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Tag: ACAOSA

  • Eko Club, ACAOSA deliver free healthcare to Agege communities

    No fewer than 250 residents of Agege and its environs have benefitted from a free medical outreach organised yesterday by Eko Club International, in collaboration with the Anwar-Ul Islam College, Agege Old Students’ Association (ACAOSA).

    The outreach, held on the school premises, offered a range of free medical services, from dental care and eye screening to general health checks, free medications, mental health education, and more.

    The event, which saw both local and international volunteer healthcare professionals in attendance, is part of Eko Club’s long-running commitment to improving access to quality healthcare in underserved Lagos communities.

    The President of Eko Club International, Chief Saheed Olushi said, “Our mission is simple, give back to our people. This outreach today is a part of our quarterly Lagos Community Outreach project. We started this because we noticed there was a gap in care during the two years between our major medical missions.”

    Eko Club International, founded in 2000 by a group of Lagos indigenes in the diaspora, has been conducting medical missions since 2007. 

    According to Chief Olushi, these missions have grown over time to become a robust system of healthcare delivery to the grassroots.

    “When I became president four years ago, I realised we needed to do more than just the biannual missions. So we started organising quarterly outreaches like this one,” he explained. “We bring in professionals from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., as well as local healthcare workers, to reach people who might not otherwise access care.”

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    Chief Olushi noted that the outreach was not only about treatment but also education. “Some people don’t necessarily need drugs; they just need to understand how to take care of their bodies, exercise, diet, mental wellness. We take the time to teach them.”

    The choice of Anwar-Ul Islam College, Agege, as the outreach venue is not accidental. According to Chief Olushi, Eko Club’s relationship with ACAOSA began in 2020 through a scholarship initiative.

    “When we launched our scholarship program, a large number of applicants came from this school, and the majority of the selected awardees were from here,” he said. “We saw how hardworking and forward-thinking the ACAOSA alumni are, and since then, we’ve partnered with them on several initiatives, including a laptop donation project.”

    Chief Olushi also highlighted the club’s broader medical mission achievements. “During our last major outreach in November, we performed 29 paediatric limb correction surgeries for children with deformed limbs. We also conduct other types of surgeries when the need arises,” he said.

    However, for more complex medical needs discovered during the outreach, the club either offers financial support or refers patients to public hospitals. “It depends on the case and the available resources,” he noted.

    On the long-term impact, Chief Olushi described the feedback as overwhelmingly positive. “Each time we go to a new community, the people beg us to return. Even the Lagos State Government has collaborated with us on some of our bigger missions. That tells us that we are making a difference.”

    He also elaborated on how communities are selected for the outreach. “We typically put out a call for interest and assess communities based on need and logistics. We don’t just show up randomly; we need the host community to be actively involved to ensure success.”

    As the outreach wound down, volunteers continued attending to the growing number of residents arriving for assistance. “We planned for about 250 people today, and the turnout is strong,” Chief Olushi said. “Our goal is to leave each community a little healthier than we found it.”

    With 25 years under its belt, Eko Club International remains committed to giving back to its roots, one community at a time. “This is just the beginning,” Chief Olushi affirmed. “We’re not stopping anytime soon.”

    Speaking on the initiative, the President-General of ACAOSA Worldwide, Dr. Abdulfata Agboola Afolabi, said the partnership with Eko Club International was a natural progression of their existing relationship.

    “Eko Club has been donating medical supplies to our school clinic over the years,” he said. “When they informed us about this quarter’s medical outreach, we decided we didn’t want to remain just beneficiaries. We offered to partner with them, and they gladly accepted.”

    According to Dr. Afolabi, ACAOSA provided the venue and logistical support for the event, helping to accommodate the influx of medical personnel and patients from the surrounding community. “We planned for about 250 participants,” he noted.

    He emphasized that this marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the two bodies. “We’ve used this event to test the waters, and we are impressed with the outcome. We hope Eko Club is as well, and we look forward to more joint programs in the future,” he added.

    Dr. Afolabi also highlighted ACAOSA’s ongoing contributions to the development of the college. “This very hall we are in is undergoing remodeling by our association. We’ve installed air conditioners, repainted the space, and we’re not stopping there. We’re also upgrading teaching and medical facilities to enhance the overall quality of education and well-being of our students.”

