The Old Students Association of Ijebu-Ife Community Grammar School, Ogun State, has begun a massive overhaul of the school’s infrastructure ahead of its 50th anniversary holding from September 4 to 7.
The school which was a product of the effort of some notable indigenes of Ijebu-Ife was officially opened to students on September 5, 1975.
To mark the anniversary, the old students association has embarked on a tripartite signature project which includes perimeter fencing of the school, provision of CCTV camera and solar light for the school.
The president of the old students association, Engr Adeniyi Afolabi, and the chairman of the Local Organising Committee on the anniversary, Bldr Rotimi Omoniyi, in a statement said the old students of the school were indebted to it because they were beneficiaries of the investment of the founding fathers.
‘This school is a community school. The founding fathers invested their time and resources to give us the best. We are what we are today because some people saw tomorrow. We have a responsibility to ensure that the vision of the founding fathers does not die.’
They disclosed that the school had produced notable individuals in the society including the governor of Lagos State, Mr.Babajide Sanwoolu, who was a member of the second set of the school.
Many other notable individuals that finished from the school are Prof Babalola Adejinle an award winning surgeon in the US.
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He was once listed among the 20 prominent Nigerians making impact in the US.
He was of the first set of the school.
The president of the association, Engr Afolabi is reputed to be the first gas reservoir engineer of Shell Nigeria Limited.
He was said to have had the best result in advanced level Mathematics in 1982 which earned him the Shell scholarship to study at the University of London where he made a First Class in mechanical engineering.
There are many other notable alumni of the school who have made great impact on the society.
The statement informs further that the 50th anniversary is an opportunity for the old students to give back to the school.
The duo of Afolabi and Rotimi noted that so far, about N50 million had been committed to the tripartite projects.
“The fencing of the school has been done and other projects are still going on. We hope to put in place digital classrooms apart from the three major projects we are doing.
“Some of the buildings have to be rehabilitated too. We have rebuilt the gates leading into the school and added another gate at the back of the school. All thanks to the old students who have deployed their resources to ensure that the dreams of the founding fathers do not die.”
The statement noted that the event would begin with a visit to the Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife, Oba Afolorunso Oguntayo on Thursday, September 4 and will be followed with a health talk on Friday, September 5.
The topics to be addressed are cancer and hypertension.
Prof Adejinle from the US, Dr Babatunde Onamusi also from the US and Prince Kehinde Osibote from the UK, all old students will facilitate the health session.
There will also be free medical test for old students.
A novelty match between old students and teachers of the school will also hold on Friday.
A gala nite will cap up the day.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Prof Denloye Abiodun, an old student of the school will deliver the key note address with the theme, “Honouring the past, inspiring the future.”
The highpoint of the event is on Saturday, September 6 during which the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, will be honoured among many other old students of the school.
Also to be honoured are the Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife, Oba Afolorunso Oguntayo, and all the founding fathers of the school, including the late Arc (Otunba) Olajide Adebanjo, Arc Adedeji Oyenuga and many others.
