GCIOBA-Lagos Branch Chairman's Speech At The 2018 Annual Luncheon of the Branch

The Chairman, Special Guests, Old Boys, Young Girls, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our 2018 Annual Luncheon and Merit Award Ceremony. As you know this event is a special one for us as it gives us the opportunity to get together as a GCI family in a large number. Since taking over as Chairman of the Lagos Branch 3 months ago, the main focus of our Committee has been to try and bring back the numbers to the monthly meeting which takes place on the second Saturday of every months. It is from this increased numbers that we believe the public awareness to create the critical mass to deliver on the projects the Lagos Branch has been mandated to assist the school will be achieved.

During the course of this luncheon, we shall be asking for donations towards the restoration project for which we still have an outstanding contribution of #4 million. I pray that Old Boys will donate generously towards the school. For those guests that are new to this event, it serves as a platform for fund raising for the school. Presently, various branches, class sets, individuals and groups raise money for projects within the school, as well as helping in the employment and payment of teachers. We would appreciate your generous donations when it comes up during the course of the event. As you know, a lot needs to be done to get the school back to what we used to know.

We also take this opportunity to appeal to all the old Boys resident in Lagos that belong to the Lagos chapter to come for the monthly meetings. The turnout in recent times has been encouraging. When the annual luncheon takes place, we get numbers upwards of 300 persons. This means that the Old Boys are here, it just needs a little bit of prompting to get them to attend monthly meetings. If you are not on any of the social platforms especially WhatsApp, kindly let us have your contact details today. We on our part will continue to send highlights of the meetings immediately afterwards to ensure Old Boys are kept up to date with the happenings in the branch and Nationally.

Today, most especially, we are here to enjoy ourselves with our respective spouses, guests and former class and school mates. The entertainment we have today includes music, a raffle with exciting prizes, not forgetting the sumptuous lunch. Before that we will kick off with a thought provoking Lecture. Please sit back and enjoy yourselves.

I thank you all for coming and hope you have a wonderful evening with old friends.

Edward Akerele, 1971.
Chairman, Lagos Branch.

GCIOBA-Lagos Branch Chairman’s Speech At The 2018 Annual Luncheon Of The Branch Held On 17th June, 2018 At The City Hall, Catholic Mission Street, VI, Lagos.