The Nation Newspaper

Tag: alma mater

  • Adeniyi donates books to his alma mater

    Veteran journalist and literary icon Chief Tola Adeniyi has presented a set of 32 compendiums of Encyclopaedia Britannica to his alma mater Ago Iwoye Secondary School in Ijebu, Ogun State.

    Adeniyi, the Bobagunwa of Ago-Iwoye, graduated from the college 55 years ago, where he once served as the Chairman, of its Board of Governors.

    Adeniyi praised the former Principal of the school, the late Mr J.O.B. Adebambo, who inculcated the reading culture by compelling every pupil to read and summarise a novel weekly.

    As the school’s official reporter, weekly commentator and columnist on the Press board as well as being the president of the school’s Literary and Debating Society and Drama Club, Adeniyi stated that the college laid the foundation for his career in the arts and journalism.

    In addition to the Encyclopaedias shipped in from Canada, the veteran journalist also presented 100 novels donated to the school by Dr Raphael James, founder of the largest private/public library in Nigeria, Crimmd Free Public Library.

    Adeniyi also donated 10 of the books authored by him to the school.

    Receiving the books on behalf of the college were the principals of the Senior and Junior arms of the college, Mr Adekunle Fenuga and Mr Adegboyega Osunsami.

    Fenuga expressed profound appreciation for Adeniyi’s patriotic gesture and enjoined other old students to emulate his altruistic example.

    Both the National President of Ago Iwoye Old Students Association, Chief Babajide Oyeti, a retired Permanent Secretary, and the Secretary- General Dr Joke Sheyin, a university don, praised Adeniyi, urging the teachers and pupils of the institution to make the best use of the books.

    In his introductory remark, Otunba Yomi Bada, an old student and retired Customs boss, eulogised Adeniyi and made a brief citation of the literary giant who founded the school’s Press club in 1959 and was Editor of the school’s magazine The Spartan.

    Publisher, Femi Odugbose and entrepreneur Dele Owolowo were among the dignitaries at the event.

  • Alumni donate sick bay to alma mater

    The 1998 set of Government Senior College, Agege has donated a sick bay to the school.

    The bay was inaugurated by the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District in Lagos state, Dr Olayinka Ayandele.

    The bay was equipped with bunks, drugs, toiletries and first aid box.

    The commissioning of the facility was part of activities marking the 20 years reunion of the set

    The initiative, according the 1998 set, was intended to cater for the health challenges of pupils in the school.

    Prior to the commissioning of the facility, the school has no health facility where sick pupils could be treated.

    Project Organising Committee Chairman Mrs Nahimat Adekoga said more projects are coming to the school.

    Ayandele said the facility would be of immense benefit to the medical needs of pupils.

    She enjoined other alumni to emulate the 1998 set.

    The Principal of the school, Mrs Odunuga Nwafor described the gesture as not only enviable but, also wonderful and commendable.

    “The school is delighted for your generosity and kindness in giving back to your alma mater. Your set is indeed very unique in all respect. Your spirits of togetherness and promptness in responding to some of the challenges in the school have indeed shows your concern for the development of humanity.

     

  • Old Girls donate N5m project to alma mater

    In commemoration of the 50th year of passing out of the school, the old students of St. Anne’s School, Molete, Ibadan (68/72) have given a facelift to the school’s physics laboratory.

    The project, which cost about N5 million, comprised tiling the floor, installation of ceilings, wiring, plumbing and equipping the facility with necessary laboratory tools.

    The old students under the aegis of Seminary St. Anne’s School Old Girls Association (SSASOGA) said the gesture was aimed at giving back to the school and also sow seeds in the lives of the young school girls to get the best that will make them become better ladies in future.

    Although the project was supposed to be handed over to the government later in the year as part of activities  celebrating the golden jubilee of the set, the President of the association, Mrs. Remi Kuteyi, said the laboratory had to be opened upon its completion so it could be put to use by the pupils in the forthcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examinations.

    The event with the theme: ‘The making of ladies-Handling over treasures of beauty, truth and skill’, was attended by members of the set from across the country as well as government representatives led by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, who inaugurated the project.

    lowofela said the government’s realisation of the need to reposition education in the state led to the idea of creating the School Governing Boards (SGBs), which he disclosed had been adopted by the regional think tank of the government, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.

