The ’94 set of Ransome-Kuti Memorial Grammar School, Surulere has planned a re-union of members for next Monday, which falls on Boxing Day.
A statement by Dele Owolabi, a member of the set, noted that the event is scheduled to hold at Inglesias Hotels, Yaba by 12noon
TO give back to its alma mater and celebrate its 35th anniversary, the old girls association of Festac Girls Secondary School (FGSS) has announced its second reunion scheduled to hold tomorrow and Saturday.
Addressing reporters at the school premises, FGSS Coordinator Mrs Juliet Emili, told reporters that the school is 35.
“Last year, we had a reunion which was the very first, since we formed the association. This year, it is going to be the second reunion in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of the school. We felt it will be worthwhile to celebrate it by giving back to the school that moulded and formed us to what we are today.”
She said tomorrow’s events which hold at the school premises, is dedicated to celebrating pupils and teachers, while the reunion on Saturday are exclusively for the old students. The event commences at the Tender Touch Sports ground, FESTAC with a green carpet by 1:30PM.
She said some of the activities would feature counsel by experts as well as motivational and career talks to pupils, among other activities.
According to her, three projects would also be inaugurated on the occasion.
“At the moment we have started fixing their boreholes and toilets. We have been fixing the toilet in the junior school and senior school and bore hole for both schools. We also made a mural painting placed at the entrance of the school. It has the picture of the school,” Mrs Emili said.
In attendance will be FGSS longest serving principal, Olori Adedayo Atinuke Adeolu, past principals of the school among other dignitaries.
The 95 set of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota in Ogun State, has handed over two boreholes to their alma mater.
Olayinka Okelana, who is the leader of the old students, said it was a way of giving back to the school that gave them the best of education in their formative years.
“We made our research and discovered that the students lacked potable water, and had to rely on shylock water vendors who milk them dry, so we decided to give them water. We also discovered that the school has been partitioned into the junior and senior schools, each with a principal, so we decided to give them two boreholes. We strategically situated one of the boreholes near the kitchen, so that the students will get food made from clean water,” he said.
He said the project was monitored by members of the set who are engineers to ensure quality.
He also emphasised their willingness to do more in future to ensure that Iganmode Grammar School maintains its pride of place among secondary schools in Ogun State and Nigeria.
Responding to the gesture, some of the current pupils expressed their happiness, adding that they were shocked that people who left the school over 20 years ago could still look back and give the school such huge projects.
The Old Students’ Association of Community Senior Secondary School, Mushin, recently organised a programme to guide pupils of the school in choosing their careers.
The first lecture delivered by the school’s guidance counselor, Mrs Christiana Uzor, focused on the topic “Career Choice”.
Mrs Uzor counseled the pupils that choosing a career requires taking decisions that should not be done in a hurry.
She told them to consider their interests, passion and job security before making a choice.
“Students who are experiencing difficulties in career choice need to pray because there is nothing one can do in life without God’s endorsement. Also, going against your parents’ wishes sometimes can be very challenging so students will need to work hard to convince their parents,” she said.
Other speakers at the programme concentrated on various areas of careers like science, art and engineering.
Mr Abiodun Amodu, who spoke on engineering and science, told the pupils to take such subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry and agricultural science serious if they were interested in science or engineering.
He told them of the benefits of working in both fields of endeavour as well as career opportunities in them.
However, he advised the pupils to gain vocational skills in metal work, wood work, building, cultural and creative art, short hand and typing and all others so as to be self employed.
Speaking on Arts as a specialisation, Mr. Kareem Jimson, a security consultant, said art is a system of doing things.
He advised the art students to identify who they are and not feel bad when mocked by others because ssss’art is doing what you know best that gives you an edge.”
Former Coordinator of the Ondo State Information Technology Development Centre (SITDEC), Akure Tunji Light Ariyomo, has led his friends and former school mates to their alma-mater -Aquinas College Akure (ACA), to institute a yearly scholarship aimed at re-introducing the spirit of competitiveness among pupils in the school.
