‘This accomplishment makes you best,’ AGSOSA hailed, as Adiatu, Suara, Magbagbeola, Oladoye, others honoured at school’s 50th anniversary

‘This accomplishment makes you best,’ AGSOSA hailed, as Adiatu, Suara, Magbagbeola, Oladoye, others honoured at school’s 50^thanniversary

Adebayo ADELEKE

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The Anglican Grammar School Old Students Association, AGSOSA, has been hailed as the best in Ogbomosoland following its official presentation of the history book of the school.

The book, titled, “Anglican Grammar School Ogbomoso (1976 – 2026),” was successfully launched Saturday during the grand finale of the 50^th anniversary of the school held in the hall of the school.

The book reviewer, Mr. Femi Ogunlana, publisher of The Insight Newspaper and ogbomosoinsightonline.com, lauded the feat of AGSOSA describing the book as the first of its kind in Ogbomoso – as no other alumni association has recorded such exploit.

“The courage is saluted; another legacy has been bequeathed. It is commendable because I think this is the first time an alumni association would nick such in Ogbomoso zone,” Ogunlana asserted. “Ogbomoso Grammar School Old Students Association is likewise passionate about their alma mater and has done a lot, the body has renovated a lot of buildings, facilitated others, provided ICT and skill acquisition centres, responsible for tarring of internal roads in the school and many more, all these you have also accomplished, but now, distinguished alumni of AGSO, you have moved a step ahead, you have published the history of the school. That is non-parallel in Ogbomosoland. You have thrown down a daunting challenge. Kudos.”

The 130-page book, compiled/authored by the historical committee set up by the association led by Prince Jacob Ojo as chairman and Mr. Adewuyi Adegbite as editor-in-chief, the book traces the root of the school from the time of its forerunner Anglican Modern Secondary School founded in 1958, to the establishment of the grammar school in 1976, through the last five decades.

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The book dedicated to the Anglican Communion of Nigeria (for its foresight in founding the school), the pioneer principal, Mr. Benjamin Adeniyi Oke, and the first President of the Alumni Association, late Mr. John Adelubi Ojekanmi, has eight chapters namely foundation and growth; pioneering principal and teachers as a catalyst for growth; successive principals and their times; extra-curricular activities; iconic teachers of all time; Anglican Grammar School, Ogbomoso: Factor in nation building; Anglican Grammar School Old Students’ Association; and views and reminiscences.

Meanwhile, the event also featured conferment of honours on some distinguished alumni. Set in various categories some of the awardees are Prince (Dr) Tayo Adiatu, chairman of Tulcan Energy (Golden Jubilee Leadership Award); Architect Sakiru Akinola Suara, retired federal civil servant (Distinguished Alumni Award); Dr Tayo Magbagbeola, top manager at Chevron Nig Ltd (Alumni Special Award); Oba Professor John Akintola, Alapa of Okin-Apa (Distinguished Alumni Award); and Dr Dapo Ishola, US-based medical Doctor (Education Excellence Award).

Some others are Dr Ayinde Akintunde Kehinde, Permanent Secretary, Oyo state Ministry of Health (Distinguished Alumni Award); Prof Olajide Ajao, LAUTECH (Distinguished Alumni Award); Mr. & Mrs. Jide Areo, Building Materials dealer (Alumni Special Award); Prof Olugbenga Solomon Bello, LAUTECH and AGSOSA national president (Education Excellence Award); Engr. Dr. Yinka Ajao, Tulcan Energy (Golden Jubilee Leadership Award); Dn Abiodun Olowe, incumbent principal (Alumni Service Award); Mr. Remi Oladoye, publisher National Insight Online (Young Achievers Award), Dr Bukola Olatunji, CEO, Cedars for Human Welfare Initiative, CEHUWEI and national PRO AGSOSA (Young Achievers Award); late Mr. John Ojekanmi (Posthumous Honour Award); and late Mr. B.A. Oke (Pioneer Service Award).

