L-R: Engr. Achema Cherry Alewu, Vice Chairman, Dekina Old Boys Association (DOBA); Capt.Solomon Musa Ochidi (Rtd), Chairman, DOBA; Pastor Simon Roy Ilabija Grand Patron of Association, and Samuel Momoh, General Secretary, DOBA, during the maiden meeting of DOBA, Lagos branch, held in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday.
The alumni of the prestigious, Government Secondary School Dekina, (GSSD), one of the Northern Nigeria’s oldest educational institutions, gathered last Thursday, June 12, at the centre of excellence, to relive decades of experiences gathered while they were students in the school, with a renewed determination to reposition the school to produce more human resources for the development of the country.
The well attended thanksgiving reunion brought together some people that passed out since 1968 up to the 90s and 2000s, who are accomplished professionals in various fields of human endeavours.
To accomplish the onerous tasks of taking both the school and Nigeria to greater heights, new executive members were elected to steer the ship of the association.
The maiden reunion in Lagos, concided with the celebration of 26 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria and the foundational role of Western education in national development.
Navy Capt. Solomon Musa Ochidi (Rtd), Chairman of DOBA,Lagos Chapter, in both his welcome and acceptance spèeches said,
“I am Navy Captain Solomon Musa Ochidi Rtd. I am of the 1984 class of GSS Dekina, and the Interim Chairman of this noble Union, DOBA Lagos Area. I thank God for this glorious day that has brought to reality the dreams of a few elders that gathered at the house of our Grand Dobite in January this year. I welcome you all to this grand occasion of the First General Assembly of DOBA Lagos Area. I am overwhelmed by the enormous support from the BoT and the entire members of DOBA Worldwide for the Lagos Chapter of DOBA, popularly known as DOBA Lagos Area.
The main purpose of this first assembly is to elect the substantive executive that will take over the affairs of the Union with full executive powers from today.”
In his acceptance speech, after the election, captain Ochidi said, “GSSD’s symbol is the Burning Candle, which represents education, enlightenment, and democratic values. Our gathering today is both for celebration and a call to strengthen the democratic and developmental journey of Nigeria. We have been given tasks by our elders and we cannot afford to fail them. My team and I will work to ensure the chapter becomes the neuclus for the National body in the task of taking the school ro greater heights. We will work with the National body, the school management and all spirited individuals and bodies to ensure that the school reclaims its lost glory. We are committed to the deepening of democracy. We, as a country, will soon be out of hardship and this shall happen in our own time.”
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In his remarks, the grand patron of DOBA, Lagos Chapter, Senior Simon Ilabija Okpanachi, 1968 set and Headboy of the school expressed appreciation for the orderly conduct of the elections, adding, “Iam particularly happy and grateful to God that the meeting that took place in my house in January has grown to become a big association with this impressive turnout.”
Okpanachi expressed confidence in the Exco, saying, ” with the sterling performance of some of them from the interim period, I have confidence in the Chairman and his team to deliver.”
Founded in 1932 as a senior primary school, GSS Dekina transitioned to a full secondary school at Nigeria’s independence in 1960, enrolling its first set of students that same year.
The institution’s history mirrors the evolution of modern education in Nigeria, particularly across the North-Central geopolitical zone—a region stretching from Kaduna and Niger to Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Nassarawa, and Plateau States.
The members were unanimous in their submissions that the inauguration of DOBA Lagos chapter is a symbolic gesture of honouring Lagos’s role in nurturing early educational institutions, from King’s College to Federal Government Colleges, and other legacy schools.
They expressed appreciation to the founding fathers and the government, then, noting that the institution will continue to uphold its core values and as well further the course of lighting and maitaining the candle that led Nigerians, especially in the north, toward education, leadership, and national development.