The Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadanland, Senior Chief Mukaila Gbolagade Olawoyin, has called on Ibadan residents and indigenes to prioritise investment in the education of their children and communities, describing education as a powerful tool for personal and societal transformation.
Speaking at the weekend during the Recognition of Excellence Day organised by the national body of the Islamic High School Old Students Association (IHSOSA), Orita Basorun, Ibadan, Chief Olawoyin emphasised that education equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to make meaningful contributions to society.
He charged alumni of the school to give back by supporting current students and strengthening ties with their alma mater.
“As alumni of this great school, you’ve been equipped to make a positive impact on the world. We must ask ourselves: to what extent have I contributed to the greatness and progress of this school?” he said.
The event honoured distinguished alumni, including retired Honourable Justice Mashud Akintunde Abass, Sir Oladipupo Emmanuel Onabanjo, Professor Isiaka Adekunle Amoo, Professor Kamar Tayo Adeleke, and Alhaji Isikil Gbolagade Yussuf, for their achievements and support to the school.
Chief Olawoyin, who chaired the occasion, praised the school’s current leadership and teaching staff for maintaining high academic and moral standards, urging continued efforts toward excellence.
“Let us remember that our achievements bring pride not only to ourselves but also to our school. Together, we must strive to create a brighter future for generations yet unborn,” he concluded.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the National President of IHSOSA, Dr. Bayo Busari, said the event provided a valuable opportunity for old students to reconnect and witness the current state of their alma mater. He noted that the gathering was also a platform to celebrate members who have remained committed—both morally and financially—to uplifting the school’s legacy.
He said, “This provides the opportunity to reunite with old alumni after several years of natural separation in pursuit of life’s endeavours. There is no doubt that some of us may not have had the opportunity to set our feet on the soil of the school years after our departure. We are here with the opportunity to see the state of our Alma mater, first hand, beyond what we may have heard or read from different sources. Above all, this gathering provides us with the opportunity to recognise a few of us who have not only closely identified with the Association morally and financially, but have been holding the flag and banner of the school high in their various fields of endeavour.
“Let me restate that this recognition will not be limited to the five eminent Alumni of today, but it shall be an ongoing exercise to identify and honour deserving Alumni. It is gladdening that the founding fathers of IHSOSA anchored their vision on a solid and resilient foundation that has allowed us to weather the storm associated with an organisation of this nature. I salute our dear Papa L.A.B. Adigun for the vision and the commitment with which the vision was nurtured. The manner of the foundation, which you laid and the spirit of selflessness with which you erected an enduring structure on it have made it possible for succeeding generations of leaders in IHSOSA not only to sustain but build on it without any iota of doubt that the structure will collapse.
“Let me also acknowledge the unquantifiable contributions that all my predecessors have made in sustaining the legacy that has been passed on from one administration to another until the baton was handed over to us. We shall continue to uphold this legacy until we hand over to another successor. As we water the plantation of our fellow beings, I pray that Almighty Allah does the same for us. In almost two (2) years since we came on board, we have been able to build on the achievements of those before us, with the consciousness that whatever we can achieve belongs to all alumni who toil day and night with their God-given wealth to assist us in our various programmes. It may amount to self-aggrandisement for us to begin to claim the success of all accomplished projects, since some were ongoing when we came on board, while we may have to hand over to our successors some projects that we may not be able to complete.
“However, let me reiterate some ongoing projects for which we need financial contributions from those of us here today, as well as other Alumni who, for one reason or another, are not present here today. But we are assured that our voice will get to them through those of us here today. The flagship of the project that we set to accomplish is the building in which this programme is being held. In fact, today’s programme is the first of such to be held here after the L.A.B. The Adigun Alumni Centre project was flagged off a little over one year ago. The concerted efforts of all of us who contributed with a lot of enthusiasm have seen the project thus far. It is our hope, with your active financial support, that we will complete this building before the end of this year.
“Another project that we hold very dear to our hearts is the Agip Building, which was facilitated by Dr. (Chief) Sabit Tunde Carim. We consider it imperative to bring the building, which is in a complete state of disrepair, back to life for two reasons. First, it will amount to a high level of insensitivity to allow the building become a complete ruin, given the spirit behind its facilitation and coupled with the fact that this will send a wrong signal to others who may have such an opportunity of bringing a project of this nature to our Alma mater in the future.
“Secondly, with the policy of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) to begin the conduct of their terminal examinations via CBT, this building will bring to reality our aspiration to run a computer-based test centre, to which the building had already been earmarked. More importantly, Islamic High School is the first public Secondary School in Oyo State to successfully conduct an internal computer-based test for its students. We are also calling for financial assistance to bring this dream to reality.
“Also, in order to complement the State Government in the area of having the required teaching personnel, in concert with the School Principal, one of our disused buildings was made available to us for conversion to a Corpers’ Lodge, for corps members who may be posted to the school. Members of the 1981 Set heeded our call for assistance by taking up the rehabilitation of a section of the building for this intended purpose. As of today, work on the rehabilitation has reached 80% completion with a provision for four (4) rooms completed with kitchen and toilet facilities. This building will give us the opportunity of being selective in the calibre of corps members that will be posted to the school, particularly for teaching purposes. However, the other section of the building is yet to be taken up by another Set.
“Meanwhile, our efforts and attention have not been directed at the Old Students Association alone. We have carried on the baton of assisting our students in the area of the Extra Mural Programme, which we inherited. I am delighted to inform you that this intervention has been yielding the expected results in the performances of our students in externally-organised examinations such as WASCE, NECO, and UTME. Not only are the results from WAEC and NECO getting improved year after year, but our students have been performing creditably in the UTME. This year, the least score from our students was 226, while we have those who scored well above 300 marks. We intend to continue to build on our achievements in this regard. We salute our teachers and the Education Committee for the job they have been doing well.
“Let me also put it on record that we have been investing heavily in providing a conducive learning environment for our students and members of staff. There have been various Sets which have taken an interest in the repairs and maintenance of the offices and classrooms, the majority of which are in a sorry state. The 1984 Set undertook a complete rehabilitation and furnishing of the Principal’s office.
In 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1994, sets undertook the repairs and furnishing of some classrooms. This commendable effort has spurred us to come up with the policy of “adopt a classroom” to ensure that all the remaining 23 classrooms are put in a functional state. In the same vein, 1975 Set took up the completion of the Lawn Tennis court, which was originally part of the new building built under the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, which was never completed. A Sport Committee has been set up to ensure a productive use of the facility, and the one in front of the Alumni Building when it is completed.”