Introduction
This is a Matching Grant project initiated by the GSE Exchange with Nigeria in 2007. Several clubs from the district participated in funding the project which was brought to us by PDG Lemmy.
In a very elaborate ceremony which was attended by the Catholic Bishop of Otupko Diocese most Rev. Dr. Michael Apochi, the local government chairman and the entire Aidogodo Okpoga community the officers of Rotary International handed over a fresh drinking water/fish pond project to the Fatima girls high school.
The project which is a joint undertaking of Rotary International district 7670 in the USA and Rotary club of Makurdi, district 9125 provided a source of safe drinking water for the entire students of the Fatima Girls High school and a construction of four chamber fish ponds. An Interact club was formed ,a nucleus of the body charged with looking after the fish farm project.
The Catholic Bishop on his own part has undertaken the stocking and training of the young fish farmers. Rotary on its part gave a lump sum of a quarter of a million naira for the supply of feeds for the ponds which Rotary provided with sources of electricity and hydraulic pumps.
Accepting the project on behalf of the school, the diocesan Bishop praised Rotary and wished there were more associations willing to help in the upbringing of youths. He promised to give the project all the time it deserves to make the project succeed.
Rotary designed the project in such a way that the students will consume twenty five percent of the yield to improve their meals while seventy five percent of the proceeds would go to sustaining the project.
Past district governor, Lemmy Ijioma who is the chairman of the local organising committee called on the student to take the new training seriously.
In attendance were the assistant governor Tony Agbo, President Bern Igoche, past Presitent Dr. Ame Idoko and a host of other Rotarians. The entire village shelved every other activity to be there.
Dedication
Below is the speech of the traditional ruler of Aidogodo-Okpoga
ADDRESS OF THE AGBO OF AIDOGODO, CHIEF JACOB OCHENGBO AT THE HANDING OVER TO THE SCHOOL AND OTUPKO CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF FOUR FISH POND CONSTRUCTED BY ROTARY CLUB OF MAKURDI WITH ASSISTANCE FROM ROTARY CLUBS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT FATIMA GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL, AIDOGODO-OKPOGA IN OKPOKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA ON FRIDAY, 30TH OCTOBER, 2009.
The president,
Rotary club of Makurdi.
Rotarian Past District Governor, Mr. Lemmy Ijioma.
The Executive Chairman, Okpokwu Local Government Council.
His Lordship, The Bishop of Otupko Catholic Diocces,
Most Rev. Dr. Michael Apochi.
Rotarians, Rotary Club of Makurdi.
The principal, Fatima Girls Secondary School
Aidogodo –Okpoga.
The Parish Priest, Our Lady of Lourds Independent Mission,
Aidogodo-Okpoga.
Rev.Sisters
Fatima Girls Secondary School
Aidogodo-Okpoga.
Eldest Man, Aidogodo Community.
Ijachis of the 6 Clans, Aidogodo Community.
President General, Aidogodo Development Community.
Distinguished Invited Guest.
Gentlemen of the Press.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is my greatest honour and pleasure to welcome all of you to Aidogodo community for the handing over ceremony of fish ponds built at Fatima Girls Secondary School Aidogodo Okpoga by Rotary club Makurdi in collaboration with Rotary clubs in the United States of America (U.S.A). These fish ponds are being handed over to the school and the Catholic Dioceses of Otukpo.
The people of Aidogodo Community are deeply appreciative of this benevolence of yours to the school which the catholic mission established in our area in 1980. The school has reduced the gap between boys and girl’s education in our community against what prevails in the Northern parts of Nigeria. The significance of Fatima Girls Secondary school to us therefore, cannot be overemphasized. We are seeing and we are feeling the impact of the school in our families.
On behalf of The Aidogodo community, I sincerely express our profound gratitude to the Catholic mission that established Fatima Girls Secondary School here. We are grateful for the efforts being made by the principal to increase student enrolment.
I wish to heartily express immense pleasure of Aidogodo community for the fish ponds being handed over today. Indeed our community remains most grateful to Rotary club of Makurdi and the donor Rotary clubs USA for this wonderful show of magnanimity.
Aidogodo people of all classes, men and women, boys and girls, young and old have turned out in large numbers at this occasion as a demonstration of our appreciation and acceptance of this project.
Members of rotary club Makurdi and donor Rotary clubs of U.S.A present at this occasion should please accept our warm welcome. It is wonderful that the rotary club of Makurdi initiated this project and located it in Fatima Girls Secondary School in our community. We ever remain grateful to rotary club Makurdi and the donor Rotary clubs of U.S.A. like Oliver Twist, Aidogodo community looks forward to more relationship with the Rotary clubs in future.
Our sincere gratitude goes to our son, Dr. Mattew Ame Idoko, MFR, KSM who introduced Fatima Girls Secondary School, Aidogodo-Okpoga to the Rotary club for this project.
It is our habit to always acknowledge and thank people who make contributions to the development of Aidogodo community. We hereby specially thank the Rotarian past District Governor, Mr Lemmy who initiated this project and made the necessary contact with rotary district 7670 in the United States of America. (U.S.A)
Since this is the first homestead fish farm in our community there is need for joint effort of the principal and staff of Fatima and our community members to ensure success of the project. Thus, on behalf of my community, I assure Rotary club of Makurdi and the donor rotary clubs of U.S.A that our community will establish mutual understanding with the principal and staff of the school to foster ways of sustaining this laudable fish project.
We are aware of the significance of the project to the particular and to our community in general. The benefits we know include:
a). that students will have opportunity to acquire knowledge in aquaculture.
b). that there will be improvement in the dietary status of students of the school, which will also extend to families of our community as we are the nearest market for the fish produced from the school fish ponds and;
c). that the revenue from the sale of fish will enable the school authority to provide other facilities in the school that were hitherto hampered by lack of funds
On the basis of the foregoing benefits, the people of Aidogodo community will do everything possible to support the project and also assure the principal of assistance within our capability.
Once more, on behalf of the entire Aidogodo community, I commend the bishop of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, most Rev. Dr. Michael Apochi for his efforts in fostering successful running of Fatima Girls Secondary School Aidogodo-Okpoga. Similarly, I most respectfully commend Rotary club of Makurdi and donor Rotary clubs of U.S.A for their wonderful initiative in establishing this fish pond project.
Finally, it is my prayer that God grants you journey mercies to your respective destinations.
Thank you all.
