Wale Jagun & Ademola Olatunji
-Say group has impacted on alma mater
The old students of the Ipakodo Grammar School, lpakodo, lkorodu, on Boxing day, converged to celebrate their graduation from the school 30 years ago, and also celebrated the yuletide season with friends and family members.
The association also used the occasion to roll out what they have given back to the school since their reunion.
The Old Students association, which most members are making their marks in their respective chosen careers, has done a lot for the school than any other sets produced.
To build on their exemplary kind gesture to the school, the set unveiled plans to focus on human capital development.
Over the years, the association has embarked on many projects and programmes, among which are: donation of 150 Chairs and Desk; donation of Notebooks and Textbooks for the students across various disciplines; Provision of Generators; donation of the Printers and Stabilizer to the ICT Department in the school and a contribution to the school Inter – House sports.
At the event, which was held at the school premises, were Principals and other staff who joined in the celebration and also presented more pressing needs of the school.
The president of the association, Dr Abiodun Suraju Abatan (Baresi), senior lecturer, Department of Political Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, in his anniversary remarks, said that the celebration is a significant one to reflect on the last 30 years and chart new courses for the future.
“This anniversary ceremony is significant for two related reasons.First, it provides opportunities for us to come together after 30 years that we had left the school and secondly, it provides a fertile ground for setting a new agenda for the school”, Dr Abatan said.
“I think it’s also a period of Thanksgiving, considering the Yuletide period which offers love and account taking felicitations and forgiveness.
“Today is a special day for us because it is an home – coming to an Alma mata that has given us so much as reflected in the giant strides we have all made in our chosen endeavours As I speak, I am a proud member of this set which has produced medical doctors, pharmacist, accountant, lawyers, journalists, educationists, administrators, University teachers, PhD holders, entrepreneurs, bankers, successful artisans, civil and public and public servants, both home and abroad among other noble and recognized professions in the world ”, the scholar added.
“Such eye – catching feat is a conscious effort of the school in molding us into complete personality that behave well in the society, due largely to the culture of discipline, hardworking, trustworthy, responsibility and patriot traits that has makes us the best among our peers and also in our various working environment.
“Now, after 30 years of passing out from the school, what has changed? What has been our contribution to the school? Have we really given back to the school? Although, I am aware that some forward looking sets and ours have switched on the plug of improvement in the school, yet there is still a lot to be done.
“It is against this that I want to thank you all for the little we have done, but to also charge us on the need for greater commitment to the improvement of academic and infrastructural condition in the school. For me, this is is better time to be dedicated to our collective responsibility and posterity”, he said.
Abatan commended the Principals and staff of the school for their support for the association and also asked for more in making light shine upon the school.
Dr Abatan, speaking further to THE IMPACT on the set’s programmes for the school, said that:
“We are here today to celebrate 30 years that we left the school, and also use this opportunity to bring our former mates together to not only celebrate, but to also set an agenda for the development of the school that has given us a lot.
“We look deeply that we need to celebrate this anniversary and also seek for what we can do for the school because the school has given us a lot of experience and lessons which led us to where we are today. Boys are now men and girls are now women.
“We seek to help the school in the area of human capacity development such as giving them scholarships and assisting in academic areas and other areas that we can give back”, he added.
However, Dr Abatan, who is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees (IDYI), also charged students of Ipakodo Grammar School to be serious with their education.
“I advise the students of the school to endeavour to work hard to achieve their goals. The school is the best place for them to be”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Principal of the Ipakodo Grammar School, Mr Olanrewaju, while commending members of the 1992 set for their laudable projects for the school and wishing them happy anniversary, requested for more commitments from them.
He pleaded with them to assist the school in the areas of electricity and maintenance of the classrooms.
In the same vein, the Ipakodo Grammar Junior School Principal, Mrs Oyedokun, in her own request, asked for chairs and desks for the classrooms, and also the redevelopment of the staff room.
Many of the old students expressed their joy for partaking in the 30th anniversary of their graduation from school.
They also thanked Dr Abatan and other excos of the set for navigating the ship of the association properly.
