INTERVIEW WITH REV MARKWEI ALUMNI PRESIDENT

ODADEE NEWS: Congratulations on your reelection for a second term. A lot has been achieved under your leadership. What are some of the challenges of your first term?

REV MARKWEI: First of all to God be all the glory. It's not about Rev Markwei. Whatever has been achieved was done with support of ALL so the credit goes around. Even I am grateful for the criticisms that come from time to time because it helps leadership to reassess an intended initiative. I am human and not the repository of all wisdom that is why we debate issues at General Council to bring out all shades of opinion on an issue before finally arriving at a consensus that will benefit our association. What we must stop is to criticize from an uninformed position. It hurts to hear some things people say but as a leader, I try not to be distracted from the goals we set for our association. Look this whole thing is about PRESEC. When I get calls from an alumnus engineer offering or asking what they can do for Presec; when I overhear an odadee asking friends to reschedule an outing because he has a Presec year group meeting, I get my sense of self fulfillment. That's all I care for. Back to your question. The first challenge we had to deal with was the legendary but now defunct apathy of the Odadee. We surely dealt it the much needed fatal blow. We also had to deal with the feeling of disconnect though year groups were "undergroundedly" active. We also had serious lack of financial commitment. Of course there was the challenge of arm chair critics. It looked like many on assumption of office, wanted us to start flying instead of first crawling, then walking, running before flying. Sometimes we had to deal with insults and even threats of violence being visited upon me. Sometimes your position determines your perspectives but it was understandable though uncalled for. We are in happy times

ODADEE NEWS: In your inaugural speech last two years, you said your presidency will bring Visibility, Vibrancy and Viability to our association. Your report card talking to Odadees shows A for Visibility, B+ for Vibrancy and a B for Viability. Your reaction to the assessment?

REV MARKWEI: Interestingly I always set very high standards for myself. My Executive will disagree totally with that assessment. Sometimes in Ivy League school marking systems it's a curve relative assessment system. So let's ask 1. What was there when we came to office? 2. What have we achieved? In answering these questions we will realize that no administration has done in 2 years what we have done. With all humility, we would accept the assessment in stride and work to improve. Today Presec is highly visible everywhere. Our first ever Torch and Bonfire Night last year attracted 5000. This year saw a crowd estimated at 8000. Everyone is talking about Presec. Let me throw more light on the Viability goal. What I meant was a system that is self-sustaining when we are long gone. Do you in any figment of your mind think anyone can stop this mind blowing surge of the Odadee new found momentum and traction?

ODADEE NEWS: We see year groups undertaking projects. 1990 have given us a befitting Alumni and Mentoring Center. 1991 are working on gym; 1981 have renovated Engmann House, 1982 are almost done with renovating Dinning hall; 1986 due to handover a refurbished Computer Lab and our seniors 1976 placed the icing on the cake with the most beautiful school gate in Africa south of the Sahara. What started this ‘scramble’ for projects by year groups?

REV MARKWEI: Ours was to create the right atmosphere of love for the school. That triggered a sense of belonging and the rest is history.

ODADEE NEWS: Is it true that Odadees are ‘chisel’ and ‘arm tight’ when it comes to giving?

REV MARKWEI: I will say yes and no to this. Yes is the reality on the ground. Somehow people forget that your commitment is additionally measured by the whereabouts of your treasures. "Where your heart rests is where your treasures reside" I didn't say it Jesus said it!! Sometimes talk is cheap and ideas fly out per second from brainy Odadee but they fail to match their talk with their walk. They don't put their money where their mouth is. I must admit that sometimes people especially leaders of projects have had tears because folks refused to pay up. I've had to sometimes foot things from my meager priestly resources much to the chagrin of family. No. being a perennial optimist but married to reality I see a paradigm shift. Somehow we are responding albeit in a slow pace but we will get there "heaven knows we will get there, we know we will"

ODADEE NEWS: Undoubtedly, your era has seen new developments and renovations of dorms etc. How did you manage in coordinating all these developments?

REV MARKWEI: I must admit that beyond the cool demeanor veneer you see is a really "high octane" personality. So. It was a marriage of zeal wisdom and above all GRACE. Here are the facts on the ground. Ownership. I just turned the ownership of the fraternity to the members.. People chimed in all over the world with ideas especially the North American Diaspora Odadee. Hard sacrifices of Time. Talent and Treasures had to be made. Work was shared: supervision was premium and I must admit that sometimes leaders of various year groups’ feet were held to the fire. Deliverables and timelines became conjugal bedmates.

ODADEE NEWS: What drives you in this Old Boys Association business?

REV MARKWEI: People often ask what drives me in getting things done. It's all about passion and commitment. Alumni are crazy about their schools because they were there and after departure, they took their school with them. I was in Engmann House and Presec is in me. That is the mindset we need. Presec must be in you. If Presec is in you, it will galvanize you to join the moving train of progress.

ODADEE NEWS: What should we expect in your second term?

REV MARKWEI: Taking the Fraternity and Presec to another level; solidifying structures and building on foundations. The concrete we've laid has not yet cured to borrow from construction parlance. So we need to solidify what we've started and then put up structures both hardware and software to project our dreams. Hardware infrastructural developments. Software structures to promote academic excellence and relevance for the students and staff

ODADEE NEWS: Please can you confirm that a UK chapter inauguration is on the drawing board?

REV MARKWEI: Yes it is. NETS are out to get movers and shakers to champion this cause!!

ODADEE NEWS: What do you expect from members during your second term?

REV MARKWEI: O come along and join us as we trudge along the dreams spelt out. We need every joint that is every member to supply time talent and treasures

ODADEE NEWS: You have said that the new school gate adds to branding of Presec. How do we cash in on the revitalized Odadee brand?

REV MARKWEI: We leverage a glaring feature of the gate that is the Electronic Billboard as an income generating feature. Talks are underway with corporate bodies who recognize the new brand. From activities to structures. Even the FALLEN ODADEE tree provides income generating possibilities.

ODADEE NEWS: Thank Rev for having time for us this afternoon

REV MARKWEI: Thanks too. Our doors are always open for members.