MY GREAT PRINCIPAL Congratulations is like success,It is never belated nor superfluous for someone you love to wish one. Therefore the happy birthday wish to my premier and foremost principal, Mr J.A. Ofune is continual and in continuity. It is never a ploy to claim monopoly of gratitude nor out of sycophancy rather out of nostalgic reminder of the endless census and lists of tutorial selflessnes, excellences and niches the he has has carved for himself. He is a supposed swooper and scooper of all possible laurels and/or decorations that befit any historic and reputable persons in that noble profession, cartigory and status of principal retirees! In the annals of history of pioneering the rare selfless nurturing of Ujemen Secondary School to its highest academic and moral apogee at that time in question, the iconic academic luminary has left an enviable and novel foot print in the sand of perpetual historical reference that will be near impossible or hard to be rivaled nor obliterated. There will be none of Ofunes true apostles who would speak or write about him that will not be guilty of verbosity except ungrateful beneficiaries of this great benefactor of our time! One would only want to be laconic about the listless accolades on the tutorial luminary and academic scientist cos if a book is written about J.A. Ofune, the novel will surely be unputdownable to interested readers! So many things to remember about my principal. His intelligent choice of a motto of Knowledge and Selfless Service for USS was his first handwriting of the harbinger of his mission of academic revolution in the host community! He introduced us to reading of daily newspapers especially on how to get a meaning from captions. For instance, the first newspaper he brought to the assembly ground had a major headline of A Boy Daggers Dad. Imagine a man, apart from his major career in geography, also taught us agric, Econs, Literature etc especially that of the battle of the cow shed in Animal farm by George Orwell which he described as a satire. I was so thrilled by his comment on my first year promotional exams results whre he simply stated-- Good result. Keep the flag flying. This was what I equally commented on one of my brilliant students result during my short spell as a class room teacher in Lagos. My further studies have persistently me to appreciate Ofunes contributions to my academic formative years! Every bit of my expressions to date is and will be attributable to him so much so that my classmates do wondered the type of secondary schooI I went even at my post graduate level. His notable quotations out of many. Were mainly from John ploymer amongst which include: 1.He who will not when he may, when he may he will have nay. 2. As a tree stands, so it will fall, as it falls, so it will lie and as it lies, so it will decay 3. An act of practice is better than a theory. This he told us he saw in a sign board in Uromi when he was coming from Saint John Bosco in Ubiaja. 4.If u sow an. act u reap a habit. if u sow a habit u reap a character. if you sow a character you reap ur destiny. 5.Everything has medium, only fools go to the extreme 6. The proverbial snail which is killing itself and thinks it is quenching the fire 7. Today is the tomorrow we were taking about yesterday 8. Some are born great, some acquire greatness, some have greatness imposed in them. 9. Knowledge is inaleamable.i.e cannot be transferred. The above quotations and many more put him in academic pride of place and remains indelible in my heart. When I read the works of notable scholars on who great teachers are, my principal primarily comes to mind. According to Paulo Coelho, a teacher isnt someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows. The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.......William Authur Ward. The most befitting of my great principal is that of Robert Frost who says I am not a teacher, but an awakener . He saw our minds not as vessels to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. Here are we today! Tribute to Mr J.A. Ofune. Long life and keepi on celebrating and celebrations.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 04:26:02 +0000
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