The Amaka Gazette A Journal of CKC-AAA Inc. Eleventh Convention Edition, July 2007 1997 10 2007 A DECADE OF SERVICE CKC-AAA What We Stand For CKC-AAA At Work My Whises For You The Voices of Those Who Made It All Happen CKC 2007 Sand Prints And Marble Etchings The Clarion Call: For The Love of Amaka Decisions of 2006 San Francisco, CA Convention plus CKC Tit-Bits and Information on C.K.C. ONITSHA, AAA, Inc. 11Th Annual Convention & Fundraising Banquet 20-22 July 2007, Boston, MA Souvenir: All Proceeds Will be Used for the Improvement of C.K.C. Onitsha Amaka Boys, Please Keep Up the Good Work! FLOREAT CEE KAY CEE! The Amaka Gazette: A Journal of CKC-AAA, Inc. July 2007 2 The Amaka Gazette Periodical Postage paid in Snellville, Georgia Volume 8 No. 1 Table of Contents 5 The Amaka Gazette is published annually by the Christ The King A Decade of Service College Onitsha Alumni Association In America. 7 P. O. Box 1433, Welcome Message By Host Chapter Snellville, GA 30078 8 Visit our website for the more information: From The Presidency http://www.ckconitsha.net 9 Questions and comments should CKC-AAA What We Stand For be directed to: Mr. Oseloka Obaze at 10 (908) 337-2766 Emails: [email protected], CKC-AAA At Work [email protected], or 11 [email protected] 2007 Convention Provisional Agenda Christ the King College Onitsha, Nigeria is an all boy’s high 12-13 school. Its mission is to Alumni/Guest Keynote Speakers’ Profile facilitate, nurture, and instill in youths a thirst for goodness, 18 discipline and knowledge based on catholic moral principles, in Honor Roll /Exceptional Service Award Recipients preparation for life’s journey to 23 create a better world. Irish missionaries founded TAG Humor Christ the King College Onitsha, Nigeria in 1933, It is an 24 academic institution dedicated My Wishes for You to intellectual and personal growth of male youths within the 28-29 context of well-rounded liberal arts education in a Catholic The Voices of Those Who Made It All Happen environment. It actively 31 maintains its relationship with the Catholic Church despite The Basics of Good Health being appropriated by the Anambra State Government in 33 1973. The College provides CKC 2007 Sand Prints And Marble Etching equal educational opportunity for all qualified students without 37 regard to race, religion, creed, color, age, and physical The Clarion Call: For the Love of Amaka disability, national or ethnic origin. 41 2006 CKC-AAA San Francisco Convention Decisions The Principal is: Mr. Nzemeka E. Olisah 49-50 P. O. Box 1742 Onitsha, Nigeria For the Record: Steven Puthuff’s 2006 Address Tel (+ 234-46) 211114 51 (+ 234) 0803-706-7545 Email: [email protected] Tribute To Prof. Mike Mbabuike Cover Concept: 50 Mr. Oseloka Obaze Poetry: Amaka At 75 Photo Credits: 66 Mr. Oseloka Obaze Selonnes Consult 2007 Convention Banquet Program The Amaka Gazette: A Journal of CKC-AAA, Inc. July 2007 3 CKC-AAA National Executives Welcome to Prof. Ntohm Izuchi, President, Mr. Ben Ehirim, Vice-President C.K.C. Onitsha, AAA Mr. Oseloka Obaze, Secretary, 2007 Annual Convention Mr. Eugene Agbimson, CPA, Financial Secretary Mr. Larry Ozoh, Treasurer Dinner/Fundraising Banquet Dr. Francis Asokwu Sea, Pub. Relations Officer Boston, MA Mr. Patrick Ejike, Agent Rev. Fr. Paul Ugo Arinze, Chaplain Dr. Kingsley Nwosu, Webmaster Mr. Fidelis Atuegbu, Ex-Officio Association’s Mailing Address C.K.C. Onitsha AAA, Inc. P. O. Box 1433, Snellville, GA 30078 Web Site Address: http://www.ckconitsha.net Chapter President: Mr. Charles Belonwu 2007 Boston Convention LOC Members LOC Co-Chair: Charles Belonwu 2007 Boston, MA Convention Coordination: Nnamdi Onubuogu Mission Statement Treasury & Finance: Chuba Boniface Chibueze Member-At-Large: NT Izuchi ONE DECADE OF SERVICE Member-At-Large: Eke Okeke Member-At-Large: Eugene Owunaka “We the members of Christ the King College (C.K.C.) Onitsha, Member-At-Large: IG Nwanaekezie Alumni Association in America (CKC-AAA), gathered on the Member-At-Large: Emeka Nwokeji occasion marking the 10th Anniversary of the founding of our Member-At-Large: Lawrence Akanegbu association and our 11th Annual Convention in Boston, MA, on 20- 22 July 2007, observes this anniversary as a critical benchmark in CKC-AAA, 2007 Boston Convention LOC our collective endeavors. We are cognizant that our “One Decade CKC-AAA, Inc. (New England) of Service” to our Alma Mater, is hardly a lifetime of service, but C/o Charles Belonwu, President, a good measure of our commitment, diligence, aspirations, loyalty 14 Hall Street and overall resolve to uplift our Alma Mater. We are even more Randolph, MA 02368 mindful, that our humble accomplishments have been a product of a few “steady hands”. Consequently, we remain aware that the mission and challenge to revitalize our Alma Mater, is essentially an unfinished business and a process rather than a singular event. The