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Tag: alma mater

  • 21 years after, artists rise for alma mater

    21 years after, artists rise for alma mater

    After getting trained 20 years ago in different areas of fine art, including paintings, sculpture, carving and others, no fewer than 14 artists have chosen not only to give back to their alma mater, but to mentor the younger students.

    For five days, the old students of the Fine Arts and Design Department, The Polytechnic Ibadan gathered from all over the country to showcase various artworks and build on the positive mindset of the students while providing them with the necessary fillip to succeed in their academic training.

    Tagged: the Abinibi Impressions, the exhibitors displayed works in the field of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, ceramics, signages, photography and printing.

    According to the organisers, the exhibition was not only to showcase the works of arts of the old students but to encourage the students of the Arts, Design and Painting Technology (ADPT) department on their chosen field and career as well as provide them with opportunity for mentoring.

    The President of the group, Mr. Gbenga Isreal Oladokun said the intention of the exhibitors was to help carve a niche for the alma mater in the field of arts and design. Although Oladokun graduated as the best students in painting 21 years ago, he said his love for painting has pushed him to love publishing more and which has grown to be his areas of strength over the years.

    He added that it is to challenge the students of the institution to have a first hand experience of what the old students are capable of doing and relate with same through mentoring.

    Aremo Dipo Akinsete, a painter who also exhibited some painting acknowledged that his sojourn in the field of painting have shown that there is a disconnect between the old students and the institution and which is affecting graduates of the school, especially in the areas of mentoring and exposure and as such the group decided to put up the exhibition to address the anomaly.

    “There is a disconnect and that is what we are trying to reconnect. Because in most cases when you go to Lagos and other places, they will tell you there is no arts in Ibadan, but whereas there is arts in Ibadan and so what we are trying to do now is to  reconnect that  and create a kind of role and allow the students to have mentors and people that they can relate with as well as learn one or two things from,”he said.

    Happiness Ikusika, an artist who has enjoyed Ford Foundation’s grant, noted that what he learned in his school days was different he then had to go digital because arts is more than what people think.

    He stressed that his mission as a member of the exhibiting team is to challenge the young students to be more creative in their artistic creations as well as bring them up to date on the relevant tools that can make the work easier.

    “This is for the students. They don’t know what awaits them outside the school and particularly in the fields of arts and what we are trying to do now is to give them  a kind of first hand and real life preparations and expectations so that they will not narrow their scope to only the things they think they are taught or seeing on campus. It is more than just scribbling, there are applications out there that can make the job better and that is one of our mission. It is about creativity. We are also looking at exposing them to the business angle to it,” he said.

    Yemi Ajewole Alade, a sculptor, who also had more than five works on display, said the exhibition is not only to give back to the school and students from what they had acquired in the last 20 years, it is their own way of supporting and encouraging the students.

    She explained that their passion was fueled from their observation that many of the students, who often seek industrial attachment placement, often fail in a simple question that is basic in arts, coupled with the unencouraging working conditions of the lecturers.

    She, however, maintained that with the support of the management, the group is ready to do all in its power to ensure that the students get better.

    Some of the old students, whose works were on display at the exhibition included: AustineAlade, a sculptor; Andrew Akinbodewa, a painter; Wilson Okonyeh-Dixon a landscape painter; Otunba Gbenga Aremo, a trained Artist, painter and publisher; Wale Onakoya, a graphic artist; Aremo DiipoAkinsete, a specialist in oil-based medium paintings; Akande Femi Olajire, a prolific ceramist and Omolola Aderoja, a creative and prolific painter.

    Others were Gbogboade Adeniran, an accomplished lane marker and signage expert; Ajala Oluwole Folaranmi, a writer and painter; Lawe Filips, a United Kingdom (UK) based painter and photographer.

    Meanwhile, Wilson Okonyeh-Dickson, who identified the lack of mentors and role models for himself and his colleagues back in their undergraduate days, believed that the institution also needs to place premium on the quality of lectures that are engaged to impact on the younger generation, pointing out that it will be more credible for the institution if it parades an array of lecturers, who still make out time to practice arts either in paintings, design, ceramics or others.

