CKC 'Old Boys' Move to Save College
By Bayo Adeleke
Thisday
Six Nigerian students for world maths competition By Amaka Uzoh Until recently, I never fully understood the significance of these “See-Casey” meetings but I could always detect the air of importance the minute I walked in the meeting room. It seemed like no matter how many people attended, there was always a seat for them, and if not a seat, at least a place. Some dressed casually in sandals and polos shirts, while others were more formal, decked in suits and freshly shined shoes; nonetheless, they were all dressed for business. I could just tell. This Casey man must be great, I thought to myself. My father would greet his comrades with the notorious “slap-click-snap” handshake in his right hand and point us to vacant seats in some corner of the room with his free one. We would then head over there like the obedient children that we were. No, actually we trudged over there rather clumsily, bumping into no less than 6 sets of knees on the lodged route to our seats. We overheard him call out to a man, saying Primus, and to another he called Oga! And then to another he yelled “Chee-airmannn!” (I soon began to wonder why every man in attendance had one of those three strange names) It was only after greeting them that he sat down to hear this man called Casey. Of course “Casey” is the man with the microphone in the front of the room, right? That’s why we are at the meeting. We came to see Casey. We were veteran attendees so my sister and I knew exactly how to behave. We knew not to whisper too loudly, itch a summer’s worth of fresh mosquito bites too earnestly, move around too much, or even to breathe too audibly. The sense of distinction and sophistication was so thick that we could practically spread it on toast with a knife, and we wanted to have no part in disturbing it lest we be tsked at or have eyes narrowed at us. Inevitably, we would begin to get bored after about 12 or so minutes—that is until I would spy the brochure on a nearby table--the ever famous Amaka Gazette. Of course this immediately caught my attention. I could never get over how great it was for them to name brochure after ME. It never failed to make me feel like the guest of honor (It wasn’t until years later that I learned that the “Amaka Boys” was actually a nickname for students who were not in fact my namesake). My sister and I would revel over the glossy portraits within the pages and gasp in awe, when we saw a familiar face. “Whooooa!! How did Uncle Uche get into this magazine?” I once exclaimed. Until then, we had thought that only famous people had to honor of gracing magazine pages and if he was famous that means that we’re famous too? The magazine could captivate our attentions for only so long and eventually, we resorted to the most silent form of entertainment known to bored little children that didn’t involve pinching one another. I’ll call it “The Counting Game.” Hmmm how many people are wearing ties? One…two…three…four—four!! No five! Okay now, how many people are wearing glasses? Eighteen!! After a while, the game evolved into “How many people had bald spots?” and usually terminated by the time the question got to “How many people do you suppose are wearing caps to disguise their bald spots? Hmmm I think 9…yes 9 people are. Yes, it usually did. It wasn’t until I visited Before I continue, I must clear one thing up-- Christ the Built by Irish priests in the first half of the 20th century, its prestige and nobility has been maintained and sustained by a remarkably auspicious and committed group of alumni who hold annual meetings in an attempt perpetuate the legacy of the great school community. The Alumni Association is like a fraternity (that doesn’t exclude girls) in which the members are bonded by their high value for excellence and progress. Before I actually saw the school, I imagined it to be a magnificent castle-like boarding school out of Harry Potter where everyone mysteriously had the same penmanship, and either played soccer extraordinarily, was related to someone who did, or at least pretended that they were friends with someone like that. Naturally, I was looking forward to seeing the legendary school renowned for the amazing doctors, lawyers, diplomats, scientists, orators, engineers, and professors but more importantly outstanding thinkers that it had produced. It was like one huge fraternity that accepted girls. The members of the association are bonded by their values of excellence and most importantly progress. Ummm I know that this is not what most people like to hear about their beloved school but, I was not impressed. Basically, the school fell far short of my expectations. Really short. The buildings looked rundown and eerie in the sea of red sand, while the schoolyard was littered with what seemed to be hundreds of empty plastic “pure water” sachets. It just looked ordinary, and that upset me. It looked ordinary, lifeless, and pitiful. I know I’m not the only one in my family who was extremely disappointed. Me! Of all people, an American child who never even attended a single class there! I mean if I was so disappointed with it, I wonder how the alumni would feel when they see what the school had been reduced to. It’s so easy for the alumni in diaspora to reminisce about their fantastic adventures over there but it must be heartrending for them to go back and to see what has become of a place which they hold sacred. After seeing the school in One thing that has really touched me about the school is the stories that have been born behind the walls. These stories have an enchanting and mystical quality because they have the tendency to bring the place to life. Two things I’ve learned over the years is that Nigerian people love to