    Thanking the old students for their donations and collaboration with the government, Olowofela challenged them to explore more of their influence and resources to better the institution that has made them. He assured that the government would not fail to look at the means of collaborating with the association to address other issues  affecting the school.

    SSASOGA National President,   represented by Mrs Morayo Fawehinmi, said the set was also concluding plans to identify and adopt less privileged and brilliant pupils and mould them to be more relevant in the society.

    She appealed to the government to allow the old students do more in the areas of managing the school, especially in returning it to its boarding status to allow a better opportunity to groom and empower the girls.

    Golden Jubilee Project Committee Chairman, Olori Nike Ashiru, said the set decided to embark on the project after considering the lists of needs provided by the school authorities, adding that the laboratory was an eyesore before the renovation.

  • Nigerians urged to back alma mater

    •Ex-Mays mark 50th anniversary of leaving school

    An architect, Mr. Segun Ladega, has urged Nigerians not to forget their alma mater.

    He said they should support them morally, financially and spiritually.

    Ladega, who spoke at the weekend in Ikeja, Lagos at the 50th anniversary of leaving secondary school of the 1963-67 set of Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State and launching of a book titled: ‘Our Unforgettable Years’, said ex-Mays, as old students of the school  are addressed, should not forget  the school that made them.

    Ladega, who represented the chairman of the event, Otunba Adeleke Adeshina, said:  “Although I am not an ex-May, as I attended the oldest secondary school in Remoland, I admire Mayflower School, Ikenne because of its high standard.

    “The school has produced people doing well in all areas of life. Its products are successful. Mayflower School, in those days, was a rival to my school.  I admired it because the students lived a spartan life. This school, founded by the late educationist and human rights activist, Dr. Tai Solarin and Sheila Solarin, is known for high standard, which must be sustained.

    “I thank God that all of you are alive and successful in your fields. I enjoin you to support your alma mater, to restore its lost glories.”

    A member of the set, Mr. Oludayo Opanubi, thanked God for sparing their lives “to witness this august occasion of our 50 years of leaving school.”

    Opanubi, an engineer, said: “We thank God for making us to be successful in our endeavours and for giving us good health and long lives to witness this epoch-making event. To God be the glory. I also thank our parents and guardians for educating us at Mayflower, a school known for morality, discipline and high educational standard.”

    The reviewer of the book, Mr. Akin Aloba, said: “Mayflower School, Ikenne was known for high standard in our days. We had highly-skilled teachers from all parts of the world, including Britain and the

    United States of America.

    “We want to raise N10 million from this book launch. The proceeds will be spent on our alma mater because we want to restore its lost glories.”

     

     

     

    The old students, who reminisced about their days and bantered, thanked God for allowing them to witness their golden jubilee of leaving school.

     

  • Old students urged to assist alma mater

    Stakeholders in the education sector have been urged to collaborate for the development of the ailing sector.

    National President of Oyemekun Grammar School Akure (OGSA) Old Students Association Dr Olaoye Adegoke, spoke during a news conference marking the 65th anniversary of the school.

    Adegoke, represented by his deputy, Olugbenga Fabilola, said it had become imperative for the government to partner stakeholders to address dilapidated infrastructure and improve standard of education in public secondary schools.

    He assured that OGSA would not fail by asking the government to look into areas where the school system ails critically.

    “It is high time the government realised that it could not fund education alone. The resources available to it amid other competing demands should encourage government to seek financial options.

    “The facilities we have are old and have given way; therefore, the government needs to caution itself on free service that will not deliver efficiency and quality.

    “The government needs to partner parent-teachers’ associations (PTA), old students’ association, philanthropist,” he said.

    He argued that some schools should be returned to their original owners who are desirous of having them back and at beneficial terms. He also said the government should caution people on encroachment so the former could beef up more security in schools.

    Adegoke said it was disheartening that the land at the school premises has been encroached upon, saying the old students would liase with the government to reverse it.

    Adegoke faulted abolition of boarding school system which he said turned out as drawbacks for the education sector.

    Equally, the old students appreciated those that have passed through the school for maintaining its brand of handwork, courage and indomitable stance of spirit.

    Appreciating the association, the school Senior Prefect, Rotimi Akingbesote promised to imbibe culture of discipline and hard work.

