Follow Us on Google
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Saturday, May 17, 2023, would remain unforgettable in the history of IIamoye Grammar School, Isolo, Lagos, as the 1987 set alumni body donated educational equipment to their alma mater, as part of efforts and commitment towards building a better society.
The ’87 set celebrated its first reunion anniversary in Isolo, Lagos, recently, and equally decided to give back to their alma mater by rolling out plans to champion projects for the development of the school.
The association’s chairperson, Pastor Oladipo Folarin, said it was important for them to drive educational development for the younger students to achieve high moral and academic excellence.
Fielding questions from journalists at the event, Folarin said, with the falling standard of education and decaying facilities in many schools, former students should provide hope and support for the present crop of students in the school.
“Basically, with the hope that we have achieved a good legacy from the school, we intend to make meaningful contributions to the development of education. The present crop of students should also benefit from us as we benefited from the benevolence of a public school system,” he said.
Folarin tasked them to function as purveyors of infrastructural transformation in the citadel of learning, as leaving such tasks to the government and parent-teacher associations alone would produce little or no fruits.
He added that the idea of equipping and uplifting the school came up a year ago when a few of them created a WhatsApp group, and that was how a committee was formed. Some representatives visited the school’s management to inquire about some of the pressing needs of the school and students’ wellbeing.
“The alumni members thought it wise to impact the younger generations by raising funds from their members both home and abroad to fix these obvious gaps in the learning system,” he explained.
Folarin stated that the committee immediately set to work by raising the funds required to make some of the project a reality. Compassionate pleas and calls were made to their members home and abroad for financial support in achieving this.
General secretary of the association, Mr. Ralphael Oriaku, said the concept of an old students’ association by IIamoye old students was a “means of giving hope and support to the current students of our alma mater.”
Oriaku said the gathering was a reunion of the 1987 set, although there are representatives of other sets present at the celebration, the 1987 set are the host and it’s the first anniversary celebration.
“We saw the need to meet again after 36 years of graduation. We decided to be together to see how far we have gone and how we can motivate those of us that have not really reached a limit and it’s a way of trying to know ourselves more at the same time,” he said.
He encouraged the old students not to lose touch with their alma mater, rather they should consistently reunite and think about ways they could develop their alma mater, where they were moulded and transformed to become who they are today.
Oriaku added, “It is an avenue to equally appreciate our teachers, especially the first principal of the school. Baba is 95 years old and he is present at the gathering, Pa. Jacob Ogunmoyin, and our old teacher, Alhaji Sheikh Ahmed-Yusuf, who have contributed immensely to educational development.
“We recognize their efforts and contributions to education; they have raised captains of industry, built human capacity.
“An award of excellence was presented to the elderly retired principal, who prayed for the old students for remembering to honour him. It was an emotional moment.”
Chairman at the event, Chief Femi Olomofe, lauded the group for organizing this reunion party for old students: “This would enable them know the state of their members. The economy and the situation of things presently in Nigeria can cause some stress that can affect them, you need to be in constant communication to know their welfare.”
Olomofe addressed them on depression. Depression is a chronic feeling of emptiness, sadness or inability to feel pleasure that may appear to happen for no clear reason. It is distinct from grief and other emotions.
He said that depression can lead to disability. “It can undermine a person’s relationships, make working and maintaining good health very difficult,” he remarked.
He said gathering like this can help reduce stress.
The principal of the school, Mrs Rashidat Sanni, expressed delight over the donations from the old students, saying that it would go a long way in creating a more conducive learning atmosphere.
Sanni appealed to the old boys to equally come to the school and give motivational talk to encourage the students.
“A lot is happening in our society today and it has influenced the students. Parents need to do more than just providing for their wards.
“Our society is another reason people are becoming desperate to become wealthy. Wealth is seen as a symbol of success regardless of the source. Most youth would not want to engage in any legitimate work again due to the shortest means they can use to acquire wealth. When you can just sit down in the comfort of your room with a laptop and after few minutes of interactions with your prey millions of Naira would start dropping into your account. Parents should reclaim their children from peers without being violent,” she said.
Highlights of the event included the award recognition of the first principal of the school. The call for assembly was done by the 1985 Headboy, Senior Bisi. The oldest set of the school brought back memories and the old students were attentive, obeying instructions from Bisi. The students were dismissed from assembly, with a resounding joyous sounds as they made it to their seats. Donations made to the school was presented to the Principal Ilamoye Junior Grammar School.
