Excitement as Ogbomoso High School holds valedictory service - rains of awards on students

Excitement as Ogbomoso High School holds valedictory service – rains of awards on students

Yinka ADETUNJI

Students of Ogbomoso High School who clinched best academic results were rewarded Wednesday with various gifts by some old students in recognition of their excellent performance. Awards for leadership were also conferred.

The star donor was a clergyman and medical doctor, Nathaniel Adewole, who passed out of the school in 1984. He instituted 9 awards in English language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Basic Science and overall best students in JSS 3 and SSS 3.

Other award sponsors were the principal of the school, Mrs. Racheal Ajala (four awards), Hon Solomon Akinwale (three awards), Dns. S.E. Adeoye (two awards), while Rev’d. Dr. Mrs. D.E. Oladipo, Mrs. M.A. Akintara and Hon. Olakanmi Olanlokun gave one each.

In her address, the principal, Mrs. Ajala expressed joy the graduating students performed well in the recently released WASSCE, while charging them to return to the school in future to contribute to its development.

She also said, “To the graduands, life, is not a bed of roses, it is like a dancing masquerade and if you want to enjoy your sight, you cannot afford to be stationary. It is on this note that I charge you to make hay while the sun shines; never be stagnant or complacent. It is also a truism that the only limitation to your life is you alone; not your environment or family. I hope you will strive to ensure that your background does not deter a promising future. You are like eagles, hence, do not struggle for the limited supply of air on the ground, but soar to the peak where freshness and greatness awaits you.

”Remember, real treasure and resources are never gotten on the surface; precious substance are dug out through enormous and energetic efforts. As I close, this saying is encouraging, “it is good for a man to bear his yoke in the time of his youth!”, kindly make hay while the sun shines.”

The local inspector of education (LIE), Ogbomoso South local government, Mrs. Aremu, congratulated the graduands, urging them to live wisely and purposefully.

The guest speaker, Rev’d Dayo Akano, in his lecture titled, “Self discipline: Key to effective performance in life and academic,” emphasized the importance of self-discipline, stressing, “A self-disciplined individual is purpose-driven and he is a goal-getter.”

Rev’d Akano listed some biblical personalities like Abraham, Joseph, Daniel and so on as well as political leaders like Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln, as exemplary individuals in self-discipline asserting they eventually reaped the rewards just as he highlighted those who lacked self-discipline who eventually faced calamities.

He therefore told the graduands, “As a beginner, a beginner because you are, just starting to be formed as far as academic pursuit is concerned. Your aspirations and yearnings can only be fulfilled if you exercise self-discipline.”

Mr. Femi Ogunlana, principal of Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School Ogbomoso and who is publisher of The Insight and ogbomosoinsightonline.com, also charged the students to seek further studies, submitting, “No matter what, pursue higher education. Even if you failed this year don’t lose hope. You must look beyond the festivities of today. Like the Kabiyesi the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III has been emphasizing, Ogbomoso children must be at the decision making tables in 15, 20 years time and not mounting gates and it’s only by acquiring sound education this can be achieved. So, put in everything to further your education.”

Mrs Olajumoke Oyekan, immediate past principal of the school, also hammered on discipline and focus.

Mrs Florence Oyewale, who graduated from the school in 1981, asked the graduands to always appreciate God and praise Him.

She also said, “Know that Ogbomoso High School will never fail you. Pursue your dreams with passion. This school has produced many great people follow in that path too.”

In similar vein, Rev’d Dr Mrs. Oladipo, who also served as principal in the school, charged them, “Do not follow the wrong path or imbibe wrong values. Do not follow the world to do evil.”

Delivering the valedictorian speech, Christian Ademola, chapel prefect girl, assured, “You will hear good things about us in the nearest future,” while thanking their teachers.

Featuring choir rendition, cultural display, presentation of gifts to some teachers by the graduating students and so on, the programme was excitement personified.

The chairman of the Parent – Teacher Association, PTA , Alhaji Jimoh Sulaiman, Dn O.O. Bamikole, Hon Olakanmi Olanlokun, and principals of some other schools were some other guests at the event.