By Adémólá Òrúnbon
The 1986/92 set of the African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State have renovated a two block of classrooms, planted trees and gifted ten of their teachers a cash gifts to commemorate 30 years reunion of the club set and for their alma mater.
The acting President of the club set, Mr. Boye Ayodele while planting the 60 pairs of trees to both the junior and senior secondary school, said it was done for their reunion after 30 years, saying the gesture was part of their activities in marking the year of they graduated from the school.
“By God’s grace, we have just started. We want to see this school transformed. And beyond infrastructure, we want the pupils of our school, both present and future, to be ahead in their academics so they can compete with others from other parts of the world.
“Indeed, it is my pleasure to mention here today that we are doing this to commemorate the 30 years union of our club set, and also to give back to the school we all graduated 30 years back, the renovation and tree planting is for the alma mater, and a symbol for our class set”, Ayodele said
He also encouraged the pupils of the school to look beyond their environment and dream big. “We don’t want dropouts; we want you to become policy makers and professionals in various fields,” he added.
While presenting the cash gifts to their teachers at a reception held at Park Inn event centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, acting President, Ayodele, said they were rejoicing with their old teachers, especially those that still alive today, noted that they inculcated good habits in their lives and they would never be forgotten.
“In fact, what you planted in us still lingering in our memories today, the good habits, to be responsible and responsive at all time, it is very difficult to forget your good virtues, sirs/mas, we really appreciate you all”, Ayodele added.
The Chairman, Planning Committee, Engr. Olurotimi Ogunwemimo, who spoke during the tree planting, said the project was one of the set’s contributions to the school.
The ceremony was attended by the principal junior school, Mrs. Funmilayo Olutorera, who expressed her delight about the development, said she was happy to have been part of the set’s success stories.
She added, “There is nothing too small to do for your school, so, it’s commendable that after 30 years, you didn’t forget your alma mater. I’m amazed.”
The event witnessed by some of their former teachers, now retired among them were; Mr. Oyebade Sunday, History teacher, Mrs. Onigbogi Abimbola, Biology/Integrated Science teacher, Mrs. Abiodun Olukemi, Chemistry teacher, Mrs. George Victoria, English Language teacher, Mrs. Deru Mojisola, Mathematics teacher and Mrs. Oyesiku Olajumoke, Literature in English teacher.
Appreciating the alumnus, Mr. Oyebade Sunday, their former history teacher who commended the set for the project, said the school had continued to make progress in all areas, urging them to continue with the tempo and do more the less privileged ones in the society.
