Kunle ADELABU
Members of the 1992 Class set of the Ipakodo Grammar School, Ipakodo in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu division, on Monday, September 30, 2019, donated 50 benches and desks to their alma mata.
The presentation was made in the present of the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, education District II, Mrs Anike Adekanye, principal of the school, Mrs Alebiosu, staff members and students who all appreciated the gesture.
While welcoming the old students, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TP/PS) and others, the school principal thanked members of the 1992 set for giving back to their old school.
“I want to use this opportunity to glorify God for the opportunity of life and the opportunity to see members of Ipakodo Senior High School 1992 set.
“I also want to use this opportunity to welcome the representatives of the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District II, Mrs Anike Adekanye.
“I also want to appreciate my vice principals, staff members and obedient students”.
She described the old students’ gesture as great thing that would positively impact on the educational development of the students of the school.
“This is indeed a great thing in wish I am well glad. I want to sincerely appreciate this set for your thoughtfulness to contribute your own quota to the emancipation of human beings.
“We appreciate you because you know where we are coming from and where we are going to.We appreciate you because you are able to set aside from that little that you have to take care of these young ones and I pray that God will take care of you too”.
The principal , who stated that the needs of the school are numerous, also called on other old students and members of the public to come to aid of the school since government alone cannot do everything.
“Our needs are so many and the government is indeed trying because to pay teachers salaries is not easy. This is a very big state and to a large extent , the government is supportive but they cannot do it all” , she stated.
“The government is relying on you and me to put in our own quota and we are glad to have you here playing your own role.
“God will bless you abundantly for this that you have done.
“To provide 50 benches and desks is not a small thing. We know how much it would have cost you. We really appreciate you.
“This would go a long way in ameliorating our needs and problems of furniture in this school. Just a while ago, Hyundai, in their magnanimity, gave us 20 computers” , she revealed.
“This is going to solve a lot of our problems and impact positively the students. You might think it is just benches and desks that you are giving but you are giving them much more. You are giving them life.”
Dr Abiodun Fatai-Abatan, a senior lecturer in the department of Political Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, speaking on behalf of the 1992 set, described the gesture as historic.
“We are happy because we are making history today. The kind of history that we are making has to do with kindness to humanity. And of course, our conception as members of the 1992 set is that we want to cultivate the culture of giving back to our alma mata”.
He challenged other sets that graduated from the school to emulate his set’s gesture in gving back to their old school.
“We want to set a very good example for other old students associations to always reflect and come back to their old school.”
Dr Abatan stated that the school impacted greatly on them which is why many of them are making giant strides in their chosen careers.
“Let me state this that Ipakodo Grammar School has really given us a lot. By the special grace of God, all of my colleagues that are here have accomplished in different areas of life. For example, in our midst, we have a Tax consultant, media guru, interior decorator, teachers and many others making giant strides in their chosen fields.”
“The school has really done great things in our lives and on that basis, we thought that we should come together to do whatever we could as a way of giving back to the school.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the principal, teachers and students of the school for their supports over time.
“We were faced with quite a lot of challenges during the process of constructing the benches and desks and period of delivery but we appreciate your supports”.
Tutor General/Permanent Secretary (TG/PS), Education District II, Mrs Anike Adekanye, in her remarks presented by her representative, Mr Omisope, commended the old students’ gesture and called on them to assist government in developing educational sector.
“I specially appreciate the old students’ association of this noble school for this initiative to partner with the Lagos State Government in providing these set of benches and desks to this school.
“This will make learning conducive for the students and teachers, therefore, it is of worthy to mention that provision of infrastructures in our schools cannot be wished away”.
She called on the community, individuals and businesses to assist government in developing the educational sector.
“Your gesture is in fact commendable and posterity will remember you for good. I am here to commend you for this giant stride.
“However, my appeal to you is sustain this line of action in our schools.”
She urged the students to emulate such exemplary conduct when they too find themselves in such position later in life.
“To my dear students, I want you to emulate this gesture from the 1992 set who are giving back to their alma mata, therefore, when you get to their stage in the nearest future, you too must learn to give back to this school that produce you because government cannot do it alone”.
Miss Gabriel Elizabeth, on behalf of the students of the school, thanked the old students for the gesture.
The student, who recalled sitting on the floor in her JSS classes, promised the donors that they will put the benches and desks to good use.