    One of the volunteer nurses said that the services provided were comprehensive. “We offer everything from blood pressure and sugar level checks to dental care and vision screening. We also provide free prescription medications, health counselling, and even mosquito nets for malaria prevention.”

    Among the beneficiaries was 67-year-old Mrs. Adebimpe Yusuf, who received a free pair of eyeglasses after her vision test. “I’ve been having trouble seeing for years, but I couldn’t afford new glasses. Today, they tested my eyes and gave me frames for free. I feel so blessed,” she said, smiling.

  • ACAOSA ‘87 set intensifies plans for second reunion meeting

    ACAOSA ‘87 set intensifies plans for second reunion meeting

    Anwar-Ul-Islam College Agege Old Students Association (Class of ‘87 A’Level) has intensified plans for its second reunion meeting billed to hold on February 22.

    The reunion committee of the body headed by Rasheed Kolade on Sunday held a virtual meeting where most of the arrangements were concluded for the event slated for R and A Hotels in Ikeja.

    At the well-attended meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes, the committee was delighted to have completed over 85 per cent of what to be done.

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    “We wanted to do this earlier, but due to some logistics, we moved it to February 22 and I am happy we are on course.

    “My committee members have been amazing, just as we also enjoy the support of our EXCO led by Yinka Ogundimu.

    “This time, we expect the event to be an upgrade of the first reunion,” Kolade said.

    He added that as part of plans to make the event special, members are to come to the forthcoming event with their spouses.

    EXCO President of ACAOSA 87 set, A’ Levels, Ogundimu, a former Lagos House of Assembly member,  said yesterday that he was impressed with the progress made so far by the reunion body.

    “They started work just this year and we are in a stage of just completing the entire preparations.

    “The EXCO has absolute confidence in the planning committee and we are happy with their work, just as we also appreciate the inputs of our colleagues in diaspora. Some of them join our virtual meetings and they have been contributing their quota,” Ogundimu said.

  • ACAOSA prays for departed colleagues

    ACAOSA prays for departed colleagues

    Chidinma Nnamdi

    The Anwar-ul Islam College, Agege Old Students Association (ACAOSA) Class of 77/78 has held a Remembrance prayer for deceased members of the set.

    The annual event, which took place at Town Planning Way Ilupeju, Lagos, with the theme, “Gone But Not Forgotten”,  was aimed at honouring the memory of deceased members of the set.

    Chairman of the 77/78 set, Munideen Pereira, said that, as alumnus, the Remembrance Day prayer, is a testament to a strong bond exists among them.

    “As we pray for our departed colleagues, we also reflect on the impact they had on our lives, they were more than just classmates, they were mentors, friends, and confidants.

    “May Allah reward them for their good deeds and may we continue to draw inspiration from their lives. We pray that Allah will continue to unite us and grant us the strength to carry on the legacy of our departed colleagues,” he said.

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    Chairman Organizing Committee, AbdulRahman Alarape, emphasized the need for Muslims to always remember their departed brethren and pray for their peaceful repose.

    According to him, remembering the deceased is an act of kindness and compassion, adding that it is a way of showing respect and appreciation for the impact they made in one’s lives.

    He stressed the importance of living a righteous life, adding that Muslims must always strive to please Allah in all their endeavours.

     “The key to a successful life is to live in accordance with the teachings of Allah, we must strive to be righteous, compassionate, and just in all our dealings,” he said.

  • ACAOSA lifts alma mater’s outstanding students with N5.4m scholarships

    ACAOSA lifts alma mater’s outstanding students with N5.4m scholarships

    By Sherifdeen Amusa

    The Anwar-Ul Islam College Agege Old Students’ Association (ACAOSA) has disbursed N5,419,400 to the school’s outstanding students.

    The scholarships, awarded by the United States (U.S.) and Nigerian Chapters of ACAOSA, were announced during the 23rd Valedictory Service held at the school’s premises last week.

    The U.S. Chapter awarded N3,802,400 to 11 students, who performed excellently during the qualifying examination into JSS1.

