Kunle Adelabu
The Board of Trustees, Oriwu College Old Students’ Association of Nigeria (OCOSAN), today, paid a courtesy visit to their former school to felicitate with the Principal of the Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, Mr Akeem Oladimeji Bello, on his emergence as the Best Public School Administrator in Nigeria.
He was conferred with the Presidential honour and a brand new space car, during the World Teachers’ Day ceremony at the Eagle Square in Abuja, on October 5, 2023.
Alhaji Owolabi Oshola Lemonu, Chairman, OCOSAN BOT, led other members of the board including Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Minister for Works, Engr. Charles Longe, former OCOSAN National President, Sir David Sunmoni, Pro – Chancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo, and Alhaja Kudirat Lamina.
They were accompanied by Mr Kunle Olambiwoninu, National Vice Chairman, OCOSAN, Mr Wasiu Tijani, National Secretary, Mrs Mutiat Oseni and the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lateef Sholanke, among other chieftains of the association.
The award winning Principal, Mr Bello, who first hosted chieftains of the old school association in his office before the official reception at the school hall, described the visit as a great honour, and thanked the elder statesmen for the visit.
He described the opportunity that teacher and students of the school have to be in the premier college in Ikorodu and one of the best schools in Nigeria, as a rare privilege.
“Today, in Oriwu College, we thank God, and we are humble to have our grandfathers in our midst, especially our grandpa, Alhaji Lemomu”, he said.
“It is common for schools to have old students’ association, but it is very rare to see schools’ alumni association having a BOT, especially public schools, but in Oriwu College, we have a functional BOT.
“I want to thank God for the lives of our BOT Chairman and others, for still finding the time to come to their former school at these age.
“It is a privilege for me to be Principal of Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, and also a rare privilege for our students to be teaching in this school and same for the students. It is a dream of every teacher to come to Oriwu College.
“Today, our daddies and mummies have come to celebrate with us on the award that I won in Abuja, as the Best School Administrator in Nigeria. We thnak you so much for coming to identify with us. This will serve as an additional fuel to energise us”, Mr Bello said.
While thanking the teaching, non – teaching and students of the school for their support and contributions to the laudable feats that the school has achieved, Mr Bello also commended the alumni association for always identifying with the school.
“If not for the OCOSAN, Oriwu college would not have been what it is today, despite the huge sum of money that the government is expending. The old students of the school and various class sets and individuals have been very supportive. They are our backbone”, he said.
Alhaji Lemomu, speaking, said that the news of the emergence of the Oriwu College Principal as best in the country came to the board as a thing of joy and pride.
“When I first heard about the news that our Principal has been awarded as the best in Nigeria, it was a thing of joy and pride to us”, he said.
“We are proud of our school and coming back here today to felicitate you took us back to the memory lane.
“I thank God for what the school has been able to achieve over the years. I want to thank God for the Principal and every one of you in this school, and I pray that God will continue to grow you from strength to strength and from glory to glory”, Alhaji Lemomu prayed.
The BOT Chairman, who explained to the staff and students of the school that he enjoyed his time while in the school, assured them that the alumni association is more committed to the development of Oriwu College.
“We shall be talking with the Principal on how we can assist in addressing some of the challenges confronting the school, so as to make the environment more conducive for the staff and students”, he said.
“We are all proud of our Principal, because of his attributes and he is somebody who knows how to nurture students”.
Former Minister for Works, Sen. Ogunlewe, who also recalled days in the school, charged the students to be thankful for the improvement.
While assuring them of a brighter future as students of the school, Sen. Ogunlewe charged the students on the need to intensify efforts in achieving academic excellence.
He thanked the staff of the school and congratulated the Principal on his feat.
In the last three years when Mr Bello assumed duty as the Principal of the school, Oriwu Senior Model College has won 73 awards and honours to sustain the excellence record of the school.
The school recorded 100% in WAEC in 2021 and 2022, while 98.3% was recorded for this year.
