An administrative block valued at ten million naira has been donated by the 1975/1980 class of Olivet Baptist High School Oyo, to the school.
The event which coincided with the handing over of the leadership baton to a new set of executives was held at the main hall of the institution, in Oyo Town.
It was a demonstration of a quote by an Indian American business executive, Dinesh Paliwal who said, “giving back to the communities and institutions that helped us achieve success is a value we share and a privilege we embrace.”
Located directly opposite the school’s hall, the donated administrative block contains about eight offices and toilets.
The administrative block was inaugurated by the national president of the school’s old students association, Dr Wale Okediran, who was represented by a national executive member of the association, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola.
The event had in attendance current and old students of the school including an octogenarian, Chief Benjamin Adebimpe.
Commenting on the project, former president of the 1975/1980 class set, Mr Lanre Fadahunsi said the gesture followed the need to fill the vacuum created by the takeover of the school by the government which according to him had led to a lack of some basic facilities in the school.
“I thank God for the opportunity He has given us. We began the project during the Covid-19 pandemic and today we are celebrating it. It has shown that teamwork works better. My advice to the incoming administration is to set another standard for themselves which may appear difficult to achieve but with the resilience that they have put into this, I’m sure because most of them as part of the last administration, I know they will do better.”
A member of the 1975/1980 set who is also the General Manager, Radio Nigeria Gold F.M., Ilesa, Mr Adedamola Tinubu said the association considered it worthwhile to contribute to the development of the school which provided them with a sound educational background.
“Well, the feeling is that of nostalgia, having graduated 47 years ago. This project is built by 1975/1980 set to which I belong. It is a kind of give-back mechanism to a school that has built our foundation”.
In an interview, some SS3 students, including Anuoluwapo Adewole, Peter Adepoju and Praise Babagabriel who were at the event, said they were motivated and pledged to contribute their quota to the development of the school in future.
Narrating his experience to Radio Nigeria, the oldest member of the association who is also an Octogenarian, Chief Benjamin Adebimpe lamented the current mode of admissions into secondary school, as well as the lack of respect and moral values that existed in the modern school system.
“In our days there was respect. We feared our teachers. Students and teachers study together in the same library for self-development. The mode of admission into the school is thorough and tough, but things have changed in most schools today. It is a pity”.
In an interview, the new president of the class set, Mr Soji Emiola, said his administration would shift focus on the wellbeing of members while efforts at repositioning the school would be sustained.
“Mr Lanre Fadahunsi, I want to say that he is a visionary leader and we were able to achieve quite a lot. I want to believe that with the calibre of the team that I will be working with we will do much better. I would not like to say much. We are going to set an agenda. Yes, the least we can do is to take the year-set club to the next level. The thrust of our agenda is the welfare of our members. We have to give to the school and we will continue to give to the school”.
The high point of the event was the presentation of awards to distinguished members and the oath of allegiance sworn to by the new executives.
Rotimi Famakin
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