Stakeholders including Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, the Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, a Canada-based scholar, Professor Francis Fasanu and Dr. Olumuyiwa Adedeji, a US-based renowned economist have charged old students of various schools in the state to contribute meaningfully to the development of their secondary schools.
The personalities among others all agreed that no government across the world can singlehandedly commit adequate resources to the educational sector, hence the need for the support and collaboration of other relevant stakeholders particularly old student associations.
They spoke over the weekend at the commissioning of N15million worth of educational and infrastructural facilities and inauguration of N50million Educational Endowment Fund by the Old students Association of United Secondary School, Agugu, Idi-Obi, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde who was represented by the Executive Chairman, Pacesetter Transport Service, Honorable Dare Adeleke said the state government is willing to work with old student associations who can key into its vision of improving the educational sector.
He commended the Alumni Association of United Secondary School, Agugu, Ibadan for looking and seeing the need to partner with the government in improving the sector.
He said “The Old Students are trying to put up what I described as midas touches of the past in trying to establish their presence and that is what the governor himself has been preaching to old Students of each school.
“If we have the likes of Prof. Francis Fasanu, Pastor Osuolale Peluola, Honorable Taiwo Aladeifa, Dr. Olumuyiwa Adedeji and a host of others who are doing their bit to make sure things are moving on well in United Secondary School too, it would be easier for the Oyo State Government to partner with other Old Students Associations.
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“The governor just handed over the Government College to the Old students Association as part of his commitment to partner with relevant stakeholders to bring further improvement to the educational sector. We hope other schools will follow suit. With the infrastructure the old students are trying to put in place here, it is encouraging to the government to consider handing over the school to the old students”
In his remarks, the monarch, who commissioned the projects said the donations by the old students is “beautiful, it’s developmental, it’s futuristic and it’s just to depict the fact that as a people, we should not loose hope.”
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Oba Abolarin said; “Nation building is not done alone and overnight. There are certain things that we have to modify. Why must people ‘jaapa’ when we have the wealth here. Our problem is that we don’t like our own things but we feel pleased with what belongs to other people.
“These are students who graduated less than 42 years ago from this school and they are seeing that there is the need for them to plough back. They were products of Chief Bola Ige and his administration.
“As a public servant, you must be able to take the people to the future. Where do we want the country to be in the next 40 to 50 years when many of us won’t be around? Please, my children, have hope, don’t loose hope, and build wherever you find yourself.
Also speaking, Fasanu, a Professor of Finance at Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Ontario, Canada who doubles as co- coordinator of the event alongside Dr. Olumuyiwa Adedeji said the old students saw the institution as part of their heritages that must never be left unattended.
Fasanu said “Well, it is human nature to want to look back to where you are from, and promote your heritage. This school is part of my heritage, this community is my community, so I am from here. I cannot just go and not look back. I am not in it alone, I also have Dr. Olumuyiwa Adedeji who has also looked back. In fact, I have not done as much as he has done. We also have an Olympian for Nigeria who is also looking back and many other people who are doing so much for the school.
He said in 2022 alone, N15million has been spent to “renovate three blocks of buildings containing 15 classrooms, two staff rooms and a principal’s office; repair fence; purchase 300 metal-framed chairs and desks; beautify the surroundings of the school; build a brand new 5-room toilets for the junior school; undertake community medical outreach; facilitate career talks; and financially assist a few students.
“These comprehensive projects and programs aimed at further improving the learning environment, encouraging community engagement with the school, and offering a robust framework for collaboration between the state government and Old Students Association of public schools. Old Students Associations need to complement the efforts of government in enhancing the quality of secondary school education.”
News content: Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
