Late Ben Oke family, old students splash prizes on high performers at Anglican Grammar School VS

Image caption: Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Teaching Service Commission TESCOM Ogbomoso Zonal Office Mrs. Gbemisola Beyioku ()left) presents prize to one of the highest performers

Late Ben Oke family, old students splash prizes on high performers at Anglican Grammar School VS

Niyi AJALA

The graduands’ procession

There was immense jubilation at this year’s edition of Valedictory Service of Anglican Grammar School, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, as some old students and other stakeholders splashed prizes on students who excelled most in various subjects as well as on overall best students.

Some of the donors are Dr.Tayo Adiatu, chairman of Tulcan Energy Ltd (Best in English, Maths and Chemistry); Engr Bolaji Ajao (Best in Science); Chief Mrs. Funmilayo Afon (Best in Maths); Prof Gbenga Bello (Best in Chemistry) and Mrs. Faronbi awarded in honour of late Mr. Ajayí, one time Physics teacher and PTA employed teacher in the school (Best in Physics and Maths).

Others are Professor John Akinola Akintola, Alapa of Okin-Apa (Best in Biology); Mr.Rotimi Adewole (Best in Fine Art, Commerce, Economics, Accounting and Maths); Dn. Abiodun Olowe, principal of the school and his wife, Dns Adewemimo Olowe, who were both old students (Best in Geography and most dutiful and responsible student and Best in CRS respectively).

Representative of the Ben Adeniyi Oke family presents prize to one of the students

Presentation of award to the best overall student by the Ben Adeniyi Oke family

Also, the family of late Pa Benjamin Adeniyi Oke, pioneer principal of the school who died five years ago, awarded handsome prizes to the Best student in English, overall best student and paid WAEC fees of five students for 2026. The family started the awards five years ago in memory of their patriarch, with the payment of WAEC fees being newly introduced.

The principal Dn. Joseph Abiodun Olowe leads the procession into the Ben Adeniyi Oke Hall where the event held

The principal, Dn. Olowe, in his address, urged the graduands to pursue the path of education or skill acquisition, asserting either is a good option “but especially education.”

He remarked further, “Do not waste your time in idleness while waiting for admission into higher institutions. If you encounter setbacks in securing admission, do not give up, try again and again until you succeed,” adding, “Remember, you are no longer covered under the protective umbrella of being ‘students’ here. You are now young adults, and the choices you make will carry consequences. Shun every form of vices – avoid bad company, dishonesty, and any behaviour that could ruin the good name you have built.”

This is as he charged them not to forget their alma mater, “And finally, never forget your alma mater. Many of you have benefited from the generosity of past graduates who returned to build classrooms, donate facilities, and offer scholarships. When God blesses you in life, come back to lift others as you too have been lifted.’

The Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission TESCOM Ogbomoso Zonal Office, Mrs. Beyioku, pointed out the students should be grateful for ”starting the journey and ending well.”

The Tutor General Mrs Beyioku makes her speech

“Not everyone who starts a race finishes it,” she said.

Mrs. Beyioku also counselled on the imperative of learning a skill while waiting for admission, “you should endeavour to learn skills in order not to be idle.”

She as well congratulated those whose WAEC results are excellent while advising those who didn’t perform well to try to re-enroll and to never relent.

Further, the TG advised them boys especially to shun internet fraud urging them to be hardworking, and pursue worthwhile endeavours. To parents and guardians she said, ”Parents do not be tired or relent in providing for your children and to never see this as the end of their education.’

Rev’d Adebare Aderinto, the guest speaker, another alumnus, admonishing the graduands in a speech titled, ”When next I come back here,” urged that they strive to make their life meaningful, so that they would be able to return with pride to the school in the future.

Rev’d Aderinto noted they would fall in either of two categories, “distinguished alumni or undesirable characters,” enthusing however that the school had produced several distinguished alumni doing well in various fields of human endeavours.

He consequently charged they get themselves inspired by the feats of old students, imbibe a praying attitude, embrace hardwork, and to stay connected to good friends.

Rev’d Oshunneye

Rev’d Adebare

Rev’d Michael Oshuneye, chaplain of the school, in his exhortation titled, “Be alive on five things as you go on in life,” with text from 1 Peter 5: 8, implored the graduating students to not dissociate themselves from God, spend less time on social media, beware of peer influence, run away from sexual immoralities and to pursue life with purpose.

Michael Akinboye, the head prefect boy thanked their teachers and parents while charging his colleagues whom he tagged the “Class of overcomers” to aim for the summit as “we begin another chapter of our lives. What we have learnt in the school let’s imbibe them,” Akinboye said.

Senior Boy Michael Akinboye

The event also attended by the Director TESCOM zonal office, Ogbomoso Dr Taiwo Oladele, chairman and secretary of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), other parents among others, similarly featured cultural display, choir rendition, presentation of gift to the school, induction of the graduating students into the alumni body and so on.