The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OLD STUDENTS

  • 40 years after, old students give back to school

    Forty years after graduating from their alma mater, Class 73/77 of Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, popularly called Compro, will tomorrow kick off their four score anniversary  with the hand over of two renovated classrooms to the school.

    They will hold a special career talk to be delivered by accomplished members of the set from across varying backgrounds. The talks are meant to sensitise and motivate the current students in their career choice. Also, copies of high quality special branded exercise books will be donated to them in addition to other items.

    In a statement signed by Chairman, 40th Anniversary Publicity Committee, Adebayo Sowemimo, the grand finale holds in Abeokuta, with a special recognition awards to past teachers.

    Two posthumous awards will also be given to Pa Lamidi Sofenwa, former principal, and Dr Olumide Kuti, the school’s first Guidance Counsellor. A special recognition award will go to Olamide Balogun, an engineer, who is also the President of the National Association of Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro Old Students.

    Wale Ogunyomade, chairman of the set, said the awards were meant to  recongnise the awardees’  contributions to the school.

  • Old students celebrate founder

    Old students celebrate founder

    The feeling of nostalgia gripped the old students of Government High School Ilorin, as they celebrated the school’s Golden Jubilee.

    Coincidentally, both the school and host Kwara State celebrated their 50th anniversary.

    Part of the activities of the school formerly known as Ilorin College before the takeover of the Kwara State government , was the reception in honour of old and current students by the family of the founder and first principal of the college, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Abdul-Razaq.

    Interestingly, the occasion was an avenue for the old students to once again show their appreciation to the founder’s efforts at making lives and moulding destinies.

    National President of the ICI/GHS Old Students Association, Alhaji Raji Afolagbe, said the college established in 1967, had contributed greatly to the development of education in Kwara, North Central and Ilorin in particular.

    Afolagbe, who was a Commissioner of Education and Human Capital in Kwara State, noted that the founder’s generosity and community service provided great opportunity for many people in the state to have access to quality post-primary education which was not easy to come by.

    Afolagbe said: “The dream of the founding father was to have quality seed. His dream was to have a school that will blossom; and today that dream has come to pass.

    He continued: “He’s a man of big vision. He was our role model. He had lot of students that he was paying their school fees despite the fact that he established the school. What he did was to approach some of his friends and corporate bodies to give out scholarships. All you just see is that Baba has gotten a scholarship for you and you don’t know how.”

    According to him, the college’s greatest achievement lies in the quality and substance imbued in its old students who are making their alma mater proud in their various chosen fields.  To show their appreciation, Afolagbe said many of the old students flew in from Europe and America to be part of the golden jubilee.

    In his own remark, the first registered pupil of the school on nominal list, Alhaji Mumini Abdulmalik, noted that the founder of the school inspired him and generation of students to success.

    “He taught us hardwork, integrity and honesty and these are hallmarks of his own professional and public service career. I must confess Ilorin College now GHS prepared us well for life,”said Abdulmalik who was also the college first senior prefect and a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs.

    Another old student and former Attorney General of Kwara Staten Alhaji  Saka Isau,,  described the founder’s foresight as ‘unparalleled’.

    “In the entire North Central, that was the first secondary school. He gave some of us poor people the opportunity to attend secondary school and today, you can see us. I was the Attorney General and former Secretary to the Government of Kwara State. He is my role model. I decided to study law because of him, ” said Isau also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    The founder in his address, identified policy inconsistency and lack of political will on the part of governments as encumbrances facing the education sector.

    Abdul-Razaq, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said for Nigeria to have quality education, policies must match vision of development for the society.

    The founder represented by his eldest child Dr Alimi Abdul-razaq, implored the old students not to relent in contributing to their alma mater.

    He said: ”Let me admonish you to continue to give back to your alma mater as government alone cannot shoulder the burden of education in these times we are. I, therefore, appealed to all old students of this institution to develop a more positive disposition towards contributing to the development of the school.

    “Fifty years in the life of an institution such as ours is certainly an occasion for joy and celebration. You came in as boys and girls, you saw, and you conquered. I am proud of the great feats and accomplishments of some of you, in your respective careers and callings. As a father and proprietor, this is a source of joy to me.”

    The high point of the event was presentation of recognition awards to many of the distinguished ex-students by the wife of the founder, Alhaja Raliat Abdul-Razaq, who was the first administrator of the school.

