Ijebu Ijesa Grammar School 1969/73 Set Celebrates 50th Graduation Anniversary.... Donates Laboratories as Rotimi Obeisun Reiterates Need for Secondary Schools Alumni to Take Over Schools

After 50 years of their graduation from Ijebu Ijesa Grammar School, Ijebujesa, Osun State, the 1969/73 set returned to the school to celebrate their Golden Jubilee with reunion and thanksgiving.

It was a celebration of joy with excitement when they gathered at the school's assembly hall with three of their old teachers, family members of their late principal, well wishers, relations and friends to wine and dine together as they reminisce and share the joy of being alive years after leaving school.

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As part of the activities to commemorate their 50 years of graduating from the school, the old students handed over a three-laboratories block which they renovated and renamed after their late Principal, Chief P. O. Orunmuyi.

The President of the set, Hon. Olugbenga Bamgboye while delivering his welcome address emphasized on the values of discipline the set received from the school as he expressed his gratitude to God for making him and his colleagues to be alive to witness the golden jubilee.

According to him, some of the members of their set who passed out of the school together were no more but thanked God for keeping them alive.

“It is a great privilege that we are alive to witness this programme. Some of our colleagues had died years ago, while some died recently. I want to say that we are not better than them, but we thank the Almighty God for His grace upon those who are still alive.” he said

Bamgboye revealed that they are not only coming together to the merriment alone but to contribute their own quota to the development of the school.

He however, advised the students to remain steadfast and focused on their academics as she urged them to shun any vices that can ruin their academic pursuits.

The Global President, of the IJGSOSA Global Executive Council of the School, Prof. Kolawole Kazeem while felicitating and rejoicing with the set in his goodwill message, remarked that the set happens to be the first to mark its golden jubilee of graduation from the school with fanfare and at the same time commission an important project.

"The Global Council is very proud of the quality representation and contributions of your set to anything IJGSOSA. For the council today’s event of your set is a testimony of your unflinching support for the vision and mission of the present Global Executive. We are happy to report that your set's coordinator and indeed your set is among the most active. Your set is one of the most visible in responding to any activities of the association." Prof. Kazeem said

The highpoint of the program was the presentation of the anniversary lecture with the theme "The Adverse Effect of Government Compulsory Takeover of Secondary Schools: What is the Way Forward?" delivered by Basorun Rotimi Obeisun, Chairman/Chief Executive, Rotimi Obeisun Investment Limited who doubles as Asiwaju of Ijebujesa.

Chief Obeisun enjoined all alumni of secondary schools to come together to request the state government to hand over the schools to Old Students Association so that quality education can be improved upon because no alumni association will want the standard of their schools to fall and the cost of running the schools will be borne by the Association while government should spend their resources on other projects on education.

In addition to the delivery of the anniversary lecture, Basorun Rotimi Obeisun also donated a sum of one million Naira to support the purchase of equipment of the renovated laboratories.

One of the highlights of the event was the recognition and presentation of awards to the past teachers; Mrs. Oluyemi Oluropo Oyedeji (French language teacher), Chief Adewumi Joshua, (English teacher), Pa. Olusanya Olowokure. Pa. Samuel Ojo Longe, their late Principal, P. O. Orunmuyi also received a posthumous award and four distinguished members of the set; Mrs. Iyabo Omole, Prof. Ayodeji Sunday Dairo, Dr. Joseph Sunday Oke and the President of the set, Hon. Olugbenga Bamgboye also received special awards.

Also at the occasion the Awoyinfa family donated volume of books written by Mr, Mike Awoyinfa, a journalist to the school library.

The Elegboro of Ijebujesa, HRM Oba (Egnr.) Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye, Abokehin-Ekun Abisoye II, led other fathers including the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa HRM Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe Ajagbusi-Ekun VI and the Olura of IRA Ikeji-Ile, HRM Oba Fatai Julius Oluropo.

The Permanent Secretary Tutor General for Ife/Ijesa education district, Mrs. Kikelomo Oladimeji represented the state government at the occasion while the school principal, Mrs. Bolaji Adoye led some members of staff and students.