to the extent that it s...

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NIGERIAN SECTORIAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES – The Igbo Perspective (Ka Obodo Were Ga N’iru) Prof. Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka [Protocols] It is with a deep sense of humility, apprehension and trepidation that I stand here with you to deliver the 34th Ahiajoku Lecture, 2010. This sense of humility derives from the status of this august gathering, which over the years has become a melting pot of complex Igbo cultural and intellectual ideas. I have followed up this lecture series, begun about 31 years ago by the then Governor of the bigger Imo State, a great Igbo stalwart, Dr Sam O. Mbakwe, and have noted that even with periodical change of governments at the State House, the Government, the people of Imo State have never compromised on the depth and spread of the Lecture topics and the quality of the Speakers.  Their profiles speak for them: men of great intellectual, moral and material...

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FEAR GOD AND HONOUR THE KING. (AFIKPO GSS WE HAIL THEE, EVER BRIGHT AND PROMINENT, THY DESIRE OF YOU TO SEE, EMINENCE WITH THY TALENT)  My Yes pleases, my mates and “oins”. Idu is very correct; we were the last set that saw the glory of GSSA. I remember G Umeham of blessed memory who was our house master (Akabuogu House). I remember Saturday’s inspection and parade and the punishments meted to those on detention during the parade. The school captain during my class one (1980) was Kinglsey Ajah. I remember vividly my first day in GSSA. My mother was instrumental to my choosing GSSA, as my first school of choice when I took the common entrance exam all the way in Lagos where I was domiciled with my parents.  To cut a long story short GSSA was instrumental in shaping me to what I am today. Those days we had role models among the seniors. We wanted to emulate those seniors who were academically outstanding and our discussion then as junior students...

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