Sola Adeyemo IBADAN The 1981 Set of the old students of Ladigbolu Grammar School in Oyo, Oyo State last week returned to their alma mater, 40 years after their graduation, to relive old memories of their school days and to advance the developmental strides of the school. It was time for the old students from all walks of life within and outside the country to converge on the Main Hall of the 57-year-old school, founded by Chief Michael Ogunmola and later taken over by the government, in their fashionable school uniforms to celebrate with some the old teachers, the students and other students from other neighbouring schools.
As part of activities lined up to commemorate the three-day anniversary were several competitions such as academic and sporting contests for students of the school and other sister schools in which prizes and laurels were awarded to the various winners.
The competitions were organised by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) comprising Dr. Olubisi Oke (the National President of the Old Students Association), Olumide Owolabi, Segun Oke, Sina Raji, Lateef Adeyeye, Ruth Alabi, Moshood Alaka, Fatai Agboola, who were assisted by the Senior Boy and Senior Girl (Alhaji Lookman Alarape and Titilayo Olaleye, among others. Other high points of the threeday activities include quiz competition, football competition, awards presentation and Asun Nite.
At the end of the quiz competition contested by many schools within Oyo Town, St. Bernardine Grammar School won the star prize; while Best Legacy came second and SPED International School emerged in third position respectively.
And, in the football competition played on the school field, Ladigbolu Grammar School 1 and 2 led by the Principals, Messrs Akindele Samuel and Hameed Oladele ended goalless.
The National President of the association, Dr. Olubisi Oke and member of 81 Set, in his remarks, encouraged old students to see the old students’ association as a bridge between the past and the future, stressing that “in most societies, many educational institutions owe their survival and development to the vibrancy and enthusiasm to their alumni associations.”
While expressing gratitude to other Sets of the school for their sterling contributions to the infrastructural and educational development of the school, Oke further recalled: “The 1981 Set has contributed immensely to the school in several ways including renovation of the administrative block, which at a point in life of the school was an eyesore; provision of magnetic boards to all classrooms in both School 1 and 2; drilling of borehole for water supply to the school; construction of a block of four classrooms and skill acquisition centre by the Federal Government facilitated by a member of the Set (James Olusegun Oke); the building of a standard modern toilet under construction, and a host of others infrastructure.”
Some of the past teachers of the Set, who are alive, were invited also to share in the historic moment.
They include Chief Bayo Adesope (Technical Drawing teacher) and now Agba Akin of Kishi in Oyo State and his wife, Chief Doyin Adesope, Yeye Agba Akin of Kishi, also an old student of Ladigbolu Grammar School; as well as Alhaji Sheu Babalola, their English Language and Literature-in-English teacher; Alhaji Agberemi (Islamic Studies teacher); Mr. E. S. Iledare, their Chemistry teacher; Mr. J. T. Oladokun (Chemistry teacher), Mrs. Adedeji Dupe (English Language teacher). Various appreciation gifts were presented to them by their former students.
The Class of 81 Set, who were said to have stormed Oyo Town from Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, America, United Kingdom and other countries in the large numbers took time out to dance, dine and unwind, as well as exchanged banters and pleasantries among themselves and later retired to the venue of Asun Nite, where they relieved fond old memories of their secondary school days.
