Kunle Adelabu
-Unveil logo, other promotional materials
The Old Students of the Birrel Avenue High School, Sabo, Yaba, founded in 1981, are planning a worthy celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the school later this year.
Members of the planning committee for the anniversary and representatives of various Class sets under the aegis of Birrel Avenue Senior High School Old Students’ Association (BASHSOSA), gathered at their former school to make public presentations and address selected media organisations on the activities for the celebration.
At the event which was held within the school premises, the planning committee, led by Mr Joseph Omorodion, unveiled the 40th anniversary logo and banner which, according to him, signals the commencement of the celebration.
Also unveiled were branded shirt, cap, mufler, tag, face mask and wrist band among other promotional materials which the committee said are going to be made available for ex – students of the school and other members of the public interested in celebrating the anniversary of the school with them, for purchase.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, Mr Jospeh Omorodion, the Chairman of the organizing committee, Birrel High School at 40, said that former students of the school are planning a worthy anniversary for the school which its products, according to him, are impacting on the national and global economy, social and political space.
“It is a project and product that we are marketing and celebrating. Birrel Avenue Secondary High School is the former secondary school that others and l attended. The school is close to 40 years old and we are in preparation for its 40 years anniversary coming up September 7”, he said.
“We are planning to give a worthy celebration to the school which has produced so many graduates in many spheres of human endeavours.
“We will kick start the anniversary celebration on September 7 and there will also be other activities on September 8, 9, 10 and 11th.
“A lot of Birrel Avenue Secondary products occupy high and esteemed positions within the country and beyond. We have our products occupying high positions politically, in the corporate world and other areas”, the planning committee chairman said.
Mr Chuks Nwaje, the National President of Birrel Avenue Senior High School Old Students’ Association (BASHSOSA) and a member of the 1996 set, described the 40th anniversary as a landmark event for the school.
He said that the national body of the old students association of the school would be embarking on some projects in commemoration of the anniversary.
“We are planning for our 40th anniversary which is a landmark and we are identifying projects which we are going to embark on towards September 7 when we shall be kick starting the celebration”, the National President of Birrell Old Students’ Association said.
“We have identified some projects like ICT Centre and we have decided to make it a standard one and well – equipped.
“We have also identified and planned to put the staff room where our teachers relax, in good shape with Air Conditioner (AC) and also the Principal office and we also want provide a generator.
“Another project that we are looking at is the canteen which we had worked on a long time ago but we still want to revisit it.
“It is also our intention to rebuild our football field because before now, the school used to have a very big compound but the government woke up one morning and brought in two more schools and choked us in the middle.
“We are planning the football pitch because in 2015, the school won the Principal Cup in Lagos State which was sponsored by GTBank and when they asked where we normally trained, they were surprised when we showed them this place”, he added.
He said that the national body is mobilizing members of every set that has passed out of the school since 1986, when the school recorded the first passing out set.
“We have had a series of engagements with various Class sets from the first set in 1986 till the last Class set which are 2020, to discuss how to celebrate our school.
“We are carrying everybody along in the celebration to make them sense of belonging in the celebration and also reach them through our social media handles.
“The same thing goes for those in Diasporas whom we have had a series of meetings with online and via zoom.
“The celebration is going to be streamed live come September 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th based on the request of our members abroad and others that are across the country but who may not be opportune to attend”, he said.
Mr Nwaje also spoke on the impacts of the old students on the school over the years.
“The alumni have been trying to put the school in shape and we usually come around to see what the school needs”, he said.
“We have been able to equip the Physics and Chemistry Laboratories as well as ICT Centre some years back.
“We have been able to provide printer, laptops, public address system for the school and also renovated the school’s sick bay and the canteen.
“The alumni have many other plans to implement but we cannot do that without the government approval because it is a public school”.
Hon. Francis Shonubi, the foundation President, Birrel Avenue Senior High School Old Students’ Association (BASHSOSA), also speaking with THE IMPACT, stated that the school, which, according to him, was established by the late former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, is in dire need of more facilities.
While stating that the alumni association is doing everything to support the school, he called on the state government to ensure that their proposed projects in the state are approved for execution.
“The School was established in the year 1981 September 7th by then Alhaji Lateef Jakande Administration. The School was named after the Street, Birrel Avenue”, he said.
“The School is in dire need of an additional block of classrooms to address the growing population concern.
“We strongly believe in the collective will power of the Alumni Association and I agree with the popular saying that Alumni owns the School.
“We planned to build an Alumni Secretariat among other projects to mark our 40th anniversary/founder’s day celebration and we seek for the Government approval for our proposed projects in the School”, he pleaded.