The group under the auspices of ACA Old Students Association(ACAOSA) 88/89 set of which Ariyomo is president gave out prizes, awards and scholarship to deserving pupils numbering over 120.
Thirty-three of the awards were merit based category targeted at the overall best three pupils in each arm while a special category comprising of 10 indigent pupils also went home with a special yearly scholarship support.
Ariyomo also announced a special ‘Dare-Dunning’ scholarship prize for a pupil of the school, Master Olawumi Fisayo, who came first in the national JETS competition in Nigeria.
He named the award after a former principal of the secondary school, Mr. Enoch Dare and its former cleric, Rev. Father Dunning.
The award saw the group paying all associated fees of the beneficiaries directly to the school while books worth over a million naira ranging from science, commercial and art literature to exercise books and stationery that included mathematical sets and other related articles were handed over to the beneficiaries in the presence of their parents amid jubilation.
Ariyomo, who spoke to The Nation after the event, identified the need to promote positive competition as well as address the plight of indigent students as some of the motivating factors for the gesture.
He thanked the school’s Principal, Pastor Ayibiowu Babasola and his management for their focus on excellence while also thanking his school mates in the 88/89 set for rising up to the occasion in kind and cash.
The chairman of the scholarship committee of ACAOSA 88/89,Dr. Demola Akinsorotan, explained to the audience that the scholarship programme was the fulfillment of a major campaign promise that Ariyomo made to members of the 88/89 set during the campaign period for election as president of the association.
Founded in 1951, Aquinas College is the first secondary school in Akure.
The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Uli, Anambra State chapter of St Charles College Old Boys Association (SCOBA) has held an award and career convention for staff and pupils of their alma mater.
SCOBA is an association formed by ex-students of St. Charles College in Awka with the objectives to sustain relationships built in the school.
The event was held penultimate Friday at the school’s Malachi Hall and witnessed by its proprietor and Archbishop of Onitsha Arch Diocese, Most Revd Valerian Okeke, who was represented by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Very Reverend Anthony Asoanya. The school principal, Reverend Father Vitus Mbamalu, led teachers and pupils to the occasion.
In their opening address, the SCOBA president, Victor Obiajulu, and his deputy, Victor Oguaju, thanked the school management for training they received.
Their speech was followed by the motivational session, where Oguaju spoke on Importance of higher education and the danger of dropping out after secondary school. Also, Hon Akachukwu Agwuna spoke on entrepreneurship, where he highlighted the advantages of acquiring skills in addition to education certificates.
The event featured career talk, where Mr Agogbua Obumneme spoke on Biochemistry as a discipline, while Mr Charles Uzor spoke on career in chemical engineering.
Asoanya hailed the ex-students’ gesture, urging the school management to ensure continuation of quality education in the school.
The session was followed by award presentation. The students presented Award of Gratitude to the principal and the longest serving teacher, Miss Getty Onwuazo. Obumneme was honoured for his contribution to the growth of the association.
The Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA) has appealed to its members, to donate towards its N500 million scholarship scheme and N1billion endowment fund.
In a statement, President-General of USOSA, Kabiru Nuhu-Koko, said N500 million was the amount required for the take-off of the scholarship scheme.
He noted that the scholarship would be awarded to 250 unity school leavers for the 2015/2016 academic session based on merit, gender, geo-political zone and physically challenged.
“Each Unity school’s best graduating student will be awarded a scholarship tenable in any Nigerian university in Nigeria. A number of best graduating female students and some physically challenged students will also be awarded scholarships. N500million is required for the take-off of the scholarship scheme,” the statement said.
The association is also seeking donations for the N1billion Endowment Fund, which was set up to build a secretariat for the association, and address the welfare needs of members, among others.
“The proceeds of the Endowment Fund will be used to meet the welfare needs of USOSAns, strengthen USOSA’s financial capacity, create a bright and prosperous future for its members, assist its members who may from time to time need assistance, build an up-to-date plaza that will house the association’s secretariat, provide facilities for commercial accommodation and above all positively intervene in the Nigerian Education sector.”
