By Charles Nwagbara
Baring any unforeseen circumstances, all is set for the installation of Dr. Joseph Adonor Ohens, LLB, LLM, JSD, as the Global President of his alumni association, Annunciation Catholic College Irrua Old Boys Association (ACCIOBA). Although elections into the position and that of other executives will be held at the school’s premises in Irrua, Edo State on Friday March 28, 2025. Ohens is already sure to be installed president as his closest rival few weeks back, dropped from the race. Ohens and the new ACCIOBA exco will be inaugurated in a four-day event which will commence on Thursday March 27th and will be concluded on Sunday March 30th, 2025.
*ACCIOBA OVER THE YEARS
ACCIOBA founded 70 years ago, has become a powerful economic and social lobby group, developing their alma mater to the highest standard level of education in Nigeria and beyond. The old students of the college have ingrained the spirit of making the college the best academic excellence center in the 21st century in post-primary education in Nigeria. The Alumni have over the years, built a well-decorated, good road network within the school campus, they also built dormitories for students, health center facilities, a modern and standard library.
*WHAT OHENS IS BRINGING TO THE TABLE
Before now, Dr. Ohens has served in several committees of ACCIOBA including the very tedious ACC Rebuild Committee, which has been transforming the school through several projects. Ohens is optimistic that his tenure outside improving infrastructure, will create “standardization of learning and education in general in ACC so that the academic excellence of over the years would be surpassed.” Ohens has also promised using his vast network to bring more development to the college.
A versatile journalist, Dr. Joseph Ohens bagged his first degree in law from the Lagos State University. He also holds a Master of Law and Doctor of the Science of Law degrees from the esteemed University of California, Berkeley School of Law, United States of America. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and directly oversees his organization’s Compliance, Risk Management, Privacy, Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, Credentialing, and Peer Review programs, in California’s North Coast. Dr. Ohens serves as an adjunct professor of law, impacting knowledge in advanced legal writing and U.S. health systems and policy.
*WHY GOV. OKPEBHOLO IS ATTENDING
One of the high points of the events, will be the commissioning of the Academic Staff Quarters built by ACCIOBA, which will be performed by the Executive governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo on March 29th, 2025. The Governor is also expected to commission the school’s medical center as well as ACC’s Center for Entrepreneurship, among others.
*DETAILS OF HOW THE PROGRAM WILL GO
The four-day event will commence on March 27 to March 30, 2025 and will mark the Platinum Jubilee (70th Anniversary) of the school. AGM, Tour of Projects, Novelty Football Match, and Finals of Inter-house Football competition at the school campus in Irrua. The main event/swearing-in will take place on Saturday, March 29. There will hold a Party and Awards Night @ Gold Royale Event Center, Ekpoma. The event will be rounded off on Sunday, March 30 with a Thanksgiving Mass.
*…AS NIJ 91/92 ALUMNI PLAN INVASION OF IRRUA
To honor their erstwhile classmate, the 91/92 alumni set of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Ogba, Lagos, have reportedly made arrangements to be present at the event. Insiders say the NIJ 91/92 alumni also plan to use the event as a reunion of sorts.
More significant yet is that Professor Dayo Duyile, former Director of Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos, (who groomed Ohens and his alumni mates of 91/92 set) and who now functions as Associate Professor of Journalism at Wesley University will join the celebration team to Irrua to witness the inauguration of Dr. Ohens Joseph as ACCIOBA Global President.
