By Kelvin Obambon
In what is being described as a landmark event in the 131-year history of the Hope Waddell Training Institution, the school is set to formally inaugurate its Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The announcement was made in Calabar on Thursday by Engr. Ekpe Esien Ita, Chairman of the Hope Waddell Hall of Fame and Museum.
He noted that the ceremony represents a historic milestone, celebrating the “products who have made a mark in various fields of endeavours over the years and have thus brought glory and honour to their alma mater.”
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Engr. Ita disclosed that the Hall of Fame and Museum was conceived in 2022 under the leadership of the immediate past National President of the Hope Waddell Old Students Association (HWOSA), Efioita Ephraim Esq. According to him, the project has been brought to fruition by the current national executive led by Arc Ekpo Ekpenyong Akiba.
“Following a successful one-year test run after its initial commissioning in March 2025, the facility is now ready for full-scale operations,” he said.
The chairman stated that the Hall of Fame is housed in a building that is a historical marvel in its own right. “Built in 1894, the “Premier Building” was the first structure erected at Hope Waddell and is recognized as a national monument.”
He said the facility serves a dual purpose as both a tribute to alumni and a repository for history. Beyond the framed photographs of the “Famers,” the museum will house significant archaeological finds, including excavated clay equipment and ancient pottery.
“These relics are in our custody and will in the very near future be on display in the gallery,” Engr. Ita stated. “Then there are also other artifacts of Hope Waddell, like its ancient trophies, books and records.”
Engr. Ita emphasized that the project is not just for the school, but for Cross River State at large. He also highlighted the facility’s potential to enhance the local tourism circuit, inviting visitors to explore the rich history of one of Nigeria’s oldest educational institutions.
“The benefit of this project to the school exists in its inspirational value, institutional benefits, historical significance, and linkages,” the Chairman stated, expressing deep gratitude to the “Famers” whose support made the establishment possible.
The formal inauguration is scheduled to take place at the school premises in Calabar this Saturday.
A total of 60 individuals, comprising both living legends and posthumous honorees, will be inducted during the maiden ceremony. Adhering to the institution’s “treasured and enduring tradition” of seniority, the partial list of inductees includes:
HRM Ndidem Edim Edim Imona: Former Ndidem of the Quas (1969-1978).
Mr. David William George: A legendary educator who served the institution for 45 years.
Chief E. E. E. Anwan: Once Nigeria’s oldest practicing lawyer.
Hon. Ukpong Okon Ndem: Former Parliamentary Secretary for Communication and Aviation.
Chief Edmund Umez-Eronini: Founder of Emmanuel College, Owerri (1947).
Chief Thomas Weir Ikpeme: The first indigenous Permanent Secretary of Eastern Nigeria.
Elder Effiong Ukpong Aye, MFR: Renowned disciplinarian and two-time principal of the school.