Amaka Gazette Editorial Team We look forward to the next decade of service by CKC-AAA and call on those who remain outside the family to come on board and Mr. Oseloka Obaze - Editorial/Production contribute their humble quota.” Mr. Charles Belonwu - Editorial/Advertisements Mr. Nnamdi Onubuogu - Member-At-Large ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. NT Izuchi - Member-At-Large Mr. Fidelis Atuegbu - Member-At-Large DILIGENT SERVICE Mr. Emeka Nwokeji - Member-At-Large Mr. Francis Asokwu Sea - Member-At-Large Mr. Chris Ayika - Member-At-Large A LONG CKC TRADITION! Dr. Immanuel Uketui - Member-At-Large The Amaka Gazette: A Journal of CKC-AAA, Inc. July 2007 4 TAG Editorial One Decade of Service Time sure flies! Yes, another year has come around for our Association. But this year is special. It is a watershed and benchmark year as we hit the decade milestone, which began with our Association‘s first convention, held in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, 22 November 1997. As is now customary, let me begin by welcoming the readers on behalf of the editorial board, to The Amaka Gazette (TAG); the journal of Christ the King College Onitsha Alumni Association In America (CKC-AAA). This issue, our Volume 8 retains the traditional form and templates, which we have showcased ever since the inception of this journal. The founding of a CKC-AAA journal was one of the earliest decisions of the Association in 1997. That decision came to fruition with the transformation of the convention brochure into a full-fledged journal, The Amaka Gazette – which was one of the several novelties during our 2000 Convention in Chicago. Ever since, we have not looked back. It is perhaps worth stating a seemingly obvious point; but one that should be underscored nonetheless. The goal of this journal is to inform. But its value as a medium goes well beyond the informational; for indeed, it is historical and evidentiary in its scope, of what we are about and what we strive to do. When this Association met for the first time a decade ago, that meeting was sponsored, organized, and financed by Christ the King College Onitsha alumni in Atlanta and environs, and would ultimately lead to the formation our esteemed association. That fateful meeting came after several false starts. As the Chinese proverb says; surely our journey of a thousand miles and years, started with those crucial first steps and the vision of our founding colleagues. As much as we may have accomplished, and as much as we may have individually and collectively contributed, it is incumbent on us to acknowledge herein for posterity, those C.K.C. Onitsha Old Boys who graced our first convention a decade ago, and in so doing, sowed the seed and laid the foundation of this Association. They include, Chuks Odikpo, Vincent Onyeabuchi, Nonso Emecheta, Larry Ozoh, Chuma Onyejekwe, Patrick Ejike, Chris Ayika, Fidelis Atuegbu, Chief EPO Ofodile, Jerome Anaeki, Chris Muomah Jr., Vincent Nibo, Sam Okafor, Francis Asokwu Sea, Arthur Egbunam, Eddy Egbuna, Emecheta, Patrick Mbajekwe, Michael Emele, Bruce Okekpe and Chuma Onyejekwe. To these gentlemen we owe a debt of gratitude! The 2007 Boston Convention marks a return of sorts. We return to Boston for the second time since 2001. Secondly, we return to the that time and moment in the year, when we are inevitably forced to candidly reassess and reflect on what our association, CKC-AAA accomplished since its founding in 1997, as well as where we wish to go. In this particular instance, while we take pride in having delivered one decade of service, we must ask ourselves if indeed we have done enough. Have we truly accomplished everything that is within our grasp and capabilities? I think not! This year‘s convention theme “one decade of service” is meant to agitate our minds, while celebrating our humble accomplishments. It is also meant to challenge us. More importantly, without being a kill joy it is aimed at asking those who have not contributed their fair toward the rebuilding of our alma mater, in time, ideas, money, prayers and service to rethink their stance. Perhaps the next decade belongs to them. Our collective concerns aside, it needs to be said that we are not averse to tooting our horns. Hence we feel inclined to share with our readers, supporters and fellow alumni our role and accomplishments. On page 10 of this journal, a write-up titled, “A Glimpse of CKC-AAA At Work”, documents clearly for posterity tasks, and projects undertaken and financed by this association annually since year 2000. We have also added on page 27 the voices, views and vision of those alumni who made it all happen. As I note frequently in every edition, ―the greatest of the challenge we have faced, is not as one would think, the difficulties associated with doing business and executing projects in far away Nigeria, which is no mean task.