     

  • Old students visit alma mater, plan intervention

    The 2001 set of Saint Joseph Secondary School (SJSS), Idimangoro, Agege, Lagos has visited their alma mater to assess the state of the school and plan development projects that would ensure a conducive learning environment its current pupils.

    Akinyemi Akintan, chairman of the SJSS 01 set, told The Nation that the aim of the visit was to  introduce themselves to the principal officers of the school and share their outlined plans to move the school to greatness.

    He said: “It was a wonderful time stepping into the school compound once again. The nostalgic feeling was quite overwhelming. We met with the Principal, Mr Iseyemi, who received us warmly and advised us on core areas of interventions required by the school.’’

    Akintan added that the alumni decided to undertake the visit to mobilise members both within and outside Nigeria to  contribute to the growth of the school.

    “The school as it is in a state of dilapidation and the environment is not conducive for learning. We were better off in our time than the current set.  However, hope is not lost. It gladdens my heart to see that many other old students’ sets are keen on working towards reconstruction of the school. This goes to show the impact the school has made in the lives of those who were privileged to pass through it”.

    The set also gathered for their first reunion at the De Dems Event Centre in Akowonjo. The union, which would be their first meeting after 16 years of separation, presented an opportunity for them to deliberate on infrastructural projects for the school.

  • Emir advises old students on alma mater’s development

    THE Emir of Tsafe in Zamfara State, Alhaji Muhammadu Bawa, has called on old students of schools to develop and strengthen initiatives that would support government’s drive for education development across board.

    Bawa said the process of nation building, especially in the aspect of education was a collective one.

    Speaking in Sokoto, Sokoto State, at the congress and award ceremony of Maru Teachers’ College Old Boys Association (MATCOBA), Sokoto State chapter Bawa, who is also an alumnus, said it was time old students of colleges exhibited the spirit of sacrifice and commitment to programmes and policies aimed at upgrading education and its components for excellence.

    This, the royal father said, would further equip schools in terms of infrastructures and intellect through finance of important projects.

    “The coming of old students should not only be an arena for relating with one another, but to strengthen and encourage advancement of the education sector as it affects infrastructure and standards in their respective schools,” he added.

    Guest Speaker at the occasion and Deputy Managing Director of Rima Television, Sokoto, Labaran Lumo Dundaye, noted that education sector is key in the development process of a nation and should not be left to government alone.

    Dundaye while presenting a paper titled:”Giving back to Maru Teachers’ College’: A Tool for Community Development”, described the topic as conscious driven towards developing mutual contribution strategies for Maru Teachers’ College.

    He identified standards, consumption levels, medical and economic fortunes, among others, to propel the primary needs for shelter, food, water, health, education and social status of the college and the community in particular as relevant components for repositioning the school.

    He noted that school’s old boys have the primary obligation to enhance development and create a conducive environment for learning through team work.

    “We need to create feeling of gratitude, culture of giving, strengthen communities, fight poverty, provide basic amenities among other positive initiatives of adding value to such schools,” he added.

    In the same vein, another old boy and Emir of Maru in Zamfara State, Alhaji Abubakar Chika Ibrahim, said the old boys were ready to extend the necessary support that would project the institution, which has now been renamed College of Education, Maru.

    He noted that the college had graduated prominent persons, who were at the peak of their respective careers across the country.

    “To us is a feat for the college to be upgraded to the status of COE,” he stated.

    Earlier, the state chapter chairman, Yakubu Hassan, called for synergy between the old boys and the institution in order to promote its ideals.

    “We need a strong bond that will further stem our drive for the development of the college,” he stressed.

    The National President, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Nahuche, extolled the giant strides of its members for raising and bringing the association to limelight while expressing it’s grieve over the recent inferno that destroyed the college property worth over N300 million.

     

  • Ex-pupils lift alma mater

    Ex-pupils lift alma mater

    EIGTHEEN years after they passed out, the 2000 set of Government Junior Model College, Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos returned last Wednesday for the inauguration of the school’s sick bay, which they financed. They also donated medical equipment, drugs, bed bunks, among others, to the facility.

    The Education District Director, Mrs Ganiyat O. Busari, who inaugurated the project, praised the former pupils for their gesture. Noting their good deed, Mrs Busari, who was accompanied to the ceremony by her colleague Mr Kolawole Fashoyin, said the government welcomed such partnership. She urged other ex-pupils of the school to emulate the 2000 set.

