Majority Leader, Onisapa, ex-NUT boss, Ayede Poly Director, others light up Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School VS, 200 trees planted

Majority Leader, Onisapa, ex-NUT boss, Ayede Poly Director, others light up Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School VS, 200 trees planted

Jeremiah OYELEKE

Energy pitched to crescendo Tuesday at Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School (EABGS), Kajola area, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, as the 2025 valedictory service of the school was held in a convivial atmosphere.

According to the principal, Mr. Femi Ogunlana, such event had not held for quite some time, making the edition a milestone in the history of the school.

EABGS was founded in 2003, excised from Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ahoyaya, in the wake of the disarticulation policy of former Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

Orisatolu of Isapa Kingdom Oba Olajide unveiling the six feet block column bearing the name of the school

The principal congratulated the graduands comprising SSS 3 and JSS 3 students describing the event as a “celebration of success.”

He noted finishing secondary school constitutes an opportunity for the students to translate their dreams into reality emphasizing on the need to be resilient and persevering.

“It is significant because it is celebration of success. We rejoice with the graduands. You now have greater opportunities to pursue what you have always dreamt of becoming. But if you are yet to form a dream the time is now. Irrespective of your performance in WAEC and NECO this year you must persevere to ensure that you proceed to a higher institution to acquire prerequisite skills in a formal setting. Note that education is a major driver of success.”

Ogunlana also thanked Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, “for his dedication to bolstering the standard of education through regular payments of salaries and allowances, staff promotion, provision of books and compendium to students, and so on.”

Informing he assumed duty as principal of the school on May 14, 2025, as a “greenhorn,” he listed some achievements “God has helped us record.” This included setting up a “computer lab which we hope to turn into a digital centre to enhance digital literacy among staff and students.”

Another achievement mentioned is construction of access road (named after chairman of Ogbomoso South local government Hon Oyedokun Oyeniyi Timothy OOT) and a roundabout which has a 4-sided column rising six feet high with the school name inscribed on it – ”This is to give the school more visibility and identity,” while appealing to the council to help in grading the over 100m route.

The four -sided six – feet column bearing the name of the school

Other achievements included planting of 200 (teak) trees, provision of standard goalpost and part electrification of the computer lab.

He also highlighted projects lined up for execution in the future. They are erection of food vendors’ shed, repair of a block of classrooms whose ceilings are falling off, replacement of electricity service wires lost to theft, and completion of the school hall. “We promise to do more when we start a new session in September,” he enthused.

Mr. Sunday Adepoju, Acting Director, Centre for Information, Communication & Public Relations, Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo state, in the valedictory lecture, titled, “The place of higher education and skills acquisition,” also congratulated the graduands describing them as “Champions” and enjoining them to further their education and acquire vocational skills.

He however charged them “to stand the chance of living a balanced and comfortable life, you all need to pursue a post-secondary school education. Be that as it may, this must be combined with skills acquisition and development in vocational trainings and entrepreneurship.”

Mr. Sunday Adepoju

Adepoju pointed out that combining academic with skill acquisition is the new trend even in countries overseas, stressing it’s erroneous to harbour the thought that post-secondary school graduates do not secure jobs again.

“You will agree with me that survival in Nigeria requires skills development as this will provide a better chance for securing good jobs because organisations will want you to add values in your responsibilities.”

He added, “All of our celebrated heroes and leaders are relevant because they didn’t stop at secondary school level. Look at our dignitaries here today, that is what education has done to them.

“My dear friends, please, discard the notion that there are no jobs for higher institutions’ graduates out there. Please, out-rightly discard it. It is common among a people who have resigned to the fate of hopelessness. Strive and acquire higher education first and make yourself resourceful and become a dream of industries, multinationals, government ministries, departments, agencies, commissions and lots more.”

Majority Leader of Oyo State House of Assembly Hon Sanjo Adedoyin who was represented by Hon Tunde Oguntoye likewise admonished the graduands to “be good ambassadors of their school, parents and religion,” and “to prepare themselves to be employable and to become useful.”

The local inspector of education Ogbomoso South local government Mrs. E. A. Aremu, after expressing congratulations told the students, “Never forget your inception.”

Prince Comrade Tojuade Adedoyin, a former chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT Oyo state branch, who was a former principal of the school, also charged the students to follow the path of success. In the same vein Alhaji Fatai Adewuyi CEO of ATMECS, an educational resources centre, urged them to double their efforts and persevere towards furthering their education as he also called on parents and guardians to support their children’s educational pursuit.

Oba Ezekiel Bolarinwa Olajide the Orisatolu of Isapa Kingdom said, “I wish to begin by commending the management and staff of this school for your continued commitment to academic excellence, discipline, and moral upbringing. Your efforts are evident in the confident and well-prepared young minds seated before us today,” while charging the graduands to “remain focused, determined and disciplined.”

“But let me remind you, this is only the beginning. Life beyond these walls will demand focus, discipline, and the values you’ve acquired here.

“Remember, success is not only about certificates. It is about character, responsibility, and the courage to stand for what is right. Hold fast to integrity. Be ambassadors of peace and progress. And never forget your roots.”

Mr. David Babatunde Oyegun, acting president, EAGBS Alumni Association, expressed gratitude to the school management and staff for their efforts in lifting the standard of the school, urging the graduating students to be determined and disciplined. He added, “The world awaits your contributions — go out, make a difference, and never forget where you began. We, your alumni family, are proud of you.”

Reading the valedictorian speech, the outgoing assistant senior boy, Israel Promise Onakunle, implored his colleagues to work hard, to be resilient and imbibe the culture of integrity, remarking, “Let us not be afraid to dream big … let us also remember that the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

Orisatolu of Isapa Kingdom Oba Olajide commissioned the road project as the Ogbomoso South local government chairman Hon Oyedokun did not attend the event. The monarch, alternatively known as Onisapa of Isapa, commended the school for the project asserting the idea is a reflection of a good vision.

Students who recorded best results in JSS 1 and 2 as well as SSS 1 and 2 were awarded prizes even as the principal announced the school would pay either WAEC or NECO fee of the best three students.

The principal similarly informed that they had planted 200 trees in an afforestation programme embarked upon by the school.

The event was spiced up with performances by the school choir, cultural troupe and the press club.

Alaipo of Aipo, Oba Thomas Onaolapo Ajadi Oloyede IV also attended the programme (briefly) making handsome donation too as well as Ambassador Peter Layi Oyedele, a former Nigerian envoy who also sent representative and donation. No

The principal of the school

Guest lecturer Mr. Sunday Adepoju

From left: Comrade Samson Ogundipe (VP Administration), Alhaji Fatai Adewuyi, Femi Ogunlana, Onisapa and others watching the performance of the cultural troupe just before the commissioning