  • Jurist urges old students to aid alma maters

    Kogi High Court Judge Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye has called on old students of secondary schools in the country to rise to the challenge of restoring the old glory of their alma maters.
    He said such gesture could be in form of infrastructure, moral and educational development.
    Omolaye-Ajileye, a Koton-Karfe Resident High Court Judge, made the call in Kabba at the re-union and award ceremony by the Old Students Association Steering Committee of the St. Barnabas Secondary School (SBSS), Kabba.
    The jurist, who is also an alumnus of the school, said it was disheartening to see old students of institution who were in high and privileged positions while their alma maters faced moral and infrastructure decay.
    He noted that the level of dilapidation of structures in many secondary schools, coupled with dwindling rectitude and general decay remained high.
    Chief Femi Melefa, Chairman of SBSS old students Steering Committee of the association said the reunion of the old students of the school was partly to midwife renovation of structures in the school.
    He also said that the association was formed through an old student, Mr Mike Obanure.
    Earlier, the Principal of the school, Mr Femi Ilugbuhi, also called on the old students to help fix the dilapidated structures of the school and restore its old glory.
    A former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Austine Oniwon, Prof. Sam Ale, former head of National Mathematical Centre, Abuja and Dr S.A. Adebola received “Iconic and outstanding contributions” at the occasion.
    Other awardees were; a former Principal of the school, Mr F. B. Olotu and Mr Olonire Solomon, an old student, for being worthy ambassadors of the school.
    Past principals of the school, old students and pioneer executives of the association took a tour of the school facilities.

  • 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 students urged to embrace CodeLagos

    Old students have been drafted to help the Lagos State Government meet its target to open 300 ICT centres in schools for the CodeLagos project by April.

    Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, met with leaders of alumni associations of public and private schools last Friday at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Oniru in Lagos, to intimate them of plans to groom one million pupils and youths on program by 2019.

    He urged them to adopt CodeLagos as an initiative to improve their alma maters.

    He spoke on preparations for the roll out of the programme, including the recruitment and training of 1,500 facilitators, who would use the specialised curriculum to teach primary and secondary school pupils, undergraduates, as well as youth not within the school system, to code.

    Speaking on how they could come in, Bank-Olemoh suggested that old students’ associations should equip and manage ICT centres in their alma maters for the coding classes which would hold 2:30pm-4pm five times a week.

    He said they could establish new ICT/digital libraries or upgrade facilities on ground in the schools.

    He also said they could pay the facilitators’ allowances.

    Old students in attendance included Mr. Tunji Alapinni, a retired police officer and Vice-President of St Gregory’s College Old Boys Association; and Mr  Adeniyi Aromolarin, President, Government College Lagos Old Boys Association.

    The project is to expand to 500 schools by September.

  • Old students praise Osun

    The Old Students Association of the Baptist High School, Iwo, Osun State, has hailed the government’s effort in ridding schools of cultism and other social vices.

    Handing over a block of classrooms renovated by the 1989 set, the President of the set, Prince Ademola Adedapo, said it was important for everyone to support the government to revamp education in the interest of the future of the nation.

    On behalf of his mates, Adedapo, who urged students to shun cult activities, praised Governor Rauf Aregbesola for planning to introduce Education-Marshals (Edu-Marshals) in all state secondary schools to enforce discipline.

    He blamed parents for their wards’ bad behaviours, advising that training and upbringing of their children should not be left in the hands of teachers.

  • Old students honour teachers

    Methodist Grammar School Old Student’s Association, Bodija, Ibadan (Class of 1995) has honoured 13 teachers with cash prize and awards for their outstanding performances during their stay in the school.

    Those honoured were: Price Adeolu Omokanjuola, Mrs Joana Olusanya, Mrs Obafunmike Odunlami, Elizabeth Adetola, Mr Peter Owoade, Mr Julius Akinleye, Mrs Modupeola Ladapo.

    Others were: Mrs Oluremi Bolaji (late), Prof Ismaila Sangodoyin, Mrs Titilayo Ayo-Williams, Mrs Abimbola Tewe, Mrs Alice Onimode and Mr Olufemi Bamidele.

    In his welcome address, the Chairman of the association, Akinwole Akinleye said the gesture was to appreciate the great impact the awardees made in their lives.

    “You all here have really impacted our lives and today we want to show you our gratitude. We want to say with all emphasises that the foundation and direction you gave us made us who we are today.

    “This class set started its formation in 2005 and we registered it with the Corporate Affairs Commission. The objective of this association is to give back to our school and our teachers because they have both given us so much,” he added.

    Listing the achievements of the association so far, Akinyele said: “We have spent over N600,000 on some projects in the school, which includes rehabilitation of borehole system, purchase of 10 white chalk boards, furniture for teachers an payment for WAEC registration for 10 students”

    One of the awardees, who is also the principal of Methodist, Mrs Modupe Ladapo, thanked the old students. She recalled that the school was an eyesore when she assumed duty in 2014.