talk, sometimes too loudly and sometimes too much. The upside about this cultural quality is that it aids in the facilitation of oral tradition. Often, these tales are didactic in nature. I know I’m not the only Igbo child who has seen their parents’ eyes glaze and a smile play upon their face when one of their parents begins to recount a tale after reprimanding them. “Don’t complain about having to walk to the bus stop in the snow. When I was your age, we had wake up at 3 AM to cross two great rivers to get to school. And in rainy season we didn’t even have rain-coat. We used banana leaves to protect our selves…there were crocodiles that would lurk waiting to eat us. I’m telling you many children lost their lives. Yes many, many…” Often, I want to interject something like “Hmmm Dad, I thought you said you woke up at 2 AM and crossed to the woods full of snakes?” Of course he’ll catch me quickly and say something like “Oh no, that was in primary 3 and 4. I’m talking about primary 1.” After hearing the same story a dozen times, it takes all my willpower to resist the urge to roll my eyes when they tell it over again, a little differently every time. All the stories I heard about Father Tagbo’s rules and how the family scraped to put up “school fees” and this great soccer team that went to Dublin, and so on and so on brings the place to life. I think it would be really cool if someone could compile these stories into a book of memoirs and give the book a catchy name. I suggest that the word “Amaka” should be somewhere in the title (mostly because it’s my name and I wouldn’t mind seeing my name somewhere on the New York Times Bestseller List) but also because “Amaka Boys” is a proud and inclusive nickname associated with the students that almost all regard with pride and warmth. I know that more than enough people would be willing to contribute tales and like I said earlier, Nigerian people and talking are essentially synonymous. Perhaps, profit from this book could go towards improving the school. Personally, I think it would be a prodigious endeavor. I know that there are thousands of tales hidden within the walls of Christ the How Johnny Skeese of CKC Made Honda Famous In By Oseloka Obaze The year was 1962. Post independent The civil servants were at their best in their white starched shirts and ties, which mimicked and mocked the departing British masters. Most were gradually insinuating themselves into the whiteman’s ways – GRA residences, siesta, membership of the sports clubs and drinking afternoon tea. That these were elitist colonialist tendencies did not seem to matter. Likewise, the London-trained Nigerian lawyers were also at their best, donning their white-frilled collared shirts and their wig and gowns- despite the stultifying heat on In the various markets Nigerian traders carried on with aplomb. This war true in Bodija Market, Igbanke Market, the Ogbete Market,, The Tejuoso Market, the Kano central Market and the Out and Ochanja markets in Onitsha. The educated, rich and eminent people in Mr Nkenobi, who owned the biggest Chemist in on new Aside from these men, most well do residents of The transportation landscape in Johnny Skeese was a teacher. He had been assigned to teach Biology and Micro-Biology to the CKC- Sixth formers. His arrival at the school, despite the distraction it caused, had been most welcomed by the Principal Reverend Father J. Fitzpatrick C.K.C, was by reputation a school inclined to the Arts, and therefore, produced civil servants, lawyers, and teachers, and people who went to Universities to read classics instead of the hard sciences. The rival school, D.M.G.S, in contrast was good in sciences and by that niche, was inclined to produce doctors, engineers and scientists. Johnny Skeese, a young bachelor joined the Principal and another Priest, both Irish, as the only expatriates on the CKC staff. Johnny Skeese had arrived in town with a shiny Tomato red machine a Honda 50, which was soon right dubbed one in Town – for it was the only Honda 50 in the metropolis. As he familiarized himself with the town, he soon became ubiquitous and well-known. The fact that he always wore khaki shorts and shirt, and that he taught at C.K.C, added to his legend. But his legendary had more to do with his daredevil speed and maneuvers on his bike while streaming around the well-maintained streets on Soon, it was realized that Johnny Skeese gave to C.K.C and edged that D.M.G.S. did not have. He was a local icon – a C.K.C. icon. To be young, hip and American in The longer Johnny Skeese stayed in Johnny Skeese taught “Mogambo” how to ride his new bike. Soon, “Mogambo” was riding in the same pack with Skeese and the expatriates and hobnobbing with them at the Sports Club. Having made their acquaintanceship, “Mogambo” had also cornered the business of selling provisions from his store directly to the expatriate community in On occasions, Johnny Skeese left town on long motorbike trips to places like By the time Johnny Skeese’s tour of duty was up he had left an indelible mark on Two decades after Johnny Skeese left P.S. – The true biking story of Johnny Skeese by his friend and fellow peace copper by Jack Finlay appears on page XX. It was written in 2003, and published on htp://www.friendsofnigeria.org Remembering The HONDA 50 By Jack Finlay (03) 61–64 (A member of the American Peace Corps Volunteers In Nigeria 1961-1964) I never had one. The Honda 50 came after our time as volunteers. But we are connected, somehow, I think—if you can believe the following story. When Johnny Skeese (03) 61–64 and I returned from a year in Following early accidents, we recall that Peace Corps Nigeria issued certain strict rules—one being that any volunteer caught riding his or her Honda 50 without a helmet