    According to plans, for every work sold during the five-day exhibition  certain percentages of the proceeds is to be channeled to the development of the school and support the students.

    Specifically, while 10 per cent of the sales go to the departmental coffers, another 10 per cent goes to the students upkeep coffers to support them in procuring learning materials and tools.

    Despite the ongoing strike action that stopped the exhibition from being held on the institution campus, the  event was well attended by the top management staff of the institution to show their solidarity and support for the good intentions of the old students.

     

     

    Top management staffs at the event include The Deputy Rector, Mr. Augustine Oyeleke, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Mr. OlalereRemi and Head, Arts, Design and Painting Technology Department, Mr. E. Omotoso.

    While declaring their support for the initiative, Oyeleke charged the old students to make the exhibition an annual event so as to provide the needed encouragement to the students while also making mentoring and on the field experience available to the teeming young arts and design students of the institution.

    He assured that the management will do everything in her capacity to tap from the wealth of abundant resources of the Old students to better a lot of the ADPT department. The event also had in attendance the Permanent Secretary, Oyo state ministry of Information, culture and tourism, Dr. BashiruOlanrewaju.

     

     

  • ACAOSA 77/78 set to build N40m e-library for alma mater

    THE Anwar-Ul Islam College Agege Old Students Association, ACAOSA 77/78 Set is to build an e-library for the school.

    At the celebration of the association’s 40th anniversary in Ikeja, Lagos, its President-General, Alhaji Lawal Pedro (SAN), said the project was borne out of the need for the old students to give back to their alma mater.

    Some old students were honoured on the occasion.

    Among the awardees were Maj-Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Coach Tunde Disu, Justice Waheed Oshodi, Chief Imam Ahmed Yoousuf, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Hakeen Ogunniran and Dr Tajudeen Afolabi, among others.

    Pedro said the proposed e-library would advance learning in the school, adding : “The project is significant because it is our way of giving back to the alma mater that have made us what we are today. This is also our own way to assist those running the school presently as well as the government in educating students  There are several other developments going on already in the school by old students.”

    He explained that there the school’s  library would be rebuilt to make it  modern , virtual  and a resource centre.

    “ The project is expected to kick off next year and we hope to complete it also next year while the school will do its 70th anniversary. We hope to begin and deliver it.  The expected budget is N40 million including the books, computer system, IT section and e-library that would have archive from old memories, it would be a resource centre. It would not only be for the students, but for the environment and you must be a registered member to access it.”

    Pedro urged all old students to see the project as as theirs and contribute towards its execution.

    He said :“This project will assist in infusing quality education in the current and future students of the college.  It would also assist the government in building better and credible future leaders for the nation, which would also guarantee a better and rewarding old age for the present generation “.

    The Chairman on the occasion,  Hashim Oyekan, said it was an opportunity for the old students to give thanks to God for what they have become in life.

    He praised them for deeming it fit to give back to the school that moulded them.

    He urged all old students of the school to join hands to realise the dreams, noting that the library would accommodate more than what the common library would. “It is a state of the art, it is credible, it would help people search and get whatever material they need and would be done easier. “

    He urged the old students to continue to remember their source, the institution that provided for them the opportunity for them to grow.

  • Old Boys inaugurate multimillion naira projects in alma mater

     

    The Alumni Association of Government College Ibadan, Government College Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA), yesterday inaugurated multimillion naira infrastructures to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the establishment of the institution.

    The inauguration which peaked the 2017 annual reunion event also saw the conferment of the association’s national Merit Awards on some ‘Old Boys’ for their contributions to various fields of human endeavours.

    The projects included rehabilitation of the physics and chemistry laboratories facilitated by the 67-71/73 set in commemoration of their 50th anniversary of entry into GCI. The project cost the set about N18 million naira.

    Also, the renovation of the SS1 Block which was to the tune of three million naira was done by the ’82 set to commemorate their 35th anniversary.

