The Nation Newspaper

Tag: mater

  • Old students spend N25m on alma mater

    Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Methodist High School, Ilesa in Osun State, its old students’ association has spent about N25 million to renovate dilapidated buildings and provide other necessary infrastructure in the school.

    The money was spent to construct a new school gate and drive, re-roof five blocks, consisting of 29 classrooms among others.

    Addressing a press conference, the President Old students’ Association, Methodist High School, Ilesa (OSAMTHSI), Dideolu Falobi, disclosed that the old students are already preparing a series of activities to give the school a befitting 60th anniversary.

    Falobi, who further disclosed that the anniversary is scheduled for January 29-31, 2016 said the old students’ support for the school is to enhance learning outcomes in order to give the current students a secured future.

    He said the old students would not relent in restoring the school’s past glory.

    The association, according to him,  is also planning to build an e-library/ICT centre and a new sport centre with modern facilities as well as renovate 11 blocks of classrooms and complete the school hall.

    Though acknowledging the financial challenges facing the state, Falobi appealed to the state government to support the old students in their quest to ensure that the standard of the school does not go down.

    He also called on the parents, who have their wards in the school, distinguished Ijesa sons and daughters, the Methodist Church and other stakeholders as well as industries, banks and others in the private sector within and outside Ijesaland to come to the aid of the school.

     

  • Invest in your alma mater

    The National President FUNAAB Alumni Association, Prof Lateef Sanni, has urged members of the association to look for avenues to invest in the university.

    Sanni, who is also the Dean, College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), said this during the 18th annual convention and 17th annual lecture series of the association.

    “What I am calling for is that you need to come back to the university and invest either as individuals or as groups,” he said.

    Sanni said they could invest in the International Scholars’ and Resources Centre (IS&RC), the Zoological Park and the various crop and livestock projects on the campus.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oyewole, praised the association for its contribution to the overall development of the university through its yearly scholarship awards for indigent students and other initiatives.

    The convention’s lecture entitled: “Improving Rural Livelihood for National Food Security”, was delivered by Prince Adetokunbo Ogundipe, Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ibarapa Local Government, Eruwa, Oyo State.

    Highpoint of the event was the conferment of distinguished awards on two personalities, the first VC, Prof Julius Okojie, and the Pioneer Registrar, Princess Adebisi Gbadebo-Soboyejo, for their contributions to the development of the university over the years.

     

  • Ex-students decry decay in alma mater

    Old boys of the Government College Ibadan (GCI), are not happy about the state of their alma mater.

    They complain that the present state of the school is far from what it used to be in their time.

    Speaking during a briefing to announce activities to mark the school’s 85th anniversary on Monday, the National President, Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association (GCIOBA), Chief Biodun Jolaoso, said that up to the late 70s, GCI was a citadel of learning with airy classrooms, trimmed sports fields, well-equipped science laboratories and a thriving boarding system.

    He said: “Then, the boys drank from the fountain of knowledge of their masters, both white and black in the Arts, Science and Technical Subjects. The boys had a rounded education that moulded and equipped them to face the challenges of life with courage, candour and excellence. The boys were taught team spirit and leadership.

    “But today, the story is totally different. The school is facing serious challenges including decaying infrastructures, academic decadence, poor staffing, over population, security and sanitary problems, decaying sports culture and many more. There are over 3,000 pupils in GCI today with only about 20 regular teachers. Such teachers/pupils ratio can never produce academic excellence.”

    In the last 10 years, Jolaoso said the old boys have invested more than N150 million to upgrade the school’s facilities.  However, he called for a partnership between the association and the Oyo State government to effectively address the challenges facing the school.

    “The old boys are ready to partner with the state government in a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. Such PPP arrangement will involve creation of new policies on the quality of both pupils and teachers; partnership with other alumni associations and new curriculum development; establishment of a board of governors for the school; development of an infrastructural master plan including buildings, sports facilities, roads, furniture, hostels and staff, sourcing funds for the, school including endowments, grants and direct alumni intervention and restoring the values and traditions of the founding fathers,” he said.

    He noted that activities lined up for the programme, begins tomorrow with a public lecture titled: Challenges of Re-Inventing Quality Education in Nigeria.  The lecture, to be delivered by the Chairman, Governing Council, Lead City University Ibadan, Prof Jide Owoeye, is to hold at the Jogor Centre, Off Liberty Stadium Road, Ibadan.

    A jumat service at the GCI mosque and a novelty football match between the GCIOBA team and Legelu Grammar School Old Students team are also scheduled to hold tomorrow. (The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, is expected to captain the Lagelu Old Students’ team for the match that would hold at the GCI main field opposite Lafia Hotel, Ibadan.) The 50th anniversary dinner of the GCI 1964 set would also hold by 6.30 pm at Kakanfo Inn conference centre Joyce B, Ring Road, Ibadan.

    On Saturday, the old boys would gather at the GCI assembly hall to sing songs at an event, which will also feature the association’s AGM and election of new officers, memorial service and group photograph.

    Jolaoso said same day, the Hall of Fame and Scroll of GCIOBA honours awards recipients, a new library donated by the University Press and other projects would be launched at Lalekan Are Hall, GCIOBA house complex.

  • Ex-students give back to alma mater

    The 1979-1984 set of the Nigerian Military School Zaria, Ex-boys Association, has donated classroom furniture worth N5 million to their alma mater.

    The National Coordinator, NMS Ex-boys Association (79-84 set), Deji Fisho made this known at the association’s 30th Anniversary Award Dinner and Gala in Abuja.

    He explained that the gesture was part of the group’s commitment to development of the school.

    “We have been involved in supporting best students in various subjects.  We have also been involved in giving back to the school. Today we actually have a programme called ‘Giving Back to NMS’ and we are going to be giving about 1,000 units of tables and chairs to the school,” Fisho said.

    The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the anniversary, Mr. Chidi Onuogo, explained that the donation was based on needs assessment of the school.

    “There are so many things you can do for a school, but based on needs assessment, we took a trip to the school, spoke to the commandant and asked him what he would want us to do and then he led us and said he would be happy if we could contribute by donating seats and desks tothe students,” he said.

    Guest speaker, Rear Admiral Godwill Aye Ombo (rtd), said many old boys had donated to the school in the past two years. He urged others to emulate them.

    “The set that passed out in 1993 donated 20 computers to celebrate the 20th year of their P.O.P. Senator Major Sani Sale also renovated the Boy’s RSM Quarters; another ex-boy built a swimming pool for the school.

    “I, therefore, urge all ex-boys that we must relent on our spirit of solidarity, we must continue to build up our sets, we must continue to help our junior ones to build up their sets and must all belong to state chapters,” he said.