Wale Jagun, Mariam Akinloye & Joy Fasunon (SIWES Student)
-Donates chairs to former school’s laboratory
-Plans more support for students, school
It was a great moment of reminiscence when members of the 2004 set of the United Senior High School, Ikorodu, returned to their former school 20 years after their graduation for their first re-union and giving back to their alma mater.
In commemoration of their anniversary, the alumni association, last Friday, presented the gift of 50 chairs to their former school’s laboratory during morning assembly convergence. To bring back their good old secondary days, some of them dressed in their former school’s uniforms to identify with the current students.
The gesture received commendations from the Principal, teachers and students of the school, who are direct beneficiaries of the old students’ gesture.
At the grand finale of the celebration, which was also held at the school premises last Saturday, the former students, in appreciation of their former teachers, presented four of them with awards of recognition and commendation, while award was also given to the current Principal.
The five honorees are: Mr Olawale Olusola Ogunrekan, current Principal of the school, Mr Olutobi Fashina Henry, Mrs Odofin A.E. Alhaji Akinola Azeez Oyewale and Mrs Raheem Adeola Odunmolorun.
The former students also honoured two of their mates – Disu Lukman Temitope (Mandisu) and the Head Girl while they were in school, Bello Kaosarat.
President, United Senior High School, Ikorodu, Class of 2004 (USHSI04), Mr Oladiti Wealth Oladele, welcoming his old mates and guests to the reunion, said that many remarkable events happened during their time in the school.
While stating that they were celebrating the bonds that were forged while they were students of their alma mater and which they have sustained after their graduation, Mr Oladele urged his former school mates on the need to sustain it and collectively attained greatness.
“It is with great honor and nostalgia that I stand before you today, marking a significant milestone in our journey since leaving our beloved United Senior High School, Ikorodu. You would agree we left a legacy, our set birthed the current school badge and new uniform introduced during our set. I am sure you remember. Twenty years have passed, and what a journey it has been!”, he said.
“Today, we celebrate not only our 20th anniversary but also the bonds that have endured despite time and distance. We have come a long way since our high school days, and this milestone serves as a testament to the lasting impact of our shared experiences.
“As we look back on fond memories and achievements, let us also gaze into the future with hope and determination. Let us continue to work together with the executive of the Alumni Association, to achieve even greater accomplishments. Let us support one another, celebrate one another’s successes, and lift one another up in times of need”, he said.
“Here’s to many more years of friendship, growth and making a positive impact in our communities!
“Remember to enjoy every moment of today as we build together new shared memories, we thank God for life and a beautiful day like this”, he charged.
He thanked the executives, anniversary planning committee and others that contributed to making the anniversary events successful.
Mr Olawale Olusola Ogunrekan, Principal, United Senior High School, lkorodu, in his remarks, commended the executives of the alumni association, for their efforts in bringing their members together.
While commending them for remembering their old school, Mr Ogunrekan also urged the executives to continue to bring together other members of their set.
Alhaji Akinola Oyewale and Mrs Raheem Odunmolorun, both former teachers, spoke on ‘Life Balance”, during which they shared their experiences on how they have been able to balance work and their responsibilities to their various homes.
One of the awardees, Mr Akinola Oyewale, thanked his former students for the honour.
“I feel elated to be selected among people being honoured. Athough, I am not really surprised because you know then, there might be some teachers who can have a nonchalant attitude to their teaching, but possibly, we (those being honoured) took them as our own children and that is why they are now appreciating us”, he said.
“We are proud to be here and honestly, we rejoice with them and pray for them”.
Mr Olutobi Henry, another awardee, also expressed his happiness for the honour.
“I am so delighted. I am happy and grateful that I have been called and chosen for the award. Then, students always see us as terrible, hard and I thank God that all the advice we gave them is fruitful. I am very happy that they are successful. I am very excited and happy”, he said.
He charged the former students on the need to continue to be together and develop a cooperative system to assist one another.
The celebration provided the old students the opportunity to recall some of their activities while they were students of the United High School, as well as their engagements with their teachers, which brought back cherished memories and nostalgic moments.
Meanwhile, Mr Adetokunbo Mogbademu, the General Secretary of the set and the Social Prefect while they were in school, on behalf of the set, assured the staff and students of the United Senior High School, Ikorodu, that they will sustain their impacts and presence in the school that made them what they are today.