    Additionally, the 1977 class renovated the Class 5 block.

    Distinguished Old Boys who bagged special honours included the Chairman, Governing Council of Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Jide Owoeye; Mr. Adeniyi Owolade; Dr. John Oshinyimika and Dr. Thomas Obanya.

    The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, while inaugurating the facilities commended the passion of the Old Boys in contributing to the progress of their alma mater, calling on other alumni members of other schools to emulate such virtue.

    The national president, GCIOBA, Mr. Biodun Jolaoso, said the association embarked on the renovation as its own way of reviving the lost virtue of the institution.

     

  • Alumnae renovate, equip lab for alma mater

    Worried by the deplorable state of facilities in their alma mater, the 1970-74 Alumnae set of Queen’s School Ibadan have renovated and handed over an equipped block of biology laboratory to the students and management of the school.

    The project, which held as part of the Queen School Old Girls’ Association’s (QSOGA) mission to “Pass on the Torch”, entails re-roofing of the block, installing laboratory equipment such as test tubes, microscopes, teaching aids, chemicals and practical tools among others, which cost the group about N2 million.

    President of the 1974 set, Mrs. Modupe Ehirim recalled that the death of Dr. Stella Adadevoh, an Old Girl, who died to prevent the spread of Ebola virus in Nigeria, was the first event that brought some of the old girls together since after leaving school over 40 years ago.

    She said the sad event afforded some of the old girls the opportunity to re-unite and build a network through the social media, adding that the group’s relationship received a boost when some of them visited the school to see the possibility of giving back to the institution that had impacted so much on them.

    According to Ehirim, who was also the Head Girl QSI 70-74 set, the old girls were very challenged after listening to the report on the state of the school and expressed willingness to change the situation.

    She added that the report was a source of shame to the old girls, particularly when a delegation visited the school to inspect the biology laboratory of “our school which used to be the benchmark for standard in the whole country in those days”.

    The Chairman, QSI Governing Board, Mrs. Ronke Azeez who is also a 1974 set of the school said the point where the project was almost stalled as a result of dearth of fund was the exact time the school’s Principal told the Governing Board that the students have been going to another school to learn biology practicals.

    She said the report inspired the 1974 set to fix and equip the biology laboratory for the use of the students, assuring that the lab has been adopted by the set as their pet project since biology is a subject every student of the school must study before graduation.

    She urged the students to manage the facility well and let the donation challenge them to pass on the torch too.

    While accepting the donation on behalf of the management and students of the school, the school Principal, Mrs. Babalola Fatoba commended the old girls for the gesture, even as she assured them that the facilities would be managed well to ensure that they are put to good and productive use by the present and future sets of students.

  • ‘Help rebuild your alma mater’

    Old Students of Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo Oyo State, have been urged to visit their alma mater frequently in order to assist it in rebuilding its glory.

    A former student of the college who graduated in 1977, Mr Lai Onipede made the call at the inaugural meeting of the 1984 set of the college organised by Mr Akintunde Ojo in Ibadan.

    He said when Kiriji College was founded in1952, the community tried so much to build it, adding that it was to train and produce future leaders.

    Onipede said:” The College has produced prominent personalities such as traditional rulers, ministers in the federal cabinet, captains of industries, high-ranking officers in the Armed forces, professors of notes in and out of the country.”

    He regretted that looking back at the state of the school currently, it has lost its glory due to neglect by successive administrations in the state.

    “The fact can be attested to if one visits the school to assess the level of decay as regards the maintenance of infrastructure on ground. The school, with over 400 students cannot boast of 13 permanent teachers, the principal inclusive. How can we have thorough teaching when the required numbers of teachers are not available?

    “The then most cherished Science laboratories are all gone. The buildings are all dilapidated, all the hostels, especially the female hostels, dining and assembly halls are all gone, “he said.

    Onipede called on allý old students of the college to come together and rebuild their Alma mater, stressing that government cannot do it alone ‘ but we all need to give back to the school that made us’.