  • Old students celebrate 25th anniversary

    The 1991/92 Set of the Anwar-Ul Islam College Agege Old Students Association (ACAOSA) will hold its 25th Anniversary and awards at the college premises in Agege, Lagos on Saturday.

    A statement by President of the Set, Mr. Rafiu Mohammed and Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Gbenga Akinwunmi, stated that prominent people and former teachers would be honoured on the occasion.

    “Our 25th anniversary will also be used to honour our teachers and other distinguished individuals who impacted on us academically and morally during our stay at the college, which is the first Muslim secondary school in West Africa and formerly known as Ahmadiyya College”.

    The occasion would also be used to inaugurate the building that houses the the college’s biology and chemistry laboratories as well as the vice principal office and a staff, which was renovated by the Set as part of its contributions towards uplifting the school’s infrastructure.

     

  • Old students meet for professional growth

    Old students meet for professional growth

    The 2005 graduating class of the Department of Accounting and Finance of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has held reunion meeting in Lagos, last weekend. The class president and chairman, Planning Committee, Mr Ganiyu Ibrahim, said the meeting was aimed at helping its members realise their goals.

    Ibrahim said the coming together of the class members was an opportunity for them to network and exchange idea on professionalism. He said the class had the aim to register as alumni body in order to help Accounting and Finance students achieving their academic goals.

    He said: “We aim to bring ourselves together as alumni body of our department. We plan to legalise this association so that it becomes a platform that will used to help ourselves, students and our alma mater every year.

    “This association aims to identify members’ needs and render assistance.  Our coming together will help us to interact to know what we needs to become successful professional and how we can help bring about positive change in the country. The platform will be a link between us and our department.”

    A member, Mr Adesina Ojeniyi, said the class members were brought together through a WhatsApp group chat. He said the essence of the reunion was to chart a course for professional development.

    He said: “We need to tell other members, who are not part of the group why we are coming together and our vision for the group. Our activities in the coming days would show what our intensions.”

    The Planning Committee chairman inaugurated the group’s Board of Trustees and sub-committees, including finance, welfare, ethics and drafting committee, to lead the group’s activities.

    Ojeniyi urged members of each committee to give full support to their leaders, urging them to work together. He charged the committees to formulate the implementable visions for the group.

     

     

  • Old students meet 50 years after, to lift alma mater

    For 50 years, they had been apart after their secondary education at St Louis Secondary School, the first post-primary female school in Ondo State.

    Any wonder members of the 1966 set of the old students were excited when there was an opportunity for a re-union recently.

    The old students, who are now occupying various vital positions within and outside the country, converged on the school premises in Ondo town penultimate Monday to appreciate God and give back to their alma mater.

    The anniversary began with a lecture entitled “Challenging Girls to Greatness” delivered by a member of the 1966 set, Mrs Adun Akinyemiju, a Lagos-based school proprietor from Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area.

    Mrs Akinyemiju noted that everyone was created by God for a purpose and people achieve greatness when they work hard to bring to fruition their God-given mission.

    According to her, greatness radiates from inside out and enables one to honour the value that could be fulfilled through that purpose.

    The school proprietor observed that many are living below the plan of God for different reasons such as lack of knowledge and understanding as well as the environment/background of individuals.

    She said: “Many people still tell you that the place of woman is in the kitchen, you are a girl and you will amount to nothing, you are the last born or you are in the middle. You must put that off your mind and be determined to reach the height God has destined you to reach in life.”

    Mrs Akinyemiju made references to some women in contemporary period who are achievers because they have entered into such purpose.

    According to her, Mrs Ibukun Awosika and Mrs Osaretin Afusat Demuren are chairpersons of two strong banks in Nigeria  currently, just like Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who is the Minister of Finance.

    Within the 1966 set of St Louis, Mrs Akinyemiju listed Mrs Sola Dublin-Green, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Marine sector who retired as the Director of Marine Geology and three medical doctors namely Dr Bolaji Ogunsulure, Dr Boyin Omotoso and Dr (Mrs) Adeleye.

    She also mentioned Mrs Biola Longe who retired as Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Catherine Kuye, a leading educationist, Mrs Margaret Fasae, a seasoned Pharmacist and others who are performing excellently in their various professional callings.

    The National President of the Old Students Association, Mrs Elizabeth Adeyemi appreciated God for sparing their lives to witness the 50th anniversary of their passing out from St Louis Secondary School, Ondo with flying colours.

    She recalled that all of them (1966 set) passed out with good grades and are now in better positions.

    According to her, in uplifting their alma mater, they had come together to raise the institution by tiling the school hall, renovating the dining hall and preparing to execute many other projects.

    She urged well-meaning individuals in the society and the state government to rehabilitate roads within the school premises to ease movement.

    Highlight of the anniversary was the thanksgiving service held at the school’s chapel.