Reflections as Federal Government College Benin Celebrates Golden Jubilee Anniversary

By Theodora Adegbie | Posted October 10, 2023

… Celebrating 50 Years of excellence from October 15, 1973 to 2023

Reflecting on our journey as Pioneer Students as I worked on this commemorative magazine by digitizing our first school magazine – the Coral Beads, I am filled with utmost indescribable, unspeakable gratitude and in a funny way, nostalgia.

This 50th anniversary is not just a milestone but a celebration of lives- teachers and students who came from and are also, now living in every part of the globe.

It is with great joy and pride that we look back on our journey as the pioneer students as we celebrate the golden jubilee of our beloved school – the great ‘Fedgocol’ Benin City.

We were the ones, in the course of pioneering, who braved the unknown, living in the Ugbowo forest miles, after the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on the outskirts of the city having moved from our rented temporary site at the Idia College, Benin City.

It seems like only yesterday that we all arrived on that 15th Oct day 1973 as wide-eyed kids filled with excitement of being part of something significant.

In those early days, our school was not just a building; it was a canvas that was being painted with the colours of growth, creativity, and excellence.

This continuous pursuit of excellence is evidenced in the collection of writings in the Coral Beads magazine, which we now seek to preserve, digitally.

We were the first ones to experience everything—the challenges, the triumphs, and the countless memories that would shape our lives forever.

Our teachers were not just educators; they were mentors, guiding us through uncharted territories and instilling in us a thirst for knowledge that is still working in us and which we intend to perpetuate in our legacy projects for the school.

Being a federal government college, its focus was on instilling a sense of unity in us from an early age for the building of our greatly diverse, multicultural multilingual & multi-religious country; our school became a beacon of hope for Nigeria, attracting students from all the then 12 states of the Federation with teachers from different parts of the world.

With the fantastic graces of our Principals & teachers, these children grew & developed friendships which have stood the test of time. We shared countless laughs, shed tears of frustration, and celebrated each other’s successes.

The Coral beads are the testament of the memories we created and the experiences we shared in our tight-knit community of love, kindness and never alone.

This commemorative 50th anniversary digitized edition of the Coral Beads will stand through time as a reminder of the strength of our bond and the invaluable support we received from one another.

Now we also turn to celebrate the collective efforts of the generations that came after us.

The torch we held has been passed down, and we are proud to see the incredible achievements and attainments of the students who followed in our footsteps. They are pushing boundaries and reaching new heights.

As we celebrate our golden jubilee, we remain strongly committed to the values that guided us as pioneer students—perseverance, courage, curiosity, and a commitment to excellence.

Our renewed vision for the school is IGNITE! IMPACT! LEGACY! – the driving force behind our projects to elevate and enhance the life chances of the students of FGGC BC globally in this wired, interconnected cyber world.

Finally, we honour the teachers who believed in us and nurtured our potential.

We acknowledge the administrators who worked tirelessly to create an environment conducive to growth and learning.

And most importantly, we celebrate our fellow students, who walked alongside us on this journey, leaving footprints that will forever be etched in the history of our school.

To the future generations of students who will continue to shape the legacy of our school, we say this: cherish the opportunities you have been given, embrace the challenges that come your way, and always remember the pioneers who came before you. You are the custodians of a rich heritage, and it is your responsibility to carry the torch forward, illuminating the path for those who will follow.

Let us raise our glasses to toast 50 years of excellence, let us celebrate the vision, dedication, and unwavering spirit that have made our school the extraordinary institution it is today.

As we toast, we humbly invite you to donate in cash and kind towards our anniversary legacy projects. Please see the next page for the proposed project and payment details.

Happy 50th anniversary to our beloved school, and to each pioneer.

Mrs Theodora Adegbie
(Nkechi Gwam) was a pioneer student (1973 – 1978).