Kunle Adelabu
-As Class of ’89 donate benches, chairs
The Lagos State Government on Thursday, December 19, 2019, commended the Ikorodu Grammar School Old Students’ Association for their support for their old school and for assisting the government in improving education.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Shamsideen Allison. P.S. Office of the Special Adviser on Education, gave the commendations when members of the Class of 1989 of the Ikorodu Grammar School Old Students Association donated 50 benches and chairs to both junior and senior schools of their alma mata to mark the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the school.
The Permanent Secretary was represented by Mr Ibrahim Mustapha, an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Education and the Public Relations Officer of the national body of the old students’ association of the school.
“I commend the old students for this gesture which will go a long way in supporting the students’ educational developments. It is really commendable to see old students supporting the government in adding value to the education of the young ones”, he stated.
“The government of Mr Sanwo-Olu appreciates and welcome initiatives like this. Thank you”.
Grammarian Kamaldeen Saka, the Chairman of the National Board of Trustees (BOT) of Ikorodu Grammar School Old Students’ Association and Coordinator of the Class of 1989, in his speech, stated that the donation was to mark the 30 years that members of the set graduated from the school.
“We are here today to donate some furniture to both junior and senior schools.”
He recalled that the pledge to start donating to the school on yearly basis was made when a set rehabilitated the school’s Sick Bay last year.
“This year is remarkable for the Class of 1989 because it marks 30 years that we graduated from this school. We plan to have a party to celebrate it but felt that we must first give back to our dear old school before partying”, he said.
“We did not just arrived at making benches and chairs for the schools, we conducted our investigation and discovered that of all the needs of the school, furniture is the most important .
“We saw about 150 students in a classroom the other time that we visited and we felt that this should not be. We were not lacking chairs and benches when we were in the school despite the fact that it was Jakande block that we studied in.
“Parents always make benches and chairs for us to compliment the government’s efforts but it is not so these days. Most parents do not care about this anymore but some of us with children in private schools are well informed of how an academic environment should look like”, Grammarian Saka recalled.
“These 50 benches and chairs are donated to the junior and senior schools. These cannot be enough and it will never be enough but accept our token and expect us to still do more”.
The National President of the Old Students’ Association who is also an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Justice, Grammarian Sulaimon Oloko, while receiving the furniture donated and handing them over to the school on behalf of the national body, commended the gesture.
He assured the government functionaries, students and members of the old students’ association that the gesture is going to be improved upon by other sets.
“It is not easy to bring out money these days and I want to commend the set that is donating these furniture items. I pray that God will replenish their respective purses” he prayed.
He also thanked the two Principals for their cooperation and support for the old students’ association, while also enjoining students present to learn from the old students and ensure that they too give back to the school after graduation.
The General Secretary of the association and Principal, Lagos State University International School, Alhaji (Grammarian) Taiwo Odumbo, also speaking, stated, “There is no way we will not talk about this school and give back to it because it is the school that made us.
“This school has produced many professionals and seasoned administrators that ae impacting at state and national levels. We are proud to have graduated from this great school”, he stated boastfully.
Mr Igotun N.A, Principal of the Junior school, while commending the old students for always intervening in meeting the needs of the school, also urged them to look into the renovation of the abandoned block of classrooms in the school to decongest the population of classrooms that are presently being used.
His counterpart in the senior section, Mrs O.J. Obisesan, was full of praise for all what the old students have done for the school.
“I don’t know how to thank you for all that you have done for this school. Apart from the old students in the model schools, I have not seen any other old students in other schools doing something like this”, she stated.
“I really appreciate your people because you are simply amazing”.
Mrs Obisesan, who also commended the Lagos State Government for placing importance on education, pleaded with the old students to also help the school in providing furniture for the teachers.
While responding on behalf of the entire students of the school, the duo of Badru Ife-Oluwa, the Social Prefect of the Junior school, and Ighelogbo Faith, a student of the Senior school , thanked the old students’ association, especially the Class of 1989, for the gesture.
They promised to make good use of the donated items and be good ambassadors of the school.
Mrs Oluwakemi Kalesanwo. Director, Agency for Mass Education was also represented at the brief ceremony.
Some of the other old students of the school in attendance were Grammarians Kabira Sobona, Bukola Adelabu (National Social Director) and Kafilat Ogunsanwo (National Treasurer).
