Kunle Adelabu
The former Minister of Works of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former student of the premier college in Ikorodu Division, Oriwu College, Senator (Otunba) Adeseye Kingsley Ogunlewe, has called for the documentation of names and other information of all the students that have passed out of the college for the purpose of assigning serial numbers.
According to Senator Ogunlewe, conducting the process would help in tracking the former students and engage them towards the development of the premier college.
The former Minister also called on stakeholders to ensure that a competent and astute administrator takes over from the current Principal of the school, Alhaji Abiodun Ogunniyi who would be retiring in a few months time.
He spoke with officers of the Oriwu College Old Students’ Association of Nigeria (OCOSAN), Class of 1995, when they visited his home on Sunday, June 21, 2010, as part of the activities marking the 25th anniversary of members of the set’s graduation from the school.
The experienced politician, who is popularly called ‘Field Marshal’ by his followers and admirers, also spoke with THE IMPACT in an interview during the visit.
He charged members of the set and others to see to it that the suggestion he gave which according to him, would bring further developments to the premier school, are implemented.
“There is need to trace, collate and track former students of Oriwu College so that we can allocate serial numbers for easy tracking”, he stated.
“It is for the younger ones to know that all the ex – students of Oriwu College Ikorodu have serial numbers. I need you to approach the school to get details of students that have passed out of the school since 1960, compute them and assign serial numbers accordingly”, he charged.
“We can do this through school certificates to know how many people have passed out since 1960. We have to get names and phone numbers that have passed out of the school. Through this, we can contact them to make contributions to the school.
“Approximately, we should have about 35, 000 to 40, 000 students that have passed out from the school but we cannot trace them. These are things that we must do so that we can have them around to make contributions towards the development of Oriwu College.
“I am appealing to all old students to let us rally round together and assist our old school”.
He described the outgoing Principal of Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, Alhaja Abidun Ogunniyi, as a competent teacher and administrator that has impacted greatly on the premier college in Ikorodu Division.
“That woman (Alhaja Ogunniy) is a very competent teacher and administrator. She has greatly impacted on our school and improve the standard.
“We need to start searching for her replacement before it’s too late. We need you young ones to do and other stakeholders in the school to ensure that government give us another competent hand to take over from her” Sen. Ogunlewe charged.
Also speaking on the update on the encroachment into Oriwu College’s land during the interview, Senator Ogunlewe said that the school and the family that donated the land to the school are on top of the situation.
“We are in contact with the government and we are planning on hold meeting with them soon”, he said.
He recalled and emphasized that the land which the Oriwu College is built upon was given to the community by his family represented by the late Adeboruwa of lgbogbo, Oba F.M. Ogunlewe.
“The Ifemisi branch of the Laduga family under the leadership of our father, late Oba F.M Ogunlewe, MBE, with all the leaders in Ikorodu then, Chief T.O.S Benson, Chief Allison, Chief Gbadamosi, Chief Alokolaro, Chief Kamson and Chief Ogunsanya and others that matter in Nigeria at that time took a decision that they wanted a community college in Ikorodu and the land was donated 75 years ago”.
He described those allegedly encroaching on the school land as unreasonable, while also stating that the school land can still be used for further developments rather than allowing some individuals to take over it.
“It is unreasonable for anybody today to say that his forefathers donated the land and that they want to take part of it back. Who was their forefathers as against those that are ours, the original Ladugba family?”, he asked.
“The land was conceded to the community for developmental purpose and you can never tell what the future will hold. They can convert the school to University in the future. It can also be turned into a world-class secondary school.
“The Old students of the school can decide to build a big stadium on the land of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics facility (STEM) and we will be allowed to do that for development if the land is still there.
Senator Ogunlewe also charge that community should protect the vision of the founders of the school against any selfish interest.
“Our fathers and grandparents that conceded the land had a vision which is development. Which other secondary school in Ikorodu Division has such land that can be further developed in future? We must not continue to think about ourselves alone. How do we want our children to feel in future if there is no more space to build anything? We must not be to selfish”, he said.
