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Sierra Leone: Farewell to Oladipoh Venn
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Concord Times (Freetown)
COLUMN
25 March 2008
Posted to the web 25 March 2008
John Baimba Sesay
Freetown
Final Hons 11 FBC, 077838457 I was woken up by a text message from a friend of mine William Freeman in the early hours of Monday 17th March 2008 informing me of the death of a true father, brother, principal and an educationist Oladipoh Henry Babatunda Venn of the famous political book: 'Essentials of government' and of the St. Helena Secondary School .
When I first got the message, I could not completely comprehend what it meant and initially thought it was a mistake made by my colleague since we had met Mr.
Venn about a week prior to his death to ask that the school ban be provided us for the funeral service of another school and college mate, Joseph Yoki. Joseph had died in a road accident after leaving FBC campus on an unarranged visit to Makeni with four of his friends. Mr. Venn had expressed his grief over the death of Joseph Yoki and recalled our days at the school. But he was particularly happy that, even as he was on the verge of leaving the school on retirement, a number of his students were about to graduate from the university. Alas! Little did some of us realize that we were discussing with a living corpse.
I first came in contact with the Venn some eight years ago when I had gone to the St Helena Secondary School for admission at the Senior School level. I must honestly state that, the reception he accorded me at the time as school principal was that of a fatherly one and unto the time I left the school for the university, he was all that fatherly and accommodating. He was ever prepared to listen to his students and as such exhibited the tendency of a very caring father and principal. Venn was indeed more than a school principal. He was a role model within the education sector of the country, no doubt that his contribution to the development of the nation from the view point of education could not be underestimated.
His book 'Essentials of government' has been a very relevant material for political science students not only at the secondary school level but also at the university level. Even as he has been called upon by the Almighty God, his name could not easily be written off from the academic history book of this nation.
During my school days at the St. Helena Secondary School, I could still recall that discipline among students and teachers was his key word. Academic excellence was what he had always clamored for. He was also practically concerned in seeing that the school maintains academic excellence in both public and school exams, that when the school first attempted the West African Senior School Examinations but could not perform to his expectation, he saw to it that such did not occur the following year. Consequently, the following year a number of students from the school enrolled at the university. Venn is missed not only by students and teachers of the St Helena Secondary School, but by all and sundry. We love him but God loves him more than we do.
Having served the school for some 36 years, this could have been the moment for him to have enjoyed his retirement age. In fact the Old Students of the school were seriously preparing to get a superb farewell party and dinner for OHB Venn scheduled for May 9th this year since he had stated that he was going to retire soonest, having witnessed the school's centenary celebration.
Oladipoh Venn had his shortcomings as a human being but that notwithstanding, he demonstrated his leadership qualities within and without the St Helena Secondary School. It is worth noting that, as a result of the wealth of experience he had as a principal, he was most often seen sharing his experience with others on how to manage school affairs.
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Many have quarried, many have expressed bitterness, and many have mourned and are still mourning over his death. He was loved and cherished by students, family members and colleague principals but the greatest love for him has been shown by God and that, we must accept with faith for by faith, Venn is not dead, he is with his students, friends and family and he sees us all.
Again many have asked who will be the next Venn at the St. Helena Secondary School taking into cognizance his leadership and fatherly attributes he had unto his ultimately end. Even as we mourn him, the Board of Governors of the school must not only look out for a principal but a principal loved and cherished not only by the students but by the ex-pupils and parents. One that could be seen as a true replacement of OHB Venn if only the school should be seen in the apex of educational standard.
Above all let me implore all to be mindful of the fact that, death is something inevitable. Today it is Venn tomorrow it could be any other person. So let us all mourn with faith. May his soul rest in perfect peace
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