In recognition of the role-model function their old teachers had performed in their lives, some old students of the Methodist Secondary Grammar School, Elekuro, Ibadan, Oyo State, at the weekend, honoured some of their cherished teachers with appreciation awards “in recognition of their great commitment towards discharging their duty while in active service”.
The event which took place in the premises of the school, had in attendance many of the 85/86 Set alumni, including Professor Bolaji Omitola (Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Osun State University), the Principal of the school, Mr Akinboade Olatunji, as well as the awardees who reminisced their old days nostalgic experiences with their students, now fathers and mothers in various exalted positions in the country and in the Diaspora.
The protem executive of the association comprising Kayode Oyediran (President), Deaconess Abiola Bayonle, nee Fasasi (Vice President), Osunbunmi Odunayo (Secretary), Toyin Makinde Oyebamiji (Treasurer), Ali Musilimat (Financial Secretary), and Olayiwola Kazeem (Publicity/Social Secretary), also used the occasion to donate 50 units of stools to the school to facilitate comfortable sitting of Science students during their practical sessions.
The old teachers, some of them now retired, expressed happiness that the pedagogical legacy they bequeathed to their students could be appreciated while they are still alive, against the old popular saying that: “reward of teachers is in heaven”.
The honoured teachers included Mr. Anthony Oluremi Adebayo, Chief Mrs Idowu Olayinka Aborisade (the 2017 Oyo State best female civil servant award winner), Mrs Comfort Oladunni Ale, Mr. Saka Fakunle, Revd. Segun Falana, Mr. Nurudeen Subar, Pastor Michael Adeniji, Mrs. Olabisi Olaniran, and Mr. Solomon Olatunji.
The Principal, Olatunji, commended the old students for their enviable collaborative efforts towards lifting the status of the school, noting that “moral values have been debased in many schools nowadays unlike in the past. The role of funding education cannot be left for the government alone. This is why efforts of old students like this should be welcome to salvage our schools and the education sector in order to have a saner future for our present students. Other sets should also emulate this gesture, but I implore you to extend your donation beyond the Science Class in order to engender an all-round educational development “, he advised.
The protem President, Oyediran, promised that members of his set would not rest on their oars as they were prepared to take their Alma mater to a loftier height among other schools in Oyo State.