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‘Th award is a challenge to do more,’ – Architect Sakiru Suara

Architect Sakiru Akinola Suara, who was honoured for his numerous interventions in the school while in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing which included facilitation of many road projects to Ogbomoso at large, and to his alma mater especially such as tarring of roads, renovation of the school hall, construction of sports arena etc, during a chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, said, “My dear alumni, no matter how small, give back to the society, give back to your alma mater that raised you.”

He further remarked, “You see the award that is given is just to remind us that we have to do more. Once you started something and the society recognizes you, it is a challenge that they need more from you. I am happy about it and by the grace of God we are praying to God to give us more opportunity.

“Talking of giving back to the society, it means you remember your root, and you will not go astray and you will not miss your way in life. The only thing that can make you to be relevant in the society is to remember when you are nobody, where you come from. By the time you take care of your root, definitely, you will take care of your people because you will be seeing them, whatever you think you are, what you think you have made in life without coming back to your root it is nothing.

“Because at the end of the day if you leave this world, it is those your people that will take care of your corpse, so, it is very essential for anybody wherever you are to always remember where you come from, both your primary school and secondary school, family, home, remember them, because when you remember them, things will work for you.”

On his motivation, he stated, “What motivated me to do the things is that I have the opportunity and felt the compulsion to contribute to the development of my town. But I must say those things I did in Ogbomoso; majority of those projects are not executed with my personal money, I have to let everybody know that.

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“It is the federal government’s money. I was in a position where I developed other people’s communities so why should I abandon my home? 8 years or 9 years ago, when I came to this school, the form 5 class I was in, I wrote something at a corner and it was still there, which means the whole place had been abandoned. The government of the day did not even look at Anglican Grammar School and I now said at the time, ‘if I am in a position to help, the first place I will help is Anglican Grammar School.’ And when God put me in such a position, I looked at Anglican Grammar School.

“But renovating Anglican Grammar School I got the wrath of Muslims in Ogbomoso, that is what made me to touch Muslim Grammar School, Nurudeen and ADS, and other schools. In fact, I did lot of things in the churches, these are things that make me happy. Because that is the only thing that will make my people to welcome me. It is not when I become a politician or I want to do politics, anywhere you are you can give back to society.”

‘This is sobering and exciting’ – Tayo Magbagbeola

Akintayo Magbagbeola popularly called “Oloye,” by his childhood friends, also during a chat with Ogbomoso Insight, said of the award, “It is sobering and is very exciting. This is where I started, the place I built my character, the place that taught me the virtue of hardwork, honesty and dedication. So, I feel a sense of responsibility.

Promising to be more involved in the development of Ogbomoso, Dr Magbagbeola, who made the highest donation at the book launch, called on greater unity and cooperation among the old students. “It is just that we need to make ourselves one, surely, all fingers are not equal but one of the things the old students’ association can do is to make sure we raise each other; those God has blessed can help others. One tree cannot make a forest, when we all gather together nobody knows it all, it can be advice, wisdom, connection, and leadership.”

And to the young ones, he charged, “The sky is the limit. I have been saying this since Thursday. Life itself is not a sprint it is a race, the fact that some people started very fast doesn’t mean they will always be in front forever. What I want to tell them is to work very hard, believe in God, be truthful, and every other thing else will follow.

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“And I keep saying it, things are getting more pedantic. When I attended this secondary school, in form four we didn’t have Physics teacher, we didn’t have Add Maths teacher, when we were in form five, we equally didn’t have Physics teacher, Add Maths teacher and Maths teacher. But we sat down and read, I am very, very glad that in my set there are very many people that accomplished academically; they couldn’t have done that if they didn’t pass those subjects.

“Like I said, there are bound to be bumps along the way but whatever challenges, try and persevere, work hard. Another thing I want to say is that please stay off cultism it doesn’t pay anybody, stay off violence, stay off hooliganism. Most of us that you are seeing here today if we were carrying juju when we were young, we wouldn’t have made it here. So, please I am begging you in the name of God, I know politicians might promise you come and join our gang, we will give you money, the question you need to ask is where are their children? Why are they not carrying cutlass, why are they not carrying bow and arrow or juju? Your future is very, very bright, you can make something out of your life. Having very humble beginning doesn’t mean you cannot make something out of your life.”