    Similarly, the Senior Prefect of the 84 set, Adegoke Olaoluwa said the meeting was organised in order to bring together all their classmates whom they have not seen for over 33 years ago.

    He said this will give them the opportunity to refresh their memory of what their time was in Kiriji College and be able to know how to assist.

     

  • ‘Help rebuild your alma mater’

    Old Students of Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo Oyo State, have been urged to visit their alma mater frequently in order to assist it in rebuilding its glory.

    A former student of the college who graduated in 1977, Mr Lai Onipede made the call at the inaugural meeting of the 1984 set of the college organised by Mr Akintunde Ojo in Ibadan.

    He said when Kiriji College was founded in1952, the community tried so much to build it, adding that it was to train and produce future leaders.

    Onipede said:” The College has produced prominent personalities such as traditional rulers, ministers in the federal cabinet, captains of industries, high-ranking officers in the Armed forces, professors of notes in and out of the country.”

    He regretted that looking back at the state of the school currently, it has lost its glory due to neglect by successive administrations in the state.

    “The fact can be attested to if one visits the school to assess the level of decay as regards the maintenance of infrastructure on ground. The school, with over 400 students cannot boast of 13 permanent teachers, the principal inclusive. How can we have thorough teaching when the required numbers of teachers are not available?

    “The then most cherished Science laboratories are all gone. The buildings are all dilapidated, all the hostels, especially the female hostels, dining and assembly halls are all gone, “he said.

    Onipede called on allý old students of the college to come together and rebuild their Alma mater, stressing that government cannot do it alone ‘ but we all need to give back to the school that made us’.

    Similarly, the Senior Prefect of the 84 set, Adegoke Olaoluwa said the meeting was organised in order to bring together all their classmates whom they have not seen for over 33 years ago.

    He said this will give them the opportunity to refresh their memory of what their time was in Kiriji College and be able to know how to assist.

    The convener of the meeting, Mr Akintunde Ojo said the meeting was timely and will go a long way towards contributing towards the rebuilding of our Alma mater.

    “We have invited majority of the stakeholders of the college too in order for us to forge ahead on where to start from in our Alma mater. We have elders here and people of like minds to know what else we can do to bring back the glory of our Alma mater” he said.

    Ojo appealed to all former students of the college to assist the school that made them.

  • ‘Stop using our alma mater as event centre’

    Old students of Government High School Ilorin (GHSI) have decried the use of the institution for social activities. The students made the observation in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the 50th anniversary ceremony of the school, formerly known as Ilorin College.

    “We are very sad with the use of our school as event centre,” said President, GHSI Old Students Association, Raji Mohammed. “This will lead to much destruction in our school. On this note, we ask the state Ministry of Education to stop the use of GHSI for ceremonies and non-academic activities.

    “After all there are event centres around the school. We wonder how they expect the students to learn during these ceremonies as they could interrupt teaching and learning.

    “On behalf of this association, I want to make a special prayer to the state government. It is a fact that Alhaji Abdulganiyu F. AbdulRazaq single handedly founded this school in 1957, it is also a fact that the school was taken away from him in 1976. It is an indisputable fact that the compound of this school today houses four schools, another fact is that for the fears that the school was taken over from the founder, a dime has not been given to the man as compensation for his efforts.

    “For equity’s sake and prosperity, we are asking the state to compensate founder with nothing but by naming the school after him. The better time is now that the state is celebrating its anniversary. This will serve as good lesson to all Kwarans. We thank God the man is alive, it is better now to honour him than when he is dead.”

    The founder of the school, Ambassador Abdul-Razaq and the first senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the north, attributed the falling standard of education in the country to policy inconsistency.

    He warned that the nation’s education sector is already lying in intensive care and needs surgical operation for total revival.

    In his speech entitled: “Five decades after: Rekindling the Hope of Qualitative Education,” the former diplomat, who spoke through his son, Dr Alimi Abdul-Razaq, also blamed the challenges bedeviling the education sector on lack of political will.