Mr Kabiru Nuhu-Koko pledged that the donated funds would be well-managed.
The old students of defunct Osford Comprehensive Secondary School in Aba, Abia State have held a reunion. At the meeting, the students discussed the challenges facing their alma mater, which include the tussle over the school name and declining population of pupils and facilities.
The school has since been renamed Merit Base Christian College.
The old students, under the aegis of Golden Elites of Osford, met at Freeman Hotel in Aba to discuss how they could help the school to regain its lost glory. The school proprietor, Dr Onyike Onyike, was represented by Miss Ogochukwu Okafor.
The proprietor urged the old students not to relent in praying for the school and rendering any help they could, including publicity.
Okafor informed the old students that the management decided to change to the school name to Merit Base Christian College, because Osford, she said, was having negative spiritual effect.
The former students lamented the change of name, saying they could not cope with the new name. They resolved to write the proprietor to restore the former name.
The old students elected officers into the offices of their association. Emmanuel Ahanonu was elected the president, while Ogochukwu Okafor became the Vice President and Treasurer.
Others are Emmanuel Chibuzor, Secretary General; Amarachi Kalu, Assistant Secretary; Aaron Okonkwo, Financial Secretary; Onyeka Olia, Public Relations Officer (PRO); Chijioke Egeonu, Provost; Chidinma Ojukwu, Director of Welfare and Chibuzor Nnanna, Director of Social.
•Govt urged to change school’s name
When they left Eyinni High School, Ibadan 44 years ago, none could tell what life had in stock for them as they set out to chart a course for themselves, drawing from the education they had just received at their alma mater.
Between then and now, many others had taken a similar step after graduating from the school located at Orita Challenge area of the Oyo State capital.
But 44 years down the line many of them had cause to thank God, their teachers and late Chief Jonathan Odebiyi who founded Eyinni High School 49 years ago, for the quality of education and moral they received while at the school.
The occasion was a grand re-union of old students of Eyinni High School and the venue was the school Assembly Hall that had played host to many important events in the history of the school and the students including numerous Valedictory service.
The old students all occupying highly-acclaimed positions, having acquired professional accomplishments in different fields of endeavour, turned out in large numbers, looking their best at the re-union, the first in the history of the school, to talk about the good old days, share experiences of life and deliberate on ways to move the school forward.
They reminisced on their time at their alma mater, and renewed their call on government to rename the school, Jonathan Odebiyi High School.
The president of old student association, , Mr Kunle Adedeji took the gathering down memory lane with jokes, anecdotes and tales of events that happened years ago.
He stated that nothing brings more joy than reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances at a time that is least expected.
“Some of us have not seen in the last 44 years when the first set of students graduated. Today such people are meeting face to face to reenact those old days of seriousness in academics and fun chanting; hope you have not forgotten those nicknames of yesteryears. It is worthy to note that the association tried in so many ways to bring this august occasion into being many years ago which resulted into little success due to difficulty in communicating with our members but today, the story has changed tremendously as the world has become a global village where it is possible now to communicate with anyone through social media platform” he said
On the impact made so far by the association on their Alma mater, Adedeji said:” we have been involved in physical development of the school through building of new structures, repair and maintenance of old ones, such as the block of building housing the principal’s office and computer room, donated by Pastor Bayo Olugbemi on his 40th birthday 11 years ago; repair of dilapidated buildings, re-roofing of blocks of building used as classrooms and building of a standard hall”
The president of the association further disclosed that the old students have given out materials and prizes to the best teachers of the school recently in order to encourage them.
According to him, “we have instituted various prizes on some subjects annually to encourage our students academically, which were made possible through some of us like my good self, Barr. Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), Bayo Olugbemi among others.”
Lamenting on the school’s land being encroached upon, Adedeji said some people are claiming to have purchased the school land from some landowners, stressing that the association stood up to defend the school by writing the state governor to intervene in the matter to halt the invaders.
