82 Set of HSU marks an eventful end of year party.
3 min read
On second day of January 2024, a group of old boys from High School Umuaka who graduated in the year 1982 gathered to mark her annual get-together and triumphant home coming and cross over event to the New Year. The group which is properly addressed as 82 Set of High School Umuaka, from what Umuaka Times gathered, embarked on intensive planning and execution of the event with the aim of making it better than the one held last year. The ushers and other members who provided services to guests during the event had their 82 Set badges with their names written boldly on the special identification cards they all wore.
By the time Umuaka Times, the official newspaper of the event arrived at the venue in Amaeze in Amurie Omanze of Isu LGA Imo State, the reporters from the newspaper mistook the venue of the event for a high profile hotel. “So there is such a beautiful hotel here in Amurie?” One of the reporters asked to no one in particular.
After clearing with the security details at the gate, the reporters were officially ushered into the large and lavishly “furnished” compound. Few minutes later, they learnt that the venue of the event was not a hotel but the country home of one of the members of the 82 Set of High School Umuaka by name, High Chief Edison Anugo, the Ugwumba 1 of Amurie Omanze.
As the group wanted it, all members were told to attend the event with their families. Some did while others could not, due to some diverse reasons that deffer from one member to another. A large number of the group had already seated and being entertained while others were still on their way coming.
Perhaps one of the most striking moments of the event was when HRM, Eze Justin Ezeala of Obinwanne Umuaka Autonomous Community made his dramatic entry into the compound. The royal father and his younger brother, Barrister Jude Ezeala (Ebubeagu Ndi Igbo) belong to the 82 Set. At this point, the ace MC, Chris Iwuji who was anchoring the event announced the arrival of the royal father and as the tradition demands, members of the group and their special guests stood on their feet to welcome the royal father. The Onye Eze went round and greeted his fellow classmates before sitting down at the special place prepared for him. Thereafter, he was greeted and welcomed by every other person present at the event.
Few minutes after, an opening prayer was taken and there came the presentation of kolanuts which was done by the host of the big show, High Chief Edison Anugo, the Ugwumba 1 of Amurie Omanze.
Presentation of the annual welcome address was the next item from the program. Engineer Vice Onyemepu, the president of the organization read the address as everyone listened with rapt attention.
As the president was reading the address, several members of the alumni association were still coming in and taking their seats.
The event according to what Umuaka Times gathered coincided with the birthday celebration of High Chief Edison Anugo. In order to make the event memorable, the Ugwumba 1 of Amurie Omanze invited a group of women from Amaeze who came and entertained with their cultural dance.
The final chapter of the event was the cutting of the annual cake by the officials and some well to do members of the group. After cutting the cake, each of them supported the event with some large amount of money.
As they all went to their seats, the groove continued! What a great way to celebrate with old classmates.
