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• Principal, parents, beneficiaries urge others to emulate Class of 87
From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Again, luck smiled on seven indigent but brilliant students of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State recently, as they were splashed with scholarship awards.
The annual scholarship awards were an initiative of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti Alumni Association, Class of 87. The Class of 87 comprises the 1982-1987 set of the prestigious, 90-year-old institution situated on the Agidimo Hills in the Ekiti State capital.
The scholarship awards programme was initiated with a view to sustaining the long and distinguished history of academic excellence of the school, which was established in 1933. It is on record that the school has consistently produced outstanding students, who have gone on to make significant impacts in various fields, both locally and globally.
The alumni of the school, especially the 1982-1987 set, have continued to stand out in their dedication and commitment to the growth and development of their alma mater.
The 1982-87 set of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti Alumni Association held the second edition of the scholarship programme at the school’s chapel on July 12, 2023.
The event was held in celebration of the school’s 90th-anniversary celebrations and saw seven brilliant and deserving students receive scholarships towards their education.
The young scholars were selected through a transparent and rigorous examination process by the scholarship committee of the set led by Comrade Sola Adigun, the Vice President of the Class of 87. Adigun is the current Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ekiti State.
The beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme were in two batches. The first batch comprises three students, while the second batch consists of four students. The first batch received the award for the second time, while the second batch received the award for the first time.
The three students in the first batch are the Senior Prefect of the school, Progress Omilola, as well as Boluwatife Adekola, and Victory Oluwanifemi Jimoh. Each of them, who had been awarded N180,000 before the commencement of the 2022/2023 academic session last year, also had the scholarship award of N180,000 renewed this month for the 2023/2024 academic session.
The lucky students that received the award for the first time are Damilola Sunday Orisajuyigbe, Oluwasegun Joshua Ojo, Joshua Olasehinde, and Ogo-Oluwa Israel Bamgboye. Each of the four scholars in the second batch received a cheque of N330,000 to support their education for two years.
In his speech at the event, President, 1982-87 set of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti Alumni Association, Prof. Folarin Oguntoyinbo, acknowledged the contributions of his set and the dedication they have shown towards their alma mater.
He spoke about the association’s achievements, including the reconstruction of the principal’s house, the donation of a Document Management System software to the school, and the establishment of the scholarship programme.
Oguntoyinbo, who is of the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, United States, noted that the scholarship programme, which was initiated during his tenure, is aimed at benefitting the school and continuing the tradition of excellence in the citadel of learning that has produced numerous eminent Nigerians, including governors, ministers, lawmakers, ambassadors, top-notch editors and media executives and professionals from all walks of life.
The scholarship awards are to be used for educational purposes, such as tuition, boarding fees, and educational activities, as well as payment for secondary school terminal examinations, being conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), and National Examination Council (NECO). The scholarship also covers Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) being conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The committee also presented an undisclosed amount to their teachers in appreciation of their hard work and dedication towards the students’ education.
Oguntoyinbo said: “It is really very important to support the next generation of Christ School Students because we benefitted from this school. We are privileged to have good education here that projected the career of members of 82/87 set.
“The next generation can only develop if they are encouraged, if they are supported and if the school is funded. The more we do this, the better our school would become, the better Ekiti State would become and in general, the better our country Nigeria would become.
“So, I think we all collectively need to do more, the society needs to invest more on education, private companies and corporations need to invest more. Alumni must do more, just like what we are doing today in order to support the educational system.
“With a sense of nostalgia, 41 years ago, members of this set were admitted into Christ’s School under the leadership of the late Mr. S. O. Agbebi and graduated 36 years ago by the then principal, late Chief Olusola Bayode. Our association has a long history and tradition of excellence, with the administrative structure comprising the general executive committee (GEXCO), regions in Nigeria, Europe and America. It is such a great honour that I am the second elected President of the set. During my tenure, the GEXCO approved the scholarship programme as part of the ceremony of the 35th year of graduation from the school.”