would be sent home. Does anyone really know if any PCV was sent home for such an infraction? We do not, but we do know of one volunteer who had to use his Honda when there was no helmet on hand. As he told it, he went to the kitchen and obtained a metal pot which he placed over his head. He then drove the 15–20 km required of him at the time—in the hope that, in the event caught, his “effort” would be considered and leniency applied to this strict helmet rule. If the chap involved is “out there,” rest assured that at least this one of your stories is remembered. But our story is perhaps linked to the origin of the Honda 50—or so we have come to think. Back to the beginning. When we—i.e. Both At the end of the 1962 school year, Johnny came over from Just 13 kms south of We never made it to Postscript: They have maintained their contact and friendship over the years, Johnny being best man when Jack and Teresita married in ‘67 and Jack doing the honors when Johnny and Carolyn married in ’68. They manage to get together every couple of years. The Finlays, who have a grown daughter and son, now divide their retired years between the Source: http://www.friendsofnigeria.org
Founded in 1933 by the Roman Catholic Church, Christ the
No doubt the situations in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the country call for concerted efforts, if those schools are to regain their lost glories. After erecting a multi-purpose Hall worth N30 million, the Lagos State Branch of CKC's old boy's association could still not take its eyes away from the decaying facilities and sundry problems in the school. They have therefore slated next Friday, April 30, for the
launching of a N200 million endowment fund to rescue the "goose that had laid the golden eggs." The ceremony is scheduled to hold a the school's multi-purpose Hall in
Worried about the fall in standard, lack of moral and ethical values and the dampened morale of members of staff, Ekwunife retorted, " After the war and perhaps as one of the consequences of that war, government took the most unfortunate decision to take over schools from the missionaries." The take-over, according to him marked the beginning of a drastic fall in standards of all educational institutions in the country. He said the funds raised will be used for rehabilitation, provision of scholarship for brilliant students, as well as rendering help to the less privileged in the society. While advising government to provide enabling environment for the sectorr to thrive, he argued that government has no business in running schools. He challenged government to be sincere about the state of public schools and stop pretending that education is free.
According to him, private schools are doing better than public schools because students are paying and their teachers well remunerated as at when due. He expressed gratitude to the Anambra state government for identifying with what the old boys of CKC are doing and praised it for the return of schools to the missionaries. In a seperate interview, Chairman, Project Committee, Chief Emma Udedike said the school needs complete rehabilitation and that the old boys are committing time and energy to garner support to raise N200million to executive some of the projects they deem useful to the present and future generations of students of the school.
"We believe that education is the best legacy to bequeath to one's children and because of what the school had done for us we want posterity to judge us right," Udedike said. Recounting the good old days in the college, the chairman stressed that lack of discipline and decay in values account for the numerous vices in the society. "Even if you were one of the brilliant students then in CKC and failed in moral knowledge you had to repeat the class. If you failed again the following year you were dropped," he stated.
Udedike noted that government's effort is not sufficient to counter the decay in schools, due to other commitments. He therefore advised it to concentrate on setting standards to be met and then subsidise private individuals and organisations that are willing to commit their resources for better output. The old boys' association has also promised to improve the welfare of the teachers in the college, so they can be more committed to the students in their care. He enjoined the present crop of students to adhere strictly to the school's motto: 'Bonitas Disciplina Scientia' for their future development and that of the society.
THE PUNCH, Tuesday June 06, 2006
Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja
Six Nigerian secondary school students, including a female, are to represent the country at the 2006 International Mathematical Olympiad in
This is the first time since the inception of the competition in 1959 that
The Director General of the National Mathematical Centre,
The DG said the students would be sent to
He said the NMC and the Nigerian Turkish International College were working hard to ensure that a Nigerian participant emerged tops at the event
Ale said there was no doubt that students from the country had the potentials to spring surprises at the world event.
Four of the students, Uchendu Ndubuisi, Muazzam Idris, Segun Arivibi, Omole Oluwakayode, are students of NTIC,
Another, Ekwue Winner, is a student of Christ the
Seeing Casey: The CKC Experience As Narrated By the Daughter of An Alumnus
Following their PC service and a year at the Schweitzer Hospital in Gabon, Finlay and Skeese returned to the States where Jack started grad school and Johnny went to work for the Office of Economic Opportunity and later did grad work as part of a career in math and science high school teaching in Berea, KY where he still resides. Jack spent most of his career in international public health.