Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has commended the Old Students’ Association of Ajowa Community Grammar school, Ajowa Akoko, in the state for face-lifting moribund structures in the citadel of learning.
The alumni body, since the assumption of its current executives, had renovated the school classrooms, library and rest room to modern standard, while some of its members facilitated a well-equipped laboratories and ICT centre through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and National Communications Commission respectively.
Impressed by the humanitarian development, Akeredolu said the timely intervention of the alumni to rescue students from imminent collapse of building was highly commendable, noting that the education sector required a huge financial obligation before any significant impact could be achieved.
The Governor spoke during the 46th anniversary of the school held on October 2nd, 2021 at the school’s auditorium.
Akeredolu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Education, Lola Amuda, expressed satisfaction at the yeoman’s job, stating that paucity of fund occasioned by the economic downturn created a vacuum for Public Private Partnership Initiative (PPP).
Akeredolu said: “I am impressed with the level of intervention of the Old Students’ Association in the area of promoting the infrastructural and academic standard of the school.
“Unfortunately the poor state of the economy has undermined appropriate funding of the education sector. This laudable and kind gesture from the alumni of this could not have come at better time than this, when education sector is being ravaged by poverty and copiously needs a wide range intervention from individuals, Associations and NGOs”
“It is noteworthy to mention that this noble association with amiable personalities paid for NECO examination of SS3 students while scholarships were awarded to deserving students of the school”
Akeredolu, who doubles as the Chairman of South West Governors’ Forum, disclosed that his administration recruited 1,200 teachers recently, maintaining that Government coudn’t do everything.
“In a bid to rescue our primary schools from acute shortage of teachers, 1,200 were recently recruited, while 473 Local Government staff with NCE certificates and degrees in Education were transferred to SUBEB”
“I sincerely appreciate the principal, members of the Old Students Association of this school, and by extension, all other critical stakeholders for their unalloyed contribution”, the Governor said.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the National President of ACGSOSA, Major General Temidayo Olukoju (rtd) hailed the members of the association for contributing to the development of the school despite the unfavorable economy with its concomitant effects.
He stated that the body sank a solar powered bore hole for the use of staff, students and residents of the agrarian community, adding no building suffered structural defects in Ajograms.
Backing the words of the President, the speech writer/media adviser to the Governor of the State of Osun, Sola Imoru, said the unprecedented developments and its concomitant transformations witnessed by the school was as a result of the conscious efforts of the old students.
He stated in his Maiden Old Students’ Lecture titled, Ajograms in Transformation: Responsibilities of the Old Students
The media expert painstakingly said the service delivery carefully distilled into infrastructure, health care delivery and capacity building for teachers and students of the school is a significant component of the agenda of the association.
“Part of the capacity building efforts of the association is the annual facilitation of corps members—an average of 15 per year. The Association takes care of their welfare, including stipends, provision of accommodation and beddings”, he said
Akeredolu was bestowed with an excellence award for his performances in the socioeconomic development of the state.
The perm sec, who received the award on behalf of the Governor, thanked the association for recognising the giant strides of Akeredolu, stressing that adequate support for the drive of qualitative education would be given to the school.
Attendees at the event included the Chairman, Akoko North West Local Government, Chairman, Elder Akande; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Tokunbo Ayejoto; Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade (rtd.); Bishop A. B. Dahunsi.
