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By Ademola Aderemi
They congregated at the venue with absolute cheer. It wasn’t unexpected. Many were seeing one another for the first time in three decades, and the delight on their faces was unmistakeable.
It was a reunion that brought about old memories in generous proportions. For the 1993 set of Orisigun High School (OHS), Ketu, Lagos, Saturday, July 1 2023, would remain an indelible date. It was the day the old classmates gathered in Ketu for their special reunion party 30 years after they departed from that school.
All through that day, venue of the event, Pastor SG Adegboyega Memorial Hall situated inside the Apostolic Church Grammar School, Orisigun Street, Ketu, Lagos, was a beehive of boisterous activities,
From mid-morning, the road leading to the venue had become busy, as members of the 1993 set of the school thronged the area in their numbers. Sporting uniform blue T-shirts atop denim trousers (or skirts) bearing the name or nickname of the wearers, the old students trooped to the venue with the excitement in their hearts clearly illustrated on their faces.
There were hugs and backslappings; there were banters and small talk as they reminisced on the years of yore when they studied at the secondary school. With glee, they sang old songs, including the school anthem.
They expressed gratitude to God that the young students of over 30 years ago were now adults, accomplished professionals and proud husbands, wives and parents.
Speaking at the event, chairman of the reunion event, Solomon Alabi, a lawyer, reminded the old students that the event was organised to bring back the former classmates and to provide a forum for engagement, interaction and networking among them.
He emphasised the need to sustain the union, so as to keep alive the bond of friendship and camaraderie that had held the former classmates together for more than three decades.
“I am happy to be part of this reunion party,” he enthused. “It is exciting seeing students of those years coming together today to celebrate three decades of leaving the school.
“It is unfortunate that Orisigun High School is no more, but the footprints left behind by these students will continue to keep us together.”
Chairperson of the reunion committee, Mrs. Violet Adebayo explained how the idea of the reunion was mooted about three years ago.
She said members were drawn from a WhatsApp platform with about 120 members. She noted that the reason for the reunion was to network and support some of the members that are challenged financially and health-wise.
“We intend to use the platform to reach out to our teachers too and see how we can build a strong bond between us,” she stated.
Former Principal of the school, Mrs. Adebanjo and four of their old teachers were present at the event.
While expressing his joy at the event, one of the teachers, Mr Olubunmi Idowu Ojoye, said it was very ecstatic being in the midst of his former students and also reliving old memories.
He added that as teachers, none of the former tutors could have wished for more, noting that the day remained one of the most memorable days in his life.
“I feel elated that I am alive to see and witness this great day. The knowledge we impacted in the students in those years are now becoming the fulcrum of their lives and many of them are now doing very well in their different areas of lives,” said Mr Ojoye.
Another teacher, Mrs Olufunmilayo Oyelami charged the former students to focus more on the process of strengthening the union.
She noted: “As one of the teachers, I have been praying for this special day and I am happy God answered my prayers.
“My advice for them is that they should know that a reunion is beyond merrymaking. So, they should work on the best ways to strengthen the bond and help some of their classmates that are yet to find their feet.”
In her remarks, Mrs Taiwo Okunore also advised her former students not to depart from the lessons of life they were taught back in their schooldays.
“When I look at the joy reverberating through their eyes today, I am happy, even as I flashed back and remembered my candid advice to them 30 years ago that they should be focused and be who they are. Today, they are the better for it,” she stated.
Head boy of the 1993 set, Mr Taiwo Adesanya said the reunion had also offered them the best opportunity to set a new agenda and also build on new plans for a better future.
Mrs Oludayo Adeboboye restated the need for effective synergy among the old students. She stated also that the best could be achieved if members could continue to see themselves as one big family.
Said she: “We are all here today because we share the same vision and ideology about our future and the future of our alma mater. I urge all our members to keep the hope alive and continue to build on our existing bond, so that we can achieve our lofty dreams both individually and collectively.”
Members of the reunion planning committee that spoke at the event include Mrs Kehinde Oke, Mr Dele Olanuga, and Mr and Mrs Temitope- Olayinka Adesokan, among others.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to the former principal of the school, Mrs. Adebanjo, as well as four of the teachers that were present at the event.
The awards, according to the classmates, was to appreciate the kind gestures of both the principal and the teachers during their years as students.
“Our teachers gave us their best in terms of knowledge. They exhibited great knowledge and today, as some of their products, we are happy to celebrate them in this special way,” they noted while presenting the awards.
The former classmates later cut the anniversary cake in turns, after which they took to the floor, taking pictures and exhibiting their dancing skills.
It was an engaging event that lasted for hours with music and dancing. The food was sumptuous and classy, with assorted choice drinks.
And the invited disc jockey was in his elements, dishing out danceable music to the delight of the old students and their former tutors.