    He warned that educational policies designed on deceit would end in abysmal failure.

    Abdul-Razaq, the Mutawali of Ilorin, emphasized the importance of quality education as a way of priming successive generations for the task ahead and urged the government to return to the drawing board and fashion out new policies that would match the standard envisaged.

    He also noted that new policies must key into the benchmark prescribed by the United Nations in order to have a literate society, a clear departure from what we have presently.

    “One should at this juncture reiterate that no society can develop beyond the quality of education it bequeaths to the people living within it. Thus, this assertion justifies the importance of education in the life of man, right from the cradle to the grave.

    “Though some of the problems earlier highlighted above also persist in this present time, it is disheartening that the contemporary challenges have assumed a frightening dimension.

    “If the truth be told, our education system is in coma in intensive care unit, and it requires holistic surgical operation to revive it.

    “We have got to a level that the quality of students churned out today as graduates have become subjects of scrutiny. The problem is more pervasive in public schools. For the record, the problem did not just start today, it is an age-long battle, which has continued unabated.

     

  • ‘What we learned from our alma mater’

    ‘What we learned from our alma mater’

    A founder and chief executive of three firms and other young management officers inspire varsity freshmen with memories from Salem University Lokoja, SUNDAY OGUNTOLA reports 

    While his colleagues are still begging to apply for paid jobs, Gideon Ekom is already running three companies. Amazingly, he achieved the feat just four years after graduation. The founder of Wear with Style Perfumes, a perfume sales firm, Diplomatic Republic Entertainment-D.R.E, an entertainment outfit, and Under 30s CEO Naija, a media enterprise that celebrates    young tycoons, enthralled students of his alma mater with secrets of his success.

    It was at a parley between fresh and ex-students of Salem University, Lokoja. It was organised to inundate the freshmen with the possibilities that lie ahead if they maximise their time on the campus.

    Beaming with a smile, Ekom said, “This institution is not just an educational learning hub but truthfully a transformational, leadership training ground for optimistic, innovative, goal-driven minds imbedded in the teachings of Jesus Christ.”

    He said he owes everything to the impeccable trainings received at the institution. The training, he said, has allowed him to see the wisdom in hard work and jettison mediocrity. “It’s not surprising that today I find myself so passionate about my engagements to the extent it has become a lifestyle,” Ekom shared.

    He added: “I charge every undergraduate student of the institution to harness this opportunity and fully get involved in its global leadership spiritual drive, for both their personal advancement and the society at large regardless of the challenges.”

    Godwin Awojobi, a senior software engineer with Biscom, believes the institution was a budding ground for his masterful performances in the corporate world.

    “Paired with academics, my degree played an integral role in the development and preparation of my quantitative and qualitative skills both necessary tools for career success in information technology.

    “Salem University has helped me grow my skill-set and put me in a position to succeed and also help others to succeed,” Awojobi shared.

    Nnadozie Sandra graduated from the Microbiology department of the institution in 2014. She works as an Operations Manager in an international networking company. She said: “I studied under great men and women who took their time to mould us into global leaders both in and out of the classroom.

    “Through the effective leadership segments, seminars and programs held during my stay in Salem University I have been transformed from a shy, naïve and timid girl to a reserved, God-fearing, relentless, goal-oriented woman.”

    She added: “Salem University not only equipped me educationally but also spiritually and mentally and I was prepared to face the world and be a change agent anywhere I go.”

    Edwin Kuzayat works with The Nigerian Bottling Company, Abuja. He has become such an indispensable staff in the firm because of the rigorous training he received in Salem University, he stated.

    He said, “I cannot stay out of my work place for half a day unnoticed; it is like I create a vacuum. That is what Salem University has helped build in me.”

    Andeley Naomi graduated in 2015/2016 from the department of International Relations and Diplomacy. She said she left the institution a transformed person.

    “Salem University availed me the opportunity to come out of my shell, leave the little shy girl I was behind and become confident and bold, because I was a global leader.

    “It provided a platform for me to lead and wear the shoes I otherwise would not have before I came to Salem. There was no room for mediocrity.

