GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL, AFIKPO

A FAREWELL ADDRESS PRESENTED TO OUR DYNAMIC AND AMIABLE OUT-GOING PRINCIPAL – PASTOR DE-GAULLE OKO AZU BY THE CHAIARMAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL, AFIKPO ON THE OCCASION OF HIS SEND-FORTH PARTY ORGANIZED BY THE ASSOCIATION ON THE 7^TH OF JULY, 2013 ACADEMIC YEAR.

A journey which started thirty-five years ago doggedly has come to an end meritoriously on First July, 2013 in the form of retirement. The International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary Deluxe Encyclopedic Edition defines retirement as an art of withdrawing oneself from business or active service.

In this context, I see retirement as an act of disengagement or withdrawal from official service as a result of one reaching a statutory age or length of period set aside by the employer.

This retirement applies to every employee of any government; be it local, state or   federal. Retirement is not exactly the same as seclusion, loneliness, privacy or solitude. Although they are synonymous with retirement, but one should not indulge into such condition.

In retirement, one withdraws from association he has had with others. In seclusion, one shuts himself or herself off from the society of all except, intimate friends or attendants. In solitude, no other person is present with him or her under such condition. Then, privacy denotes freedom from the presence or observation of those not concerned or whom we do not wish to have concern in our affairs. From this analysis, we can see that the above synonyms to retirement can create hazard and social problem to man while retirement brings about honour, promotion, gratification and respect as senior citizen.

Some people see retirement as problem while some see it as promotion. John Mason in his book WHY ASK WHY sees problems as the price of progress, that obstacles of life are intended, to make man better not bitter. Unequivocally, so is it in the case of our amiable, dynamic and pragmatic principle. His, is not a problem but a promotion into full time service to the Almighty God.

HIS WORKING EXPERIENCE IN THE SCHOOL

Our loving out-going principal, Pastor De-Gaulle Oko Azu was posted to Government Secondary School, Afikpo as the first principal of the Junior Secondary School, Afikpo between the year 2006 to 2008 under Universal Basic Education Board, Abakaliki. Because of dint, he was made the substantive principal of the senior secondary school, of this same school under State Education Board (SEB). This appointment started from 2008 to the present year, 2013 which marked the end of his academic service to the government of Ebonyi State. The two periods of headship in the school gave him a total of seven years of service to the school. He employed his wealth of knowledge in the administrative machinery of the school and made numerous achievements.

HIS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

Pastor De-Gaulle is a man of great potentials; a man of valour, wit, charismatic in nature; a man whose gentility is coupled with rascality; an amiable and dynamic leader who has concern for others. Our able principal toed the foot step of Napoleon Bounapart; a great leader and an army general who said:

                Never forget that we should always think

                of others, work for others, lead and

                govern them for their own good – Self

                sacrifice is the foundation of all true

nobility of character.

The above citation has summarized the leadership qualities of our principal. Good and correct decisions gave him an added advantage towards an exciting and productive life. He is a go-getter. No wonder he made some remarkable achievements.

HIS LAUDABLE ACHIEMENTS IN THE SCHOOL

His advent to the school is not without some laudable achievements. Most remarkable of these achievements is the stamping out of cultism and indiscipline which where common at his arrival. He replaced this and inculcated high moral value to the students. Like what Paul the Apostle said, “This one thing I do ... I press towards the mark”. What you set your heart on will determine how you will spend your life. This also made the principal eliminate completely, examination malpractice among the students so that they will have focus and meaningful future in their lives.

More importantly, it was during his tenure that two students were given scholarship by the Old Boys. The beneficiaries of the scholarship are Joseph Irem now ex-student and Ali Linus, JSS one student.

In the field of sports, the school won laurels in Match Past during the last year’s Independent Celebration; both at the state and local government levels. Recently, the school took Second position in the debate at local government level of Governor Elechi’s Debate with laurel.

PRESENTATION OF GIFT

A man asked Dr. Carl Menninger, “What would you advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Most people expected him to reply, “Consult a Psychiatrist”. To their astonishment he replied, “Look up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need and do something to help that person”. “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care”. Peter Marshall also declares that, “the measure of life is not in its duration but, in its donation.

With the above marxism, the whole staff of Government Secondary School, Afikpo Welfare Association hereby present to you our brother, uncle, father and amiable principal pa excellent, a gift of Deep- Freezer.

May the Almighty God, the father, the son and the Holy Spirit be with you now and always in Jesus most wonderful name. Amen!

To you my fellow staff in service and members of the welfare association, I thank you immensely for your unflinching support to the success of this send-forth party. The sacrifices and subscriptions made by you shall receive bountiful blessing from God. As the principal goes home with his own gift so shall you go home with yours because what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. IF there have been differences anywhere, let love unite us. For united we stand and divided we fall. The future is still blissful and holds greater hopes in view.

Thanks and remain blessed. I wish you Good Health and Happy Holidays.