    The school’s Principal Mr Samson Bayo Afuwape, said it was good for former pupils to give back to their school. He said the project, which started last October, was completed on schedule.

    Ex-head girl Mrs Esther Oguntola and Raymond Ajibade, who led the group, thanked the immediate past principal of the school Alhaji N. O. Saheed for giving them the nod to execute the project. They urged the school authorities to maintain the facility, adding that this would encourage them to do more. They sought areas where they could assist in future. ”We hope to move,” Mrs Oguntola, who was known as Miss Akpede, in school,” assured said. Ajibade said their set is a microcosm of the school’s old boys association, adding that the group was planning to execute their projects in the school.

    At the senior school, they also made a similar request to the principal who promised to support them to enable them realise their objective.

    Memories of school life came alive when ex-pupil Akeem Adeyemi, was called upon to give the vote of thanks.  After the vote, Mr Adeyemi, sang the school anthem: ”God of universe… help our teachers too” effortlessly.  He received an ovation for his effort.

    A JS I pupil of the school Fathia Arowosafe, said: I thanked the former pupils for what they had done. The sick bay is beautiful.”

  • CRUTECH alumni seek more funds for alma mater

    The Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) Alumni Association has called on the state government to increase its budgetary allocation for the institution.

    Its President, Eyam Abeng, who made the call at a briefing in Calabar, however, praised Governor Ben Ayade for increasing the university’s subvention.

    He said with the state being the first in Nigeria to have two professors as governor and deputy, expectations were high on the achievements of the governemnt in the education sector.

    Abeng said previous governments did not give the university the attention it needed and appealed to members of the state House of Assembly, who are  working on the 2018 budget to give special consideration to CRUTECH as the state’s only university.

    “We, in Cross River, have been so fortunate to have two professors, who spent their formative years in the university, at the helms of affairs. Expectations are high and people want to see them perform better than previous administrations especially in the education sector.

    “While we commend the administration of Prof. Ben Ayade for increasing CRUTECH’s monthly subvention, we also want to charge the government for better budgetary allocation for the institution.

    “Nothing will be wrong if Cross River State becomes the first state in Nigeria to meet the UN recommendation of 26 per cent budget allocation to education. In fact, it is something many people are looking forward to as we are known as pace setters.

    “Therefore I want to appeal to the members of the House of Assembly that while working on the 2018 budget, specific interest should be given to CRUTECH. It will interest you to know that since the inception of the institution, the state government has not erected a single structure in the university yet students are in dire of theatre halls, hostels among others,” he said.

     

  • Lawyer donates ICT centre to alma mater

    To aid pupils in their academic work, a lawyer, Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, has donated an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre to Victory High school, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Ahonaruogho, an old student of the school, donated N 1 million to the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) to refurbish the centre and furnish it. He also gave  the school 10 computers, a projector and a printer.

    The centre was commissioned on Sunday as part of activities by the Old Students Association to mark the New year

    The centre is the initiative of the PTA, which equipped it with three computers before Ahonaruogho stepped in.

    He said the project which he did in partnership with his wife, Mojisola, was to enhance the pupils’ ICT skills

    “It was a project done by me and my wife to give the pupils a better atmosphere and equip them with ICT skills.  You cannot underestimate the relevance of ICT in our world today and it is important that the pupils are not left behind.

    “In any field of professionalism, the knowledge of ICT is a necessity. When people are armed with such skills, they explore more,” said Ahonaruogho, who is the Ogowamise of Owo Kingdom.

    The philanthropist also gives scholarships to pupils and a N50,000 endowment to the best graduating pupil.  He has also promised to sponsor any pupil who gained admission to study law at the University of Benin up to Master’s Degree level.

    The school Principal,  Mr Jolayemi Odedele, said Ahonaruogho had always supported the school.

    “Richard has always been supportive of the school. He has done a lot and is still doing more. It is a welcome development in the school. He made a promise to us and he fulfilled it,” he said.

    Odedele said the centre would  be of benefit to pupils and teachers, who will undergo training to expand their teaching delivery process.

    The Computer Teacher, Kelechi  Nwokocha,  said the use of comput