The Vice President of the set, Sola Adigun, who is the TUC President in Ekiti State, said: “Today, we are here to present and to renew; first we are renewing the scholarship we gave to three students of this school during our 35th anniversary.”
He added that the scholarship award was presented to indigent and brilliant students, who performed well in the last academic session.
“We want them (the beneficiaries) to stay in the school and learn well. So, the new funds they are getting for the two sessions for their S.S.2 and S.S.3; that is why each of them has been presented with N330,000 only and it is our wish and by the Grace of God, our set will continue to encourage them.”
According to him, the 1982-1987 set of the school, had previously embarked on several intervention programmes in the school aimed at contributing their quota to the growth of their alma mater.
“We have reconstructed the principal’s residential building, bought generator for the house and presented software which is about $40,000 so that teaching and learning processes in Christ School will be modernised and be improved upon.”
The principal of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti, Rev’d Ebenezer Oso, expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the 82-87 set of the alumni association towards the school.
He commended the scholarship scheme and the selection process of the awardees. He described the members of the alumni association as noble, and appreciated their dedication towards the progress of the school.
“I want to appreciate them for their regular visitation to the school to maintain the status quo and restore the past glory of the school. Apart from focusing on academics, they are helping the school in all ramifications,” he stated.
The event was anchored by Dr. Bolarinwa Balogun, the Publicity Secretary of the set. He also announced his willingness to support any brilliant student in dire need of help financially.
The scholarship programme has been described as a testament to the dedication and commitment of the 82-87 set of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti Alumni Association towards their alma mater. Their efforts towards fostering excellence in education have positively impacted the lives of these students and will continue to do so for generations to come.
The Senior Prefect of the school, Boluwatife Omilola, who received the scholarship for the second time, thanked the 1982-1987 set of the school for the gesture, promising to maintain track record of academic excellent.
“It is with high, elated spirits that I am one of the recipients of the scholarship for the second time. The scholarship has been helping me right from this academic session. Now, it has been renewed for the next academic session. I thank the 82-87 Set of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti for their kind heart. I pray that God will continue to bless them in the mighty name of Jesus.”
Another beneficiary, Damilola Sunday Orisajuyigbe, also thanked the set for giving him the scholarship of N330,000. He added: “I pray that God will continue to bless them and take them to higher places. I thank them so much for encouraging students to perform better.”
One of the parents, Pastor Adekola, also appreciated the benefactors and prayed that God would continue to protect and prosper members of the set and their children.
Two other parents, Mrs Oyebimpe Olaseinde, mother of Joshua Bright Oladeinde, and Mrs. Folakemi Ojo, mother of Oluwasegun Joshua Ojo, also commended the set for the scholarship.
Mrs. Olaseinde said: “I am very happy about this luck for my son. I love this school right from my childhood days. Then, I purposed in my heart that if God would give me a son, I would ensure that he would study in this school. When I got married, God gave me a son and I ensured that he is studying in this school and he is one of the recipients of this scholarships award. I am grateful to God and the 82-87 set for meeting my family at the point of our need. I pray God will meet them at the points of their needs.”
In the same vein, Mrs Ojo said: “I am very happy about this scholarship award. I feel on top of the world. I am a teacher and I am happy that my son is a recipient of this scholarship. It is a good thing that has happened to my family. I pray that God will continue to protect and prosper the providers of the scholarship.”
The three parents prayed to God that God would protect, prosper, and position their children so that they too would have the wherewithal to assist the students of the Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti and other people in the future.
Besides the President, Prof Folarin Oguntoyinbo, other members of the set present at the event are Comrade Sola Adigun, High Chief Dapo Akinwumi, Dr Bola Balogun, Tope Oluyemi, Femi Ojo, Idowu Odeleye, Toyin Omotoso, Abe Ajibola and Olaiya Akinyemi.
