GSS Garki Set 94 marks 30th reunion with devotion to promoting patriotism

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

Former students of Government Secondary School (GSS) Garki set of 1994 marked their 30th- year reunion with devotion to building patriotic leaders for tomorrow.
Also, at their 30th reunion celebration held at the weekend, in Abuja they observed a minute silence to honour their departed colleagues, and award presentations to some deserving living fellows, in recognition of their contributions to the society.
President, GSS Garki Set of 1994 Forum, Mr. Festus Uduebor, noted that its theme: Building Patriotic Leaders for Tomorrow, was apt in the wake of the prevailing realities of Nigeria as a country.
Uduebor said to help build patriotism in the young ones, the Forum, as group of educated people, will continue talking to them and offering impactful interventions from time to time.
He added that they will keep letting the youth know that whatever they do, they must be focused, commited and determined to achieve their goals, so as to be able to contribute positively to the society.
“We gave a bit of some scholarships to some students of the school where we came from, because the school made us what we are today.
“We only gave them a token, to appreciate some of the students by giving them scholarships”, he stated.
According to him, “Patriotism is all about contentment, because it is everything as it takes you to a lot of places in life. Once you are contented with what you have, you don’t have to steal or do anything to get rich quickly.
“The truth is there is no country like Nigeria, as we have everything we need, as God has blessed us. It is just that a few cabals are holding the country to ransom which is going to be in a very short time, and I’m sure everything will be alright.
“If others do not build their country, you won’t want to go there to live. So we should also help to build our country just like other people helped built their own countries.”
Earlier, the Planning Committee’s Chairman, Dr. Olumuji Peter, in his welcome remarks, opined that believing in one’s nation is a must, saying that Nigerians have no choice than to believe in their country.
He also charged Nigerians especially the youth to become resilient, dedicated and lovers of their nation.
He added that older people should encourage the younger generation to always focus on imbibing and promoting patriotism, as they must be patriotic at every point in time, in order to have a sustainable national development.
In his words: “As our own generation is passing away, we have a younger generation that is taking over from us, and that is the generation that we are talking about.
“This Nigeria is still the only nation that you can go as a citizen, and you are free to express yourself.
“The word of caution to us is that we must be a people that will encourage the younger generation to focus on imbibing and promoting patriotism. As they must be patriotic at every point in time.
Let us not speak ill of our nation, because there is no nation that doesn’t have their our own troubled waters.
“This platform is one that will outshine generations to come, but I want to state clearly is that we must become resilient, dedicated and lovers of our nation.
“We must continually believe in the present administration, with the slogan ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is doing a lot of things.
“Most of us schooled in Abuja, we can see the transformation in the FCT. This shows that the administration is working well. So if you want the change that you are dreaming of, it starts with you.”