*its high time we give back to our Alma mata – Akerekan
By Mike Adeyemi
It was a time for laughter, hugs, handshakes, back-slapping, reminiscing, exchange of business cards and other pleasantries penultimate Monday as class 1994 old students of Oke-Ode Grammar School, gathered at the Township Hall, Oke-Ode, to celebrate love, individual and group achievements at a roundtable.
The event was the first reunion dinner of class ’94 after three decades of their departure from their Alma mata which provided a moment for the old students to reflect on how fair life has been to them decades after leaving the college and having, possibly, graduated from the university before venturing into one business or the other.
Speaking with our reporter at the event, the then assistant senior prefect, Oke-Ode Grammar School, 1994 set who also doubles as a registered nurse, Awoniyi James Ayodeji described the reunion as fantastic and unprecedented, saying he is proud to be a product of the college.
According to him, ‘I’m here as a member of class ’94 of Oke-Ode Grammar School. Am proud to have graduated from OGS, and without the college, I wouldn’t have been what I am today.’
“My time at the college was a wonderful period and to crown it all, I was the assistant senior prefect that time and we are able to coordinate the affairs of students. It gave me joy on what it means to become a leader in future. So it was a rare privilege.
“During our time in the school, there was no subjects without a teacher and that gave me the privilege to develop myself as a science student. Today I thank God, I am a registered nurse. It is a wonderful thing to see all of us today. My message to the college is that they should uphold its academic excellence,” Omo Baba Principal advised.
Also speaking, a Lagos based business tycoon, Mrs. Medinat Adenike Bello said she felt elated seeing her classmates after 30 years of departure, lauding the initiator of the get together program.
“I feel honored today to see our mates 30 years after we left school. I came back home from Lagos mainly because of this reunion. Today’s gathering has further strengthen our friendship.
” Our time in the college was memorable and each time I reminiscences the activities then, I boasted into laughter. I remembered then my nickname while in the college. I was nicknamed Mama NRC, while Femi Adebayo was called Baba NRC,” Bello said.
For Mr. Uthman Sahusudeen Owolabi, another member of class’94, he likened the reunion get together as a means to foster cooperation and understanding among the old students.
“I’m very happy today because almost 70 percent of us have not seen each others since we parted from the school. I’m seeing them for the first time today since 30 years and we thank God that we are still alive. So it is a thing of joy to see ourselves again. I am very happy.
” The advantage of this reunion is to foster more cooperation and understanding among us, and it is an eyes opener. During our time in the school, some of us were not good academically, but today they are doing fantastic in their various businesses.
“So the onus is to get the basic education at the secondary school level. This would enable you to know your right from left. My message to my alma mata is that we should continue to encourage education. I am very proud to be a product of Oke-Ode Grammar school,” Owolabi affirmed.
In the same vein, the coordinator, class ’94, Oke-Ode Grammar School reunion gathering, ‘Lekan Afolami-Akerekan said the rationale for the reunion is to affect humanity and an avenue to give back to their Alma mata.
The seasoned Geologist added that class ’94 thought it right to discuss how to raise the standard of the school relatively to how it was in time past, saying the reunion get together has given a leverage to discuss that.
“I saw this as an opportunity to affect humanity, and I thought that in order to do this, I need to get the likes minds together. I thought about my classmates. We know ourselves while in school and that by the time this idea get to them, they would understand it. Hence we puts heads together and everybody embraced it. That was how we began the journey.
“We made out intention known to them that let us give back to the school that made us. That is why we are here today. What is happening today is remarkable gathering after 30 years of departure. We are able to see ourselves to discuss on what we have been talking about on the platform.
” We gathered mainly to discuss about our school, how to raise the standard of the school in line with what it was in the time past, and honestly this avenue has given us such a leverage, ” the eloquent Geologist stressed.
Answering question on his fulfilment being an ex student of the college, Akerekan said he is fulfilled and his joy has no bound to have graduated from Oke-Ode Grammar School, attributing his career and success to his Alma mata.
“I am fulfilled being a product of Oke-Ode Grammar School. That school has been a foundation to our progress. My career and successes are traceable to the college. Oke-Ode Grammar school made me whom I am today. It is high time we replicate the gesture and give back to the school,” the coordinator said.
Highlights of the reunion get together includes visitation by the class 1994 to their Alma mata to assess the level of infrastructural decay, so as to ascertain how the set could come to the aid of the school.
The elated OGS ’94 class also paid a condolences visit to one of their members who was bereaved at the Surulere annex of the community. Prayers were also offered for the repose of their colleagues who have parted to the world beyond.