    Also, the association’s 1968/74 set awarded N1,386,600 to six outstanding students. The 1969/73 set gave N231,000 to Adedokun Adefolarin to cover his tuition fee for 2023/24 session.

    Babalola Mubarak, the best graduating student, was rewarded with N100,000 by ACAOSA’s Global President General, Alhaji Abdulfattah Afolabi.

    Presenting the award and unveiling the school’s website , Afolabi urged the students to emulate the ex-students of the college, who have excelled in human endeavours and also join them in contributing to the country’s growth.

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    “It may interest you to note that our alumni are all over the world in all fields of human endeavours, where they have distinguished themselves and made remarkable feats. I urge you all to join these eminent alumni in no distant time to contribute to the growth of our great nation.”

    He also urged the students to imbibe discipline, hardwork and honesty as they progress in their educational career.

     The Post-Graduate Coordinator of Sociology at Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Elias Wahab, who was represented by the institution’s Head of Quality Assurance, Mrs. Blessing Ndukwu, delivered the valedictory lecture, themed: “Combining knowledge with creativity to think outside the box”.

    Elias said thinking outside the box involves identifying existing problems in the society with the sole aim of solving it creatively from a new perspective.

    He urged the students to study what they’re passionate about and not acquire degrees to satisfy their parents and later delve into something else.

     He urged parents to allow their kids to acquire vocational skills pending when they would gain admission into the university.

    The school principal, Abdulwaheed Soyebo, urged the graduands to always remember that life is made up of pleasant and unpleasant situations.

    He urged them to always reflect on the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s saying that “Life is full of comedy and tragedy. Although one might have tragic periods, such periods are usually mere interludes”.

    Outgoing Head Boy, Sanni Ibrahim, thanked ACAOSA members for their efforts in promoting teaching and learning in the school.

    He also appreciated the management, teachers and their parents for their efforts in reshaping their lives and building them for future endeavours.

    The 2023/24 valedictory session featured 43 and 38 graduands for SS3 and JS3 students respectively.

  • Golden Jubilee to college graduates

    It was joyful moments for the Ahmadiyya College, Agege (formerly Anwar-Ul-Islam Model College Agege) Old Students Association (ACAOSA) 64/68 sets when it celebrated its 50th anniversary at Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos State. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    Most of the old boys clad in white traditional attires with uniform yellow and blue striped caps. They converged at Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos State to celebrate 50 years after school.

    They are the old boys of Ahmadiyya College, Agege (formerly Anwar-Ul-Islam Model College Agege) Old Students Association (ACAOSA) 64/68 sets. They were joined by families, friends and other sets of the college.

    They could not hide the joy of seeing each other; they exchanged pleasantries, shook hands and hugged with all smiles.

    The ceremony began with Muslim prayers and citation of the ACAOSA anthem.

    Guests were introduced and the then college principal, Alhaji Jimoh Gbadamosi was recognised. A minute silence was observed for late members.

    ACAOSA 64/68 sets President, Babatunde Grillo said the gathering was to thank God.

    “We are gathering here today to give thanks to God for sparing our lives. We left school 50 years ago and we are still alive. Some of us are dead, for those of us alive; we have every reason to thank God because it is not by our making that we are standing today.

    “This gathering is also to meet ourselves again as some of us have not seen in a while.”

    He said the association is set out to be of help to members while also giving back to its alma mater.

    “We are all products of this great school which has made us who we are today, we owe it a responsibility to give back to the school in all the ways we can. We have given somethings and plans are ongoing to give more,” he said.

    The Secretary, Ganiyu Ajala, added that the club has made them who they are today.

    “We are all graduates from the school and we cut across different profession in life, including medicine, engineering, accounting, pharmacy, law, teaching and even politics.

    “ACAOSA members in one way or the other have influence in all sectors of the economy. It is therefore worthwhile for our set to celebrate and thank God for keeping us alive since we left school 50 years ago,” he said.

    ACAOSA President General, Lawal Pedro SAN, said the 50 years anniversary signifies good tidings for the association.

    “That we have a set celebrating its golden jubilee this year is a source of joy, happiness and accomplishment in life.

