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By Christopher Oji
It was a reunion for the 1983 set of Aunty Ayo Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School (AAGCSS), Lagos, old students’ association, as they marked the 40th anniversary of their leaving school in grand style recently.
At the unique ceremony, the visibly elated women from all walks of life embraced one another, rejoicing and glorifying God for sparing their lives 40 years after graduating from the school.
Highlights of the programme included a seminar organised by members of the alumni association, titled “Mental health sustenance amid multiple challenges,” held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos.
Addressing journalists during the event, national president of the 1983 set of the AAGCSS old girls’ association, Mrs. Olufunke Grace Nwankwo, said the purpose of the reunion was to celebrate their lives after 40 years of leaving the secondary school; to know how members were doing; know their problems and assist struggling members in any areas they might need help.
“We are here today to celebrate 40 years after leaving school. It is a day of joy and happiness for all of us. It is a day that the Lord has made and we shall rejoice in it and be glad.
“You can imagine the joy in my heart, seeing these people that I have not seen in the last 40 years since we left school. We are so happy that we are meeting today. It is worthy of celebration,” she said.
Nwankwo stated that, whenever she looked back after she finished from secondary school, she would be imagining many things about the schoolmates she had not been able to stay in touch with. “But today, I have been opportuned to see some of my classmates face to face. Even though I did not see everybody, I have seen some and enquired about others.
“It is not the same thing as talking on the phone or through WhatsApp, but face to face.”
She added that it was a matter of being able to cope with the circumstances and situations of life.
Nwankwo noted that a lot of things have happened since then, but as a human, the most important thing is to learn from it and move ahead.
“I have not allowed whatever I am passing through to determine my outlook, life and the way people see me,” she said.
Dr. Nelson Ayodele presented the health talk,” saying that it was meant to address coping mechanisms and the issues facing most people today, especially career women, in the face of family, work and the larger society.
He cautioned that people should not live a solitary life, but should endeavour to socialise to avoid facing some mental health challenges alone, which might overwhelm them and cause much damage.
“After the creation of man, God said that it is not good for a man to stay alone, and he created a woman to join the man. It is God that said so, that man shall not be alone.
“You don’t have to confine yourself in solitude. Try to fraternise with people. No man or woman is worth dying for. Life is all about your well-being. Anywhere you think will give you happiness, go there and be happy. If it is a club that gives you joy, visit there and enjoy yourself. If it is the church or mosque, visit and be happy. Go to the place that will light up your spirit. Don’t be lonely. Always make yourself happy,” he said.
Earlier, chairperson of the reunion committee, Rev. Sis. Helen-Maris, who gave the welcome address, brought nostalgic feelings to the gathering, reminiscing on their good old school days and memories that enlivened the former classmates in the hall.
Helen-Maris said, although she chose the religious life, she really enjoyed the seminar’s topic dwelling on mental health sustenance because it was centred on the ability to cope with stress and find a balance in whatever one is doing.
She said one of the things she enjoyed was that one needed to love oneself and adopt an attitude of change, for individuals to look inwards and change themselves and be able to mingle with others.
“I am a workaholic and hardly take time to rest. But I have learnt that one needs to slow down, take it easy. I need to plan my day and take adequate rest and sleep; and love myself and other people,” she said.
The celebrants, after reconnecting, networking and sharing memories, took the event further away from the premises of the occasion to the Heritage Homes Motherless Babies Orphanage, Anthony Village, Lagos, to show love and care to the children there.
Nwankwo said their visit to the orphanage was part of giving back to the society. She said: “God has blessed us with professionals from all walks of life. We have to share what has been given to us with the underprivileged. That is the essence of visiting the orphanage, to celebrate with them and show them love.”
