Civilized society has gained a lot through the sacrificial services of the early missionaries in Africa, who toiled in spreading the gospel through evangelical work to humanity. The word of God came for purposes of actualisation of “Faith” and “Knowledge” in the minds of those who received the message of the gospel. Their double barrel approach strategically instilled ‘character and learning’ through knowledge in the lives of the youngsters that passed through their educational services in Africa. These early missionaries went through hell, in terms of harsh service environments they met, and hostile communities that ignorantly rejected the ‘message’ they came with, while evangelizing the continent of Africa. These early missionaries worked under dangerous conditions and suffered much discomfort in the bush of Africa (especially in the West African sub-region, where their health challenges included the mortal and deadly ailment of “malaria” attacks, from mosquito bites; after leaving their comfort zones in Great Britain for God’s work in Africa), but they endured and those of them that remained alive succeeded by pulling through with the educational services they left as legacy on African soils. These great heroes surrendered and gave their lives, their all for God’s work, so that the gates of hell shall not prevail against their Ministries.
In the Southern coast of the sub-region, especially in the South Eastern part of Nigeria, these missionaries, under the Church Missionary Society (CMS), popularly known presently as the Anglican Communion, over one and a half centuries ago (precisely over a hundred and sixty years, ˃160 years ago) established educational services, among other aims and objectives of the faith based ministry, especially for the growing youths in the communities where they served. Their converts were also taught to realize certain traditional beliefs (taken as abominations in the minds of these ignorant ancient communities) were very ungodly and great sin before the Almighty God, our creator. Amongst the great works done included their teaching against killing of TWINS, or babies that first grew the upper teeth at dentition, or those that were born during child birth, with their legs first instead of heads first at arrival. Those heinous crimes against God’s commands were stopped in African communities; and many lives were saved thereafter till date. Notable among these great missionaries were Ms Mary Mitchell Slessor, 1848 – 1915 (a Scottish missionary to Calabar, a renowned advocate for social reform for women and children that stopped killing of twins, and her grave yard is in Usee, Itu, in Akwa Ibom State), Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther was a Yoruba, 1809 – 1891 (the first African Anglican Bishop in West Africa), and Archdeacon Thomas John Dennis, 1869 – 1917 (a Briton, who joined the Niger Mission, and he was appointed the Archdeacon of Onitsha in 1905, who translated the Holy Bible into the Union Igbo Bible that was published in 1913, at Egbu in Owerri, Imo State; he married Matilda/”Mattie” Silman in 1897).
The great legacy left behind by this great man of God, the late Archdeacon Thomas Dennis, is the establishment of a boys secondary school in the South Eastern part of Nigeria (in Onitsha, the heartland of Igbo communities); that was named after him in memory, Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha; founded by the Niger Mission, and which started educational classes on 25th of January 1925. The great and glorious news about this school’s history is that it has turned one hundred years (100 years); and has just recently celebrated her hundred years of light in academic excellence; where many lives have been touched in all spheres of life, globally. Through the academic trainings of the growing young boys since 1925 till date (including very few female students, about nine of them, including Lady Chirota Egbogah, Prof. Obioma Nwaorgu, Nee Okolo, an emeritus professor in parasitology and epidemiology, at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. Finally, in the late ‘50s the school trained Edith Owuala of Ibiaku Girls, and Florence Spiff of ACMGS Elelenwa; among the female students of DMGS). DMGS as an acronym again, is a school founded and known on the pillars of Duty, Magnanimity, Gratitude and Service to mankind and humanity in our generation. In her first 100 years, many products of the school had excelled in various human endeavours and professions. In the Faith Ministry, many high ranking clergymen have been and are still being elevated and preferred as Anglican Bishops (eight of them already) plus those in the Pentecostals and high ranking Roman Catholic Priests. In the academics and teaching profession, uncountable erudite professors in their various fields and disciplines are doing exploits in their respective areas of specialties, and at least seven universities have had their vice chancellors as products of DMGS (including the first Nigerian/African VC of the pioneer University of Ibadan). In the judiciary, numerous legal luminaries, Senior Advocates, among others have been produced, including those at the peak of the profession as Honorable Justices of the High Courts and the Federal Appeal Courts. In the medical profession and the field of engineering, and all other academic disciplines and professions all over the world; DMGS has made history. In the field of business and commerce, the global brands that are known in different entrepreneurial economic sectors; most of them, globally acclaimed business magnates, studied at DMGS. In the field of leadership (royal fathers and community leaders) and top notch politicians of note in the society; Dengramites are numbered.
I thank God for giving me the privilege to gain admission into DMGS in January 1973, and left after WAEC exams in 1977; and currently, for making me the president general of the alumni body, globally; (DMGS Old Boys Association, Worldwide — the PG, DOBA Ww). Only recently, under my watch, I took part in planning and executing a very successful, generational event, the DMGS Centenary celebration. It was graced by the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria, His Grace, the Most Rev’d. Dr. Henry Ndukauba; the proprietor of DMGS and the Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Owen Chiedozie Nwokolo, under whose authority it was possible to package the celebration; along with the chairman of the School Management Board, Professor Ilochi Okafor (SAN), the principal of DMGS, Ven. Chigozie Anieto, and the entire board members. To Dengramites in all nooks and crannies of the globe, especially those who participated in the 8-day action packed historic events, diligently planned and programmed by the Centenary Planning Committee; with special recognition to all the directorates, and the persons of the chairman, Prince Peter Ezenwa, Dr. Chijioke Ojji (the all round planner), and Pharm Ndubisi Oguejiofor, the director of fund raising; Lux Fiat!