Over the weekend, the Old Boys Association of Government College Umuahia, Class of 1995, held its AGM/Homecoming, marking 25 years after graduation from the college. It was a gathering of friends turned brothers, coming together to celebrate the grace of God, which has kept us over the years.

The programme started on Friday, 30th October 2026, with a novelty match between the old boys and the management staff of the school, with students and members of the college community as spectators of the special football encounter. The idea behind the novelty match was to relive the memories of our days in school, when we had a formidable football team that won many trophies for the college.

The high point of the Homecoming was the Annual General Meeting of the Class, which took place on Saturday, 31st October 2026, at the school hall. The General Assembly of the Class reviewed the performance of the outgoing leadership and passed a vote of confidence on them after the financial report was presented by the Class Treasurer, Comrade Paul Kalu. This AGM marked the end of the tenure of the outgoing leadership and ushered in a new set of executives led by Engr. Onum Ogbu

In recognition of the positive impact the college had in shaping us and guiding us through our formative years, and with the understanding that sustaining the legacies of Rev. Robert Fisher is the duty of every Umuahian, the Class donated 30 units of double bunk beds to the college to furnish the newly reconstructed Fisher House.

This gesture was an act of love to the ground where we played as boys, learned and relearned through discipline and perseverance under the most difficult conditions of that time. We thought of a way to make life easier for the current students and teachers.

Against the belief that every teacher’s reward is in heaven, the Class extended its hand of love to our living teachers, nine of whom were invited as special guests, recognised and celebrated with a cash gift of one hundred thousand naira each (N100,000). These men and women are the chief architects of our sound and critical minds through their dedicated teaching. Their love, guidance and discipline, which we misunderstood then, contributed immensely to shaping us.

Some committed members of the Class, who go the extra mile to support the Association financially and with their time, were also appreciated with a cash gift of one hundred thousand naira each.

Other members of the Class who were singled out for special awards in recognition of their inspiring and sacrificial service, as well as their immense contributions to the Association, included the Treasurer of the Association, Comrade Paul Kalu, and the Financial Secretary, Mr Peter Kalu. The pioneer President, Njoku Emma, and the immediate past President, Don Bishop Ihechi Anaba, as well as Ikota Wisdom, Nnorom Stanley, among others, were also recognised. A special posthumous award was presented in honour of our late colleague, Mr Ojumonu Tony.

We crowned the Homecoming with a thanksgiving service today at the college, presided over by one of us, who is now a minister of the gospel, Reverend Ehumadu. In his sermon, he charged the Class to continually appreciate and show gratitude to God for all He is and has done for us. The service afforded the Class a special moment to recount the goodness and blessings of God and demonstrate our gratitude unto Him.

We took time after the service to go round the campus, revisiting sites and corners that hold special memories for us. We attempted to recreate old pictures while also creating fresh ones.

In all, it was a memorable moment coming back to that familiar ground, sitting under the same roof that once provided us shelter and walking the same paths we once traversed in search of education. The laughter was surreal, and the memories came flooding back as soon as we came together. Forgotten stories of bravery, achievements and idiocy were revisited, this time with more clarity and understanding. The nicknames and aliases of our classmates were recalled, bringing back laughter and fond memories.

Our gratitude is beyond bounds for what God has done and is still making out of us: the thriving career paths, families, businesses and empires He is building out of us.

Like we always say in GCU, “May we continue to shine as one.”

Up Umuahia!

Comrade Paul Kalu
Treasurer GCUOBA95

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have warned of possible nationwide industrial action following unsuccessful talks with the Federal Government over workers’ demands.

The unions said their next steps would depend on the outcome of another meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, adding that their affiliates and state councils had been directed to prepare for possible action if the government failed to make meaningful progress.

The meeting, held at the Federal Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, addressed demands for a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and resolution of outstanding disputes involving health workers and other public servants.

In a joint statement signed by the NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, and the TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, organised labour said the government delegation lacked the mandate required to negotiate substantively on the issues.

“No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved,” the unions said, expressing disappointment with the outcome of the meeting.

According to the statement, the Minister of Labour requested an adjournment until October 27 to allow the government to prepare adequately and ensure that relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies attended the next session.

The unions said they remained open to dialogue but would not accept prolonged delays in addressing workers’ concerns.

“We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” the statement added.

Labour also urged its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to remain vigilant and begin preparations for possible nationwide action pending the outcome of the next meeting.

The unions, however, appealed to workers and members of the public to remain calm, expressing hope that the government would address their concerns at the rescheduled talks.

The dispute comes amid continuing concerns over rising living costs, fuel prices, workers’ purchasing power and the implementation of wage-related agreements following recent economic reforms.

Nigeria’s minimum wage was increased from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 under the National Minimum Wage Act, 2024, following negotiations involving the Federal Government, organised labour and other stakeholders.

The unions’ renewed call for wage renegotiation reflects their demand for further discussions on pay and the economic pressures facing workers.

Organised labour is also seeking the implementation of agreed tax relief measures and the resolution of outstanding disputes involving the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council.

The issues raised by the JPSNC include peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances, while the JOHESU dispute concerns outstanding terms of settlement affecting health-sector workers.

The NLC and TUC said they would attend the next meeting in the hope of securing progress, with any decision on industrial action to be taken by their respective organs if the talks fail to produce meaningful results.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released a proposed nationwide campaign rally schedule covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the 2027 general elections, but Abia State is notably absent from the list of locations where President Bola Tinubu is expected to make personal appearances.

The campaign is billed to begin in Kaduna on October 24, 2026, and end with a grand rally in Lagos on January 9, 2027. While rallies are planned across the country’s six geopolitical zones, the party has identified only 12 strategic locations for the president’s direct participation.

The 12 proposed venues and dates are:

1. Kaduna, Kaduna State — October 24, 2026 (Saturday)
2. Port Harcourt, Rivers State — November 7, 2026 (Saturday)
3. Jos, Plateau State — November 14, 2026 (Saturday)
4. Ibadan, Oyo State — November 21, 2026 (Saturday)
5. Maiduguri, Borno State — November 25, 2026 (Wednesday)
6. Enugu, Enugu State — November 28, 2026 (Saturday)
7. Bauchi, Bauchi State — November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
8. Sokoto, Sokoto State — December 4, 2026 (Friday)
9. Asaba, Delta State — December 12, 2026 (Saturday)
10. Kano, Kano State — December 17, 2026 (Thursday)
11. Yola, Adamawa State — January 4, 2027 (Monday)
12. Lagos, Lagos State — January 9, 2027 (Saturday)

In the South-East, only Enugu made the list, leaving Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo without a scheduled presidential appearance under the current proposal.