    50 years ago, they were together in the school and they are still bonding together till today. This is a source of glory to the Almighty God and to them.

    “If the Association was not on ground, it would have been difficult for them to relate with themselves as they may not recognise each other if they meet on the streets.

    “We have good functional sets in Nigeria and the 64/68 sets is one of the old generational sets which I am here to felicitate with.”

    Pedro said ACAOSA as a body is set out to give back to the alma mater, the school that made them.

    “It is from this school that we cultivated our knowledge and developed character in all state of affairs. The school has done well to all of us in all areas and that is why we always come together to give back to the school that has given us so much.

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    “ACAOSA stands for networking, developing, helping one another when the need arises and giving back to the Alma Mater.”

    He urged all members to always give the best, noting that ACAOSA has achieved so mush over the years.

    “From my tenure as President and President General, we have achieved so much and improved on what predecessors have done. We are now a legal entity that is registered with CAC, we now have a purpose built mosque for the school and we hope to complete it with all necessary facility before the year runs out. We have revitalised the sport Arena to make it a useful pitch, we have an ICT and we have started a new project of uninterrupted power supply to the school; we also have model clinic for the school.”

    He added: “This is the first Muslim college in West Africa. These are some of the things ACAOSA has done, not only by ACAOSA in Nigeria, but combined efforts of ACAOSA in the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK).”

    Pedro said that in few months’ time, they would have ACAOSA USA reunion, which aims to bring all the ACAOSA members in the USA together. ”The UK ACAOSA will also have a reunion celebration this year. What we have in Nigeria is sets but in USA and UK is Chapter,” he said.

  • ACAOSA 77/78 Set: Celebrating a milestone

    ACAOSA 77/78 Set: Celebrating a milestone

    IT IS ALWAYS fun whenever we gather. And so it was when we converged on R & A City Hotel in Ikeja last Saturday to round off the celebration of our 40th anniversary of leaving Anwar-ul Islam College, Agege (ACA).

    Our journey which started 44 years ago when we entered school has seen us through thick and thin. For five years, we lived together, played together, ate together, slept and woke up together, worked together and read our books together.

    We were either in the same class or in the same dormitory. Even where we were not in the same class and dormitory that did not make us enemies. We bonded together not on the basis of religion and ethnicity but on the basis of our humanity. We treated ourselves like brothers and it is still like that up till today. Though we have our quarrels now and then, but before you know it, we would have put such fights behind us and moved on. Long after we left school in 1977/78, the paths of many of us did not cross again. As we headed into the world to make out something for ourselves, we went in different directions.

    From ACA, that is the shortened form of Ahmadiyya College, Agege, the name by which our school was popularly known before it was changed to Anwar-ul Islam College in 1976, we dispersed into the world in pursuit of different interests. But our training at Ahmadiyya – aah,  many of us love that name – stood us in good stead wherever we went. It could not have been otherwise since we had Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi aka Oga as our principal. The principal emeritus, who groomed us and the generations before us remains our beacon of light till today. Oga was 90 in March and we pray that he will remain with us for more years to come. Abubakar Adenle of the 1979/80 Set represented Oga at  Saturday’s event.

    Today, under the aegis of Anwar-ul Islam College  Agege Old Students’ Association, ACAOSA 77/78 Set, we are reliving our school years. Even though we cannot turn back the hand of the clock to 1973 – 1977/78, our reunion at our meetings often evokes memories of the past. Last Friday as part of the celebrations of our 40th anniversary, which was ably packaged by Wasiu Bawalah and Rahman Alarape and their team, some members of our set gave career talk to pupils of the school. Yomi Ojo spoke on engineering; Mufutau Ottun, taxation and Alarape, human resources. Then followed the novelty match between ACAOSA and Ansar-udeen High School Surulere Old Students Association (AHOSA), where the Diyya Giants led by Alarape , with Dr Tajudeen Afolabi in goal, ran rings around their opponents.

    It was a full house at Saturday’s show-stopping event. Many of us were there, with our President-General Lawal Pedro (SAN) taking the lead. Pedro noted that ‘’these past 40 years have been full of mixed memories for us…however, our supportive friendship and enduring relationships over the years have kept us together…over the past four decades, we the then young boys have established ourselves and grown to become great men…I still remember those days with nostalgia…and 40 years later we are still together with different stories to tell’’.

