THE contribution of alumni associations to the educational development of the country is of great significance considering the fact that they have come in to support in areas that might have been left untouched if schools are to rely on government for such interventions.
This, therefore, is no exception for the alumni of Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu, Ibadan 1983 set, which recently refurbished a building housing the school examination hall, including chairs and desks for students, staff room and laboratories.
The 1983 set, championed by Mr Owolabi Salami, recently handed over the refurbished building to the school authorities, where ex-students and current students gathered to celebrate another success in contributing to the developing of the school.
Speaking during the event, which was held inside the new examination hall, chairman on the occasion, who is also chairman of the School Governing Board, Mr Femi Johnson, commended the 1983 set for the completion of the project in record time.
Mr Johnson, who is also an ex-student of the school, said he noticed how active the 1980-1983 sets of the school are going by the different projects sited around the school.
“I have observed the trend in Lagelu Grammar School, that the 1980-1983 sets are very active. In fact, they have been outstanding and as a result, I must commend them for their positivity towards the development of the school.
“These sets are very coordinated and united and that is why we are seeing all the projects they are embarking upon and completing in the school.
“They have also shown that what they gained in the school should also be given back for the benefit of the current students, and as a result, I must commend them for their efforts.
“I want to also specially commend the 1983 set, which has successfully completed this project, for a job well done. I know current students are learning from their humanitarian gestures in giving back to their alma mater, so that when they also succeed in life, they can also remember to return to the school and give back.”
Mr Johnson then called on the national body of the alumni association, as well as other sets groups to work together with the Governing Board to project look at ways to develop the school.
“In fact, one of the things we have going for the school is that I, as the chairman of the Governing Board, is also an ex-student of the school, so issues of working at cross purposes do not arise, we are all focused on contributing our quotas to ensure that Lagelu Grammar School is a model for all secondary schools in the state and Nigeria as a whole,” Mr Johnson said.
While also speaking, a prominent member of the 1983 set who contributed significantly to the completion of the project, Mr Owolabi Salami, said public schools need more support in order to make the environment conducive for learning.
“Education is very important, but it is unfortunate that this school is like this, so we are now at a stage that if government won’t do anything, either because they can’t, or they don’t know what to do or they are willing to do it, then those of us who went through this school should rise up and try to salvage the situation.
“So we cannot fold our arms; I was in this school from 1978 and it currently is not what it used to be; it’s embarrassing. So I got the inspiration from a brother of mine who did something similar at Government College, Ibadan.
“This is what I also hope will encourage many more ex-students and even current students to come in and start to take up one or two projects.”
The representative of the 1983 set, Mr Segun Balogun, said the set, through the support of members and the national body, would continue to work towards embarking on more projects to the school.
He said the school contributed in no small measure to the persons they have become and as a result, it is only normal to give back to the institution where they gained their foundation in life.
Mr Balogun thanked Mr Salami for the huge role he played in the starting and completion of the project, adding that he has been able to inspire more people who have the means to also see what they can individually do for their alma mater.
The coordinator of the set, Mr Wale Onipede, also added that the 1983 set is concerned about providing conducive atmosphere to aid learning for current students of the school, “and that is why we are doing everything in our capacity as a set to also give back to the school.
“This project is now part of our success story as a set and we will continue to do more to ensure that Lagelu Grammar School continues to thrive.”
In his appreciation remarks, principal of the school, Mr Lawal Babatunde, said government cannot do everything, “and it is a good thing that Lagelu Grammar School has produced several successful individuals who are not selfish with their financial resources, but are concerned that they want current students to also study under favourable conditions like they did during their time.
“We will continue to appreciate our ex-students for their contributions to the school and that efforts are the reason our school is one of the best schools in the state today.”
After the handover, members then went for a reception to celebrate the award given to another prominent member of the 1983 set, Dr Abbey Akinoshun in the United Kingdom.
Dr Akinoshun was honoured by the Dr Pauline Long Awards for contributions to community development and positively impacting lives in the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
In Nigeria, Dr Akinoshun runs the Dr Abbey Akinoshun Foundation (DAAF), which he uses to support the under-privileged in the society, while in the United Kingdom, he is a nursing advocate, who has defended vulnerable professionals in course of their jobs.
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