Kunle Adelabu
More tributes, accolades and commendations have continued to trail the retirement of Alhaja Abiodun Serifat Ogunniyi from the Lagos State Civil Service after 35 years of excellent and meritorious engagements.
Ogunniyi, who will officially retire today (Monday, September 28, 2020), joined the service of the Lagos State government as a teacher in 1985 and had his first duty post at Oriwu College, Ikorodu.
The Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and four term lawnmaker, Hon. Sanai Bolanle Agunbiade, and a Board Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), and former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Education Management, Dr (Otunba) Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, have joined traditional rulers and other eminent personalities and critical institutions to honour the retiring seasoned school administrator.
Hon. Agunbaide who was formerly a teacher and also a lawyer, in his tribute, said that Alhaja Ogunniyi has made Ikorodu Division proud through her enviable work by placing the premier College in the division, Oriwu College, among the best schools in the country.
“Alhaja Abiodun Ogunniyi is one of those that make us proud to be from Ikorodu. She has elevated Ikorodu to a great height because Oriwu College is synonymous to Ikorodu”, Hon. Agunbaide said.
“Thank God that the school has been placed in a strategic position in terms of education in Nigeria when you talk about Best School, Best Teacher and Best Principal with many other awards.
“She has done very wonderfully for Ikorodu and what we are doing for her today is the beginning of her exit from the school and the celebration will continue infinitum by the grace of God.
“Many people will still come around to celebrate her privately and publicly because she has done marvelously for Ikorodu”.
The ranking lawmaker, while stating that Oriwu College is very dear to his heart and that he missed been enrolled into the school due to sickness, said that the entire people of Ikorodu are proud of Alhaja Ogunniyi and prayed that God will adequately reward her committed, dedicated and excellence service to the Division and humanity.
“Oriwu College is a school that is very dear to my mind. My eldest brother and the immediate elder brother finished from Oriwu College and also married products of Oriwu College. I actually missed coming to the school for my secondary education by the whiskers when Mr A. A Badmus was the Principal then.
“I took ill while they were writing the Common Entrance Examination, so I could not take the examination but I thank God that my brothers and their wives are products of Oriwu College”, Hon. Agunbiade stated.
“I am so happy that this wonderful woman has done Oriwu College and lkorodu proud. God will touch and visit you in more glorious ways.
“We cannot compensate you enough for all that you have done for the school and Ikorodu but God will compensate you in multiple ways. I thank you”, the lawmaker prayed.
He said that the successor for Alhaja Ogunniyi as Principal of Oriwu College in person of Mr Akeem Bello is another energetic, pragmatic and visionary administrator who does not settle for anything but excellence.
“I am happy that you are exiting Oriwu College after working so tirelessly to ensure its greatness and it is in that wise that we have worked so tirelessly to ensure that the person that will also succeed you is another energetic and workaholic person who is also very pragmatic and also very visionary.
“We are sure that he would continue from where you have stopped and take the school higher by the grace of God”.
While stating that the retired Principal still has many years to serve in higher public positions, Hon. Agunbiade assured her of the testimonies of the people of Ikorodu Division regarding her meritorious service to the division.
“Alhaja, anywhere you go, the founders of Ikorodu, the spirit of Ikorodu will fight and pave ways for you. You will never regret serving Ikorodu. Your retirement shall be a retirement to a greater height and after this, we shall have course to celebrate in another place and as the former Governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said, that the reward for hard work is more work, I am sure that you will be further engaged in more meaningful and profitable ways”, he said.
“Congratulations my dear sister”.
Dr Saheed Oladapo lbikunle, Board Member, Lagos State Universal Basic e Education Board (LSUBEB), in his own tribute, described Alhaja Ogunniyi as a good team player and builder of leaders.
“I wish to specially remark that Alhaja Abiodun Ogunniyi displayed enviable professional traits and she is a good team player while rendering service to the public as ‘builder of leaders”.
Dr Ibikunle, who is also an educationist and school administrator, commended the retired Principal for her loyalty, dedication and selfless service.
“Her brilliance and zeal made her excelled in her endeavours while in service. I specifically commend her for the high sense of dedication, selflessness, loyalty and integrity, which brought to bear during her public service career.
“I, therefore, join well wishers to congratulate her heartily on her retirement”.