He went on to say that:”kudos must be given to Barr. Kunle Kalejaiye, Pastor Bayo Olugbemi, Alhaji Saka Adepoju, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, Pastor Raphael Okpaire, Dipo Durojaiye, Lara Akintoye and Kunle Adedeji on this issue”
Leading the call for the renaming of the school to Jonathan Odebiyi High School was a legal luminary, Barr. Kunle Kalejaiye who stated that Late Chief Jonathan Odebiyi, the founder of the school, was the principal from 17th January 1969 and contributed immensely to the development of the school.
“Chief Odebiyi believes that every citizen must not only pass through a school system but also must be tailored to be productive, skillful, patriotic, politically aware and courageous. When I was here Chief Odebiyi handled the Monday morning assembly in his academic robes. The Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone’s academic gown with its hairy hood was fixed in my mind. He spent less than 90 days here to put up the laboratory building, the technical workshop, a well equipped library and a school farm. Chief Odebiyi wore the school uniform and ate from the same pot as the students.
“Do we have an all round education (today) as we had in our days and bequeathed to us by this school? Can you proudly beat your chest and say that this is the same Eyinni High School of Mrs Abigail Olabisi Abioye, Mr Adesina and Baba Okposo. ýIf you look around you, our school land had been stolen by land speculators and dare devil land grabbers. The government cannot be bothered. I wrote to the government on 30th of April, 2013 but no response. I wrote again on the 23rd of January, 2015, threatened to take them to court, before they replied on 25th of February, 2015 for the first time”, he said
According to him, “I am using this occasion to appeal to the state government to change the name of this school from Eyinni to Jonathan Odebiyi High School.
“By and large, our journey for the past 49 years has justified the hope expressed 49 years ago by Chief Odebiyi. It is now beyond argument that Eyinni High School named after one who became deified in Iboro, Yewa, has become a colossus, a giant and a proud parent of us all” Kalejaiye said
Also the general secretary of the association, Pastor Bayo Olugbemi disclosed that for the rehabilitation of the school structures, the old students had spent over N20 million in the past two years.
“The old students of this school are ýcontributing immensely to give our Alma mater a face lift. There are rehabilitations of classrooms, halls, laboratory, staff rooms going on now. We also solicit assistance from cooperate bodies for all this projects. Most of the structures of this school are dilapidated and we can’t fold our hands and watch” Olugbemi said
Another old student of the school, Colonel Ojo Olusegun from the Defence headquarters expressed his joy for reuniting with his friends after over 30 years. He said nothing makes him feel happier than seeing his old school mates in good health and making progress after many years.
The Old Students Alliance-Badagry (OSAB), has urged the Governor-elect of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his deputy, Dr Oluranti Idiat Adebule to hit the ground running once they take office on May 29, 2015.
In a congratulatory message to the incoming Lagos Chief Executive, his deputy and all the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates from Badagry area that were victorious in the March 28 and April 11 elections, OSAB enjoined Ambode to immediately immense himself and his team in the arduous tasks ahead to sustain the enviable height of the centre of excellence as the state of reference in the country.
The congratulatory message signed by president Mr Felix Sadare and the general secretary Otunba Yomi Olomofe, drew the attention of the successful party candidates to the extremely high expectations of the people of Lagos in particular, and Nigerians generally in the areas of infrastructure developments, quality and affordable health care delivery, provision of quality and affordable housing schemes across the state, continuous employment generation, security of lives and property of Lagosians, etc.
“We wish to place on record our unwavering confidence in the calibre and competence of our Governor-elect Mr Akinwumi Ambode, his deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule, and indeed, the candidates representing Badagry at the federal and state legislative chambers. These are people of exceptional personal and professional endowments, who have made invaluable contributions over time, to the growth of Lagos state. We therefore envisage a seamless transition and subsequent elevation of the state to higher levels of excellence”. The alliance said.