By David Nsa
An ex Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Dorathy Eyamba-Idem, the wife of the younger brother to Governor Ben Ayade, Mrs. Elizabeth Ayade were last week awarded by the alumni of the Edgerley Memorial Girls Secondary School for their contributions to the development of the institution and humanity.
The awards presentation formed part of the week long activities to mark the institution’s 120th anniversary.
Also awarded was the head of missions, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Elder Akpabio Mkpang and dozens of past and current teachers.
The ex Chief Judge is said to have begun her short teaching career in 1975 as a teacher at Edgerley before she was appointed a magistrate. Edem was appointed the first female Chief Judge in 2000 and served for 12 years before her retirement in 2012.
And, the chairman of the planning committee, Mrs. Eme Affiah in her address said the institution has produced notable personalities and disclosed projects undertaken by the alumni to celebrate the school.
“Our dear school has come a long way, it has churned out many distinguished ladies in our community, locally, nationally and in the diaspora.
“These great ladies came together under the nudging of the present principal, Elder Iquo Oboku-Oku whose passion and drive was quite contagious, and we can boldly say that it triggered our interests and passion also and today we are here to witness not just the graduation of the 120th set but united, focused and driven to make sure our dear school does not become extinct.
“Edgerley has passed the test of time and there is no other like her. We are poised to take the school to the level expected of it.
“Based on this, we decided to undertake the renovation of the 12 classrooms administrative block to give the students a conducive environment which is in line with UNESCO’s declaration that a conducive environment influences learning. We also believe that this will give the school the needed facelift,” she said.
Affiah who disclosed that the renovation included fitting of aluminum windows and painting of the building, said the decision to award the teachers especially was to give them the zeal to do more as their reward is in heaven.
An awardee and lecturer in the Department of History and International Relations of the University of Calabar, Professor Stella Effah-Attoe told CrossRiverWatch in an interview that her excitement over the event knew no bounds.
“I feel very happy, very excited. Honestly I am very impressed, I am so happy. I don’t know how to describe it, you know being an old girl of Edgerley Memorial Girls Secondary and seeing this today, I am very grateful,” Effah-Attoe who is also a member of the National Board of Trustees of the People Democratic Party said.
Effah-Attoe who is also an alumnae commended the organisers for keeping track of old girls and bringing them back.
She said that: “I graduated since 1976, I never knew that they were tracking my movement and one day I got a call that I will be awarded. When I ask why they rolled out a number of things they had put into consideration and here I am today standing as an awardee. I am grateful to God and I return all Glory to Him.”
Other awardees who spoke commended the alumni for deciding to give back to the school which molded them and promised to uphold the standards of the school.