A renowned educationist
and former Principal of Sancta Maria High School, Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Elder Isaac Okechukwu Izeogu was among eleven old students of the school  that were honoured by the Old Students Association recently.
The event which took place at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Delta Hotels Ltd, Old GRA, Port Harcourt was attended by a cream of dignitaries including Old Boys of the school from all walks of life.
Speaking as the chairman of the occasion, the former Principal, Elder Izeogu charged the old students to sustain the spirit of hard work as a means to self-fulfilment.
Izeogu said he was elated to see that the seeds he sowed had germinated and flourished to an enviable height, adding that, “the Joy of every teacher is to see his students succeed and attain greater heights”.
He said the height great men attained and kept was not by sudden flight but while others were sleeping, they kept toiling day and night”, and hinted that the award and honour given to him had added another feather to his dignified cap as a father.
The former Principal enjoined the old students to face their challenges of ageing with courage and equanimity as they will surely emerge victorious in spite of the viccisitias of life, stressing that, “cheer up my children, these clouds you are facing now will clear tomorrow. The clouds must obey the will of the master of ocean and the earth and say, The journey reside in the realm of attitude not in years”.
The chairman admonished them on the need to embrace one another with love, faith and hope, quoting Phillippians 4 Vs 8, “whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, if there be any praise, think on these things”.
Also speaking, the National President of the Old Boys Association, Elder Christian Ojas Ellah who traced the history of the association said the old boys had been working very hard and impacted on their Alma-mater complete set of computers, N300,000 scholarship award to ten students of the school for six years, donation of trophies for sports competition and administration of subject guidance and counselling to the students.
Other awardees at the occasion include a post war senior prefect of the college, Mr Francis Ifi, a High Court Judge, Justice Stanley Benson and one of the pioneer Judges of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Ikenacho Obuzor among others.

Nwachukwu Igwe