joshua
The 16th day of November, 2021 the quiet and serene community of Okenya Aji’Obaka Oti’ in Igalamela/Odolu LGA witnessed the presence of Nigeria Army and her sister agency Nigeria Navy and other prominent sons of Igala land and others who travelled from far and wide for good.
Major General J. A Ataguba as fondly called saw the innate need to impact positively on the land of his birth, his earthly connection with his Ancestors.
This he’s done severally from grading of the bad road linking to the community to sinking of boreholes on this Community.
Last year, he saw the need to renovate the not just dilapidated secondary school structure but bringing back to life a school and restoring the lost glory of the school that was once one of the best in Igala Kingdom. Government Secondary School (GSS) Okenya.
The School was established in the year 1979 September but saw total neglect from the part of the Government leading to total decay.
The General commenced the renovation process with some notable sons of the community. Due to the massive state of dilapidation, it needed support from outside.
Major General Ataguba James was able to facilitate a cementing of relationship between the Okenya Aji’Obaka Oti’ people with the top hierarchy of the Nigerian Army to intervene.
Gracefully the Nigeria Army led by the Chief of Army Staff apart from protecting and upholding the territorial integrity of this Nation brought succour to this school and today academic life is restored.
The commissioning and handover event witnessed the presence of the Executive Governor of Kogi State ably represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Dr Gabriel Ottah with the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education Mr Emmanuel Idenyi.
The Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen F Yahaya was represented by the Commander Command Army Records Lokoja Major Gen O W Ali. Also in attendance is the Maj General Kangye.
A friend and brother of Major General Ataguba in person of the former Commissioner for Works Kogi State, Engr Sadiq Abdulmumuni (FSNE) came with his own entourage Abdulmalik Aminu aka (Mally) and Jatto Danbello. Haruna onukaba.
Notable sons and daughters of the Community foremost amongst many are Chief Sunday Haruna Achor Ochalla Attah Igala, RTD Capt. Joseph Ugbane Achimugu, Mr Anibe Achimugu, Senior Route Commander Federal Road Safety and Kaduna State Road Safety Intelligence Officer Joseph Ataguba and many others including Barrister J.S Okutepa SAN Barr Prince Atadoga SAN and others too numerous to mention. Old students and staff of the School were in thier there in thier numbers. It was a roll call of who is who in the military and civil society.
The always quiet community for a very long time witnessed the bustling of city activities.
Other activities including free medical outreach to cater for the immideiate health needs of the people and massive distribution of educational materials to all students of the school.
It was a Win – Win situation for all.
Yours sincerely had a filled day with all this retinue of life impacting activities. 16th November, 2021 is truly a memorable day in the life of the people of this Community. Whatever you do, always remember to affect humanity and those around you. General James Alilu Ataguba has exemplified this attribute in full scale.
We pray for long life and God raising more Irokos for Okenya Aji’Obaka Oti’people.
By God for Humanity.
Amb Michael Achor Joshua
Son of the soil
