From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Prominent Nigerians have made a case for deeper ties between secondary schools in the country and their old students in a bid to complement funding from the government.
The advice came from influential figures in Nigeria, who are all alumni of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo town, Oyo State, the 1978/1983 year set. They gathered at their alma mater at the weekend in Oyo town, to celebrate 40 years since their graduation.
Among the esteemed alumni in attendance included ‘Dapo Adekunle, the Assistant General Manager of ICT at the Nigerian Port Authority and Chairman of the 78/83 year set; Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Oyo State; and Major-General Adekunle Adesope (Retd), the immediate past Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget, Defence Headquarters.
The reunion event also included an awards ceremony, where outstanding students from the 2023 WASC examination and the 2023 BECE were recognided. Old teachers were also honoured, and posthumous awards were given. The three best students in the WASC Examination from the school were presented with new laptops, while the three best students of the school in BECE were also presented with new tablets apart from fantastic gifts for old teachers of the school and other categories.
In his speech at the event, Dapo Adekunle, the chairman of the 1978/83 set, emphasised the importance of the event in acknowledging the impact and legacy of their alma mater. He stated that their time at the school not only provided them with academic knowledge but also instilled values that guided them throughout their lives.
Adekunle called on members of the set and other sets too to make positive impacts on the school and support its mission of knowledge, integrity, and excellence. He added that old students of other schools should follow the example of his school set.
He noted that his set has done landscaping and beautification of the school main quadrangle by removing tree stumps channelling of storm water, replenishing of degraded sand, establishment of walkways and planting of 16 special royal palm trees procured from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. He also listed installation and commissioning of solar operated borehole with 20,000 litres capacity water storage tank, as part of the completed projects executed by the set in the school. The set, he promised, would do more.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Bayo Adesope, who graduated from the school in 1960, expressed his pride in the alumni’s dedication to leaving a legacy and setting a standard for younger generations. He strassed the importance of giving back to their alma mater and encouraged other alumni to do the same.
Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Oyo State, highlighted the contributions made by the 1978/83 set toward the development of the school. He urged alumni across the state to contribute to the progress of their own alma maters, as government funding alone cannot meet all the needs of schools.
Major-General Adekunle Adesope (Retd), the immediate past Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget, Defence Headquarters also noted that “With the increasing need for funding in the education sector, the alumni of Olivet Baptist High School are setting a precedent for other schools to deepen their connections with their alumni communities.
He stated that the partnership between schools and their former students has the potential to strengthen and uplift the education system in Nigeria, with a view to ensuring that future generations have access to knowledge, integrity, and excellence.
The National Secretary of the Olivet Baptist High School Alumni Association, Mr. Bimbo Idowu, who represented the National President, Dr. Wale Okediran, promised that the association would cont to complement efforts of government in ensuring upgrade o educational facilities, including hostels for boarding students of the school.
“We will continue to give back to our alma mater. We shall ensure that the quality of our alma mater continues to improve ” he said.
The Principal of Olivet Senior School, Mrs. Dosumu Olubukola, expressed her gratitude for the support and generosity of the alumni. She commended their commitment to giving back and inspiring current students to succeed in life.
She revealed that Olivet Baptist High School has consistently been one of the top choices among secondary schools in the state, encouraging other alumni to follow the example set by the 1978/83 set.