The President General of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, Worldwide, Arch Charles Majoroh has described the death of, Major General David Ejoor, former Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army as a big blow to the federation and Government College Old Boys Association
In his tribute, Arch Majoroh said, “Major General David Ejoor was one of the young, brilliant 25 students that got admission into the prestigious Government College Ughelli (GCU) in January 1948 when the school was still known as Warri College. He spent five years to acquire western education at GCU when most of the lecturers were British Colonial Education Officers and graduated from the College after passing Cambridge School Certificate examinations in December 1952 in Grade 2.
While In Government College Ughelli, due to his amiable character, interpersonal relations skills and inherent leadership qualities, he was appointed a School Prefect and the School Athletics Captain. Under his captainship, the School team won many laurels in athletics.
Uloho of Olomu Kingdom
David Ejoor was a great achiever, an accomplished leader who was very much respected by the school authorities, his classmates and his juniors. As expected, he totally imbibed the school’s culture of excellence.
On leaving the great school, David Ejoor became the first alumnus, in the annals of the College, to enlist in the Nigerian Army. In 1953, he was admitted into the Royal Military Academy, Sandurst, United Kingdom and commissioned as a Lieutenant by the Queen of England in July, 1956. Captain David Ejoor thereafter commanded the Army of Guards at the midnight flag raising ceremony at Nigeria’s independence in 1960. He also performed excellently as a member of the United nations Peace Keeping Contingent in Congo and was promoted to the rank of Major.
In January, 1966, Lt. Col. David Ejoor became the first Military Governor of Midwest region. His patriotic and heroic roles in the face of adversity contributed immensely to the survival and unity of Nigeria as a country in the troubled military years of the mid 60s and the unfortunate civil war that followed.
As a Major General, David Ejoor later became the first Nigerian Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Major General Ejoor retired from the Army as Chief of Army Staff in 1975 at the age of 43 years as a fallout of a military putsch.
In recognition of his status as an old boy, Major General David Ejoor was admitted into the revered ranks of the “Ancient Mariners “ and later bestowed with GCUOBA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 in an impressive ceremony in Abuja.
His contributions to Government College Ughelli are permanently etched in the sands of time. One example that The College will forever remember was when a regional Commissioner of Education unilaterally changed the names of traditional students hostels (Houses) to his own name and the names of other colleagues. Major General Ejoor (then Lt. Col.) reversed the unacceptable nomenclature on assumption of office as the Military Governor of Midwest region.
GCUOBA will certainly miss your contributions to the growth and development of GCU and towering presence in our functions.
We shall miss the sense of pride we had when referring to you as one of “OUR OLD BOYS”.
Adieu, Uloho of Olomu kingdom, the General of Generals.
May your gentle soul keep sailing in calm waters till we mee
