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Valedictory Address Presented In Honour Of Our Outgone Principal, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Jerry Okeke, This Day 15th March, 2015.
A VALEDICTORY ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE STAFF AND STUDENTS OF TANSI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE AWKA, IN HONOUR OF OUR OUTGONE PRINCIPAL, VERY REV. FR. DR. JERRY OKEKE, THIS DAY 15TH MARCH, 2015.
Rev and dear Fathers of our great college,
Our Guest of honour, Very Rev.Fr Dr. Jerry Okeke,
My cherished Tutorial and Non-Tutorial staff and students,
The PTA Chairman and the Executives,
My Beloved Parents,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Tansi International College Awka, for the past five months and two weeks, witnessed the exit of her longest serving principal, Very Rev. Fr Dr. Jerry Okeke. Following the traditional practice of annual priestly allocation in September last year in the catholic diocese of Awka, Fr Jerry was transferred to St. Charles parish, Achina as the parish priest. After having served the church for eight years in the college and left office as the immediate past principal, it is only fitting that we have gathered here today to celebrate and appreciate him. I therefore on behalf of the college staff and students, welcome you one and all to this day’s ceremony. You are all welcome to the college, the right citadel for learning and discipline.
Very Rev Fr. Dr. Jerry Okeke assumed office as the fourth principal of the college on September 28th 2006 following his appointment by late Most Rev. Simon Okafor, the then Catholic bishop of Awka diocese. His appointment was a welcome development especially at a time when the church needed urgent intervention in the college. While in the saddle, Fr Jerry was confronted with so many challenges that were so critical to the continued progress and development of the college. Leaving no stone unturned, he sought to restore the glories of the college as well as the confidence that people reposed on the church for embarking on this academic and all round human formation project. By so doing, Fr. Jerry demonstrated his vivid understanding of the reason for sending him to the college. Consequently, the vision of the founding fathers of the church for the college was strengthened.
It is interesting to note that Fr. Jerry responded very quickly to the popular demand then, that the structures in the school be painted for a better aesthetic outlook of the college. We are still enjoying the beauty of the uniform outlook of the compound till date. We celebrate him today for that good job. So we thank God and we thank Fr. Jerry.
While in office, Fr Jerry confronted headlong, the threatening problem of accommodation which came on the heels of the ever increasing number of the college students. It is worthy of note and to his credit too, that he started from the scratch and completed another gigantic twin vatican hostel for the students without any recourse to intervention from any financial institution. This is another eloquent testimony that proves Fr Jerry a prudent and shrewd manager of finances. We thank God and we thank Fr. Jerry.
As a one time cathedral administrator under late Archbishop Albert Kanenechukwu Obiefuna, and experienced parish priest of very notable parishes in Awka diocese, Fr. Jerry proved himself a seasoned administrator with
combined pastoral experiences he has gathered over the years in repositioning and managing our great college for the past eight years. No wonder, those who encountered him both in the office and elsewhere, have always borne testimonies of the real father in him. He has the understanding disposition and listening ear towards human travails and equally intervenes accordingly.
Perhaps, the college consistent academic excellence and commendable moral and disciplinary records of the college could not have been what it is today if Fr. Jerry had paid lip service to discipline which is the hallmark of our training here. Though he was so fatherly and very humane in responding to human predicaments, Fr. Jerry never compromised in matters related to discipline. Consequently, all his decisions were never ill informed nor intended to malign anybody.
Another very sensitive and critical area in which Fr. Jerry proved himself a great and fearless man is in the area of erosion management and control in the college. He not only asphalted the main avenues in the college, but also intervened in the erosion problem which has continued to pose serious threat especially to our field. Today, we now enjoy the college main avenues and surface level field though we still have plans to improve on it to meet up with the current FIFA approved standard field. We thank Fr Jerry.
Anybody who knows very well, the history of the college over fifteen years ago will affirm that access road to this school has been a serious problem and great source of worry to everyone since the college was established. The situation remained the same even when my predecessor came on board. Today, the story is entirely a different ball game as we now have government approved Tansi College Avenue which is currently under construction by the present administration. Fr. Jerry, we thank you for your intervention and assistance in this respect. One can only imagine what you must have gone through in seeking for and actually getting the approval of the road by the government. We thank God and we thank Fr. Jerry whom we celebrate today.
We can really go on to enumerate the handsome services rendered by Fr. Jerry. We have only mentioned some of these very glaring and concrete achievements to place on record that we not only acknowledge them, we are equally deeply satisfied by them. But surely, the college family misses his fatherly love and cares especially towards his staff and the entire students, both present and past. Our deep sense of gratitude to Fr. Jerry can only be concretely expressed with our widow’s mite. Therefore, we present to him with a car gift of Toyota Highlander to assist him in his pastoral assignment.
Thank you all for your time and presence.
God bless you all.
……………………………,
Rev. Fr. Paul Onyebuchi II.
(Principal)
