By Oluseye Ojo
Friday, August 23, 2024 was one of the special days in Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State. It was a day the community recognised the remarkable contributions of an esteemed former student of 65-year-old Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu.
The occasion was marked by a welcome-back get-together organised by the Old Students’ Association of the school, where Adesina was recognised for his outstanding service as the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, from 2015 to 2023. In attendance were people from various walks of life.
The President of the school’s Old Students’ Association, ‘Gunle Adesiyan, noted: “We gathered here today to welcome you back from your national assignment. There is no doubt that you served the nation meritoriously. And to the glory of God, you did not have any encounter with any evil spirit”
Adesiyan gave glory to God for protecting Adesina throughout his tenure at Aso Villa. He recalled that Adesina on Friday May 15, 2019, facilitated the donation of a state-of-the-art ICT hub worth over N10million by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria to the school. The embassy, he stated further, assisted the school with another N5million for capacity building. He added that Adesina also donated handsomely for provision of security for the equipment in the ICT hub.
“The commissioning ceremony, which was done with fanfare was witnessed by the representative of the Osun State Government and Dr. Zhou Pingjan, the former Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria.
“I seize this opportunity to thank you immensely for this wonderful gesture because ICT is the thing in vogue worldwide and it cannot be successfully done without computer sets.”
Adesiyan also listed some firsts as recorded by Adesina, to include: first old student to become editor of two national newspapers, National Concord, and Daily Sun; first to become Managing Director /Editor-in-Chief of a national newspaper; first to be elected President, Nigerian Guild of Editors; first to become Special Adviser to a President on Media and Publicity; and first person to serve in that position for eight unbroken years in a democracy.
The Chairperson of the planning Committee for the programme, Mrs. Funke Adekunle, Fellow, Nigeria Institution of Surveyors (FNIS), who finished from the school in 1972, thanked Adesina for honouring the invitation. She added that Adesina was celebrated when he was appointed by Buhari in 2015.
Her words: “We thought it right to organise this programme for him because when he was to start his position in the presidency, we celebrated him and sent him forth to work and succeed. When he came back, we thought it necessary as well to welcome him back for the job well done, and to thank God for his life.
“Without an iota of doubt, he has represented us very well. This is why we are happy to welcome him back. For those that criticised him when he was in the office, the truth is that you cannot satisfy everybody. But to us as old students of Origbo Community High School, he represented us well.”
Secretary of the Planning Committee for the programme, Oluyenuwo Olabisi, who read the citation of Femi Adesina on the occasion, noted that the former Managing Director of The Sun hails from the family of a disciplinarian.
His father was John Oyebade Adesina, an educationist, who was the first African principal of St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, in the 1960s. The school was one of the best in the then Western Region, producing students who shone like stars in the West African School Certificate of Education
Olabisi stated further that the name Adesina is the same as Olugbon in Ipetumodu. He added: “Olugbon is a registered name. What do you not have? Olugbon Tippers. The only lorry operator, who supplied gravel 50 to 55 years ago, you would see Olugbon Motors on the tipper. Olugbon Soap. Olugbon Hotel. This is the only ‘five-star’ hotel that we had in the whole of Origbo.
“It is because of that hotel that we can probably say we know some football legends, including Segun Odegbami, Kunle Awesu, Sam Ojebode, Muda Lawal. They used to come to Ipetumodu for practice and would also lodge in the Olugbon Hotel.
“Every member of the Olugbon Dynasty, the children attended St Augustine Primary School and Origbo Community High School, notwithstanding the fact that they were born in the city. The father was a distinguished principal, who had access to elitist primary and second schools. Baba brought all of them home here.”
“It is in recognition of these achievements, your personality, your mien, your carriage, your delivery that we have come together today to honour you in our little way.”
Another old student of the school, Bayo Aknyemu of 1972 set, noted that Adesina did a great job as spokesperson for ex-president Buhari.
The Principal of the school, Mr. Olutayo Babalola, told Saturday Sun of Adesina and other active old students: “This event really gladdened my heart that a product of this school rose to work in the presidency of this country. So, I feel so happy about it
“The news that I have been hearing about him happens to be good ones. I want him to continue in that manner. God will take him to a higher place better than he has done for the country.”
Adesina, who is also the Oluomo of Ipetumodu, was admitted to the school in 1975 and finished in 1980. He appreciated the old students for the honour. He promised that he would not relent in his efforts to support his alma mater.
Adesina thanked the old students for the honour done him, saying it would remain indelible in his memory. He also applauded President Buhari for giving him the opportunity to serve the country.
“I have had many receptions since we finished in government in May 2023. But I tell you, this one is very significant because it is happening in my hometown. It is happening in my own school.
“I have seen about six people from the 75/80 set who are here, with some from Ibadan, some from Osogbo and different parts of Osun State. Thank you all.
“When we sang the national anthem, I don’t know your opinion about the change of the anthem. Well, varied opinions. But I Iove that anthem because that was what we grew up singing, from primary to secondary school. We were in Class Three here when the anthem was changed. I knew every word. So, when they brought it back and some people were complaining about how to memorise it, I just was laughing. I said we grew up singing it.
“Right in this hall, we used to hold our assembly. Later when the school became fuller, we began to use the field. But we started from this hall. And we used to sing the national anthem here. Now, to think that we are singing that anthem some 49 years later, it can only be God, who spared us from then till now. To him be the glory in Jesus Name.
“Yes, I want to thank God for the Old Students Association under Barrister Gunle Adesiyan. They inspired us to do whatever we have done, and that we are still planning to do . It is because we’re inspired by the leadership…
“So, one thing you can say about us is that we love our school. Just as those of us from Ipetumodu love our town, we also love our school. I am glad that this is being held in my honour today. Thank you very much.
“I can only vouch that whatever we have done for this school is just the beginning. By the grace of God, we shall do a lot more.”
A souvenir was presented to Adesina at the event. A block of classrooms renovated by the 1979 Set was also commissioned by the former presidential spokesman.