    In appreciation of their support to the association and the school, some members were honoured. Among those honoured were Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (the most popular ex-Diyya Giant ever – we are privileged to have him in our set),   Hakeem Ogunniran, Managing Director, UAC Property Development Company (UPDC), Afolabi and two of our seniors, Maj-Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju and former national team Coach Tunde Disu. How can I end this without mentioning our man at the secretariat, the indefatigable Kamoru Tijani and his soulmate Ganiyu Eleha. Kudos to Prof Gbenga Ojo, Moshood Bakare, Abass Obatolu, Dr Nurudeen Bello, Lateef Adams, Dipo Oyetayo, Hafeez Kareem,  the judge in the house, Bankole Kaffo, who is now based in Canada, Prince Ademola Akitoye, Ahmed Rasaq aka Konjo, Mukadas Akinwande,  Tajudeen Smith, Tunji Sogbesan, Muyideen Pereira, Azeez Sanni, Clerk of Lagos State House of Assembly,  Ibukunoluwa Olaide Peter aka Jugnu, ace musician Kunle Dizzy K Falola, Bola Anifowoshe, Omotunde Pinheiro and a host of others  for your steadfastness. It is impossible to mention everybody because of space constraint, but surely you all know that I hold you in high esteem.

    It was a night to remember and as we look forward to the school’s 70th anniversay next year and our own golden anniversay in 2027,  we pray that ACA will continue to wax stronger. As our school motto reads: Aut Optimum Aut Nihil (either the best or nothing), our school deserves nothing but the best. Thank you Oga for making us who we are today. We are eternally grateful to you sir.

  • ACAOSA 77/78 Set marks 40

    AS part of activities marking its 40th anniversary, the Anwar-ul-Islam College Agege Old Students Association, ACAOSA 77/78 Set will today hold a career talk for pupils on the school premises.

    Three members of the set, Yomi Ojo, Gbenga Ojo and Dr Abiodun Afolabi will give the talk. A thanksgiving/Jumaat Service will follow the talk. The ceremony will climax with a novelty match between ACAOSA and Ansar-ud-Deen High School Surulere Old Students Association (AHOSA).

    Tomorrow, the association will hold a gala night towards raising funds for the renovation of the school library.

  • ACAOSA holds AGM

    THE Anwar-ul-Islam College, Agege, Old Students Association (ACAOSA) will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) on Sunday in Lagos.

    The meeting, according to a statement by the association’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mufutau Ottun, will take place in the school hall.

    Ottun urged all the alumni to attend.

  • ‘Be good to your neighbours’

    Doing good to neighbours irrespective of religion affiliations has been identified as the only antidote to peaceful co-existence.

    An Islamic scholar, Mallam Abdul Wasiu Mikhail said this during the Iftar (Breaking of fast) of the Anwar-ul-Islam College Agege Old Students Association (ACAOSA).

    An alumnus Alhaji Tajudeen Adekoya hosted ACAOSA members in his Lekki Lagos residence.

    Mallam Mikhail said doing good to neighbours is an injunction of Allah on all Muslims.

    “None of you can be called a true believer until you love for neighbour what you love for yourselves,” he said.  He urged the gathering to worship Allah alone, saying associating partner with Allah is a grievous sin.

    “I have not created you mankind and the jinns except that you worship Me,” he quoted the Quran.

    He said obligations of Muslims to the society include assisting the poor and the needy and also see to how it will progress.

    Mallam Mikhail stressed the need for parents to take care of their children, urging them to monitor the social life of their children.

    “We must monitor the social life of our children because if they are left alone, they may go above board,” he said.

     

     

  • ACAOSA meets

    The 2013 Annual General Meeting of Anwar-ul Islam College, Agege Old Students Association (ACAOSA) will hold in the school’s premises, College Road, Oniwaya-Agege, Lagos on December 29 by 2pm.

    According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the body, Alhaji Mufutau Ottun, all old students are expected to be seated by 1.45pm.”