    “I learned to make changes and not wait for change. I learned to be the change I want to see in the world. I learned to bring people out of the labour market and not to join the labour market. I learned that there is dignity in labour.

  • Old students give back to alma mater

    Old Students of Aquinas College, Akure (ACA) have given scholarship awards to pupils of  their alma mater.

    The occasion was the school’s 66th inter-house sports competition held at the school premises.

    An alumnus and Chairman of the occasion, Tunji Ariyomo, released the 2016/2017 scholarship grants to 20 pupils of the school in four major categories: merit, indigent, character and sports.

    Some of the beneficiaries of the 2017 scholarship included Lawani Samuel and Fidelis Nwaji (both SSS2), Akinnawonu Bidemi and Adejuyigbe Oluwajuwon (JSS1); Edet David (JSS2), Bodunde Emmanuel and Netufo Adebayo (SSS3) among others.

    Owoeye Marvelous was honoured for being the overall best in sports, while Olarewaju Heritage (SSS3),  who is the senior prefect, emerged the best behaved student.

    The wife of the state governor, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, was the special guest of honour at the occasion.

    Mrs. Akeredolu, whose husband is an alumnus, counselled the students to pursue integrity above every other consideration in line with the motto of the school.

    She urged them to ‘aim above the skies, promising that the school would one day produce the President of Nigeria.

    She cited one Dr. Victor Olalusi, who scored 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) in Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow (RNRMU) in 2013 and Ariyomo as some of the shining lights that have passed through the institution.

    Ariyomo was the overall best in engineering disciplines at the September diet of the 2005 professional examination of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

    Mrs. Akeredolu said the academic success of the school is excellent, exemplary and outstanding, noting that there are testimonies of successful students from the school who have distinguished themselves in various careers.

  • Old boys donate lab, borehole to alma mater

    Old boys donate lab, borehole to alma mater

    The 1984 set of St. Patrick’s Grammar School (SPACO), Orita-Bashorun in Ibadan, Oyo State, has renovated a laboratory and donated borehole to the 55-year old school.

    The projects were handed over to the school during the set’s reunion.

    The event brought together members of the set in Nigeria and in other parts of Africa, Europe, America, and Asia.

    In his address, President of the set, Mr Lanre Olujitan, said the project was necessary to give back and also improve facilities in the school.

    “This gesture forms part of the plans of the 1984 Set to give back to the school for making us who and what each of us is today. SPACO gave us so much and it is necessary for us to appreciate our alma mater. Beyond this, we felt the need to provide the students with a conducive environment, which includes modern laboratories and water that would enhance their well-being and facilitate interest in the pursuit of academic excellence, which will in turn promote manpower development for the benefit of Oyo State and Nigeria in general,” he said.

    Giving details of the renovation, Olujitan said: “The renovation of the laboratory involved a complete repainting of the interior and exterior of the building, replacement of the entire roofing, ceilings, burglary proof, doors, louvres, rewiring and plumbing works by installing new wash hand basin. In addition, the Set installed new ceiling fans, new lamp holders and energy saving bulbs and security lights in all offices/rooms within the laboratory so that the students and teachers can derive maximum benefit from them. The borehole has also been piped to supply water to the laboratories, while work is set to commence on piping them to provide water to other areas of convenience, including toilets, in the school.”

    Olujitan thanked members of the set colleagues for their passion, support and financial contributions.

    He urged well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to assist in providing facilities that would inspire qualitative teaching and learning in the school.

    The Commissioner for Education, Prof Niyi Olowofela, who was represented by Mrs Folasade Alamu, stressed the importance of partnership among various institutions.

    “It is clear to us that there has to be a partnership between the private sector, government and other institutions to provide the kind of education that our children deserve. For Oyo State to work for all, quality education is very critical,” he said

    On his part, Principal of the school, Mr Patrick Akinrinade, said the donation would help improve teaching and learning.

    “These facilities are very important to the school as will enhance teaching and learning,” he said