By: Oluwatosin Adesola
The Old Student Association of Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi- Akoko (AKOGRAMS) has announced weeklong programmes marking the 60th anniversary of their alma mater which is to commence Tuesday 25th January,, 2022 with a press briefing, road show and visit to the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko and end on Sunday, 6th February, 2022.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing held in Akure, the Ondo State Capital, the National President of the Old Student Association, Mr. Adewole Saba said the school which was established through joint efforts of Akoko Diocese of the Anglican Communion and three other communities – Arigidi, Erusu and Iye under the exemplary leadership of late Chief Edward Okeowo Olugboja has indeed come a long way.
He said award of recognition will be presented to Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and the Minister of the Interior, Rauf Aregbesola who is an old student of the School.
According to him, the Old Student felt the need to give back to the school and over the years, they have been able to rehabilitate all the school building, dualize and light up the road, donate new Toyota Hiace bus with a fully equipped Computer Centre and as well provided borehole water supply system and perimeter fencing for the school among others.
Mr. Saba also used the opportunity to stress that the Old Student took up renovation and provision of ultra modern furniture and books to the library, constructed new entrance gate, gate house and six bay toilets as well as awarded scholarships to outstanding students.
as part of intervention projects marking the 60th anniversary as part of efforts to reposition the school for the challenges of the 21st century.
Other highlights of the weeklong programme include health talk/medical check up, debate and quiz competition which is slated for Monday 31st, January, 2022 and talent show, praise time and drama nite for Tuesday, 1st February, 2022.
The anniversary lecture will hold on Wednesday, 2nd February with election of new officers on Thursday, February, 2022. The event will however climax on Saturday 5th February where awards will be conferred on outstanding personalities as well as the commissioning of anniversary projects, fund raising for the school and inauguration of new officers.
The President said, “As you are aware, our Alma Mater will be sixty years old on 2nd February, 2022. As the name connotes, the School was established through the joint efforts of the Akoko Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and the three communities of Arigidi, Erusu and lye, all in Akoko Land.
“The School, under the able and most exemplary leadership of Chief Edward Okeowo Olugboja (of blessed memory), started on a sound footing with (60) boys and girls and a hard working staff, some of whom are being celebrated in the course of this anniversary. The Motto, Perseverance Conquers was most fittingly chosen for the School, indicating that if we endure, we shall always conquer every challenge and opposition. This has been the watchword of both past and present students.
“Permit me, Ladies and Gentlemen, to intimate you with the fact that the old students, in realization of the need to give back to their Alma Mater, have always been forthcoming and ready to ta ke up the challenge of rescuing the School from the neglect that characterizes Nigeria’s public schools. I will like to, therefore, highlight some of the contributions of the old students to‘the development of the School in the recent past as follows:
“Total rehabilitation of all the school buildings; Dualisation and lighting of the approach road; Donation of a new Toyota Hiace (Hummer) Bus;
“Donation of a fully equipped Computer Centre with V-Sat enabled internet facility; Provision of borehole and water supply system;
“Perimeter wall fence for the school; Publication of a book chronicling the fifty years of the School’s existence.
“In the months leading to this year’s 60th Anniversary, the Association has undertaken the following intervention projects to reposition our school for the challenges of 21st century:
“1. Total renovation of the school buildings; 2. Renovation and provision of ultra-modern furniture and books for the library;
“3. Rehabilitation and provision of apparatuses and reagents for the laboratories; 4. Construction of a new entrance gate, gate house and re-construction of the front perimeter wall fence; 5. Construction of a six-bay toilet (WC) facility for students and staff;
“6. Scholarship programme to indigent students and prizes for academic excellence; 7. Recognition and awards to selected old students, staff and members of the public for their service to the School and humanity including the Governor of Ondo State, the Hon. Scholarship programme to indigent students and prizes for academic excellence;
“7. Recognition and awards to selected old students, staff and members of the public for their services to the School and humanity including the Governor of Ondo State (Rotimi Akeredolu), the Hon. Minister of the Interior (Rauf Aregbesola who is an old student of the School while the pioneer principal posthumously award; among others.
“The Diamond Jubilee celebration will run for a whole week commencing from Monday, 31st January 2022 and shall be crowned with the launching of an appeal fund for the development of the School, and launching of the book chronicling the history of the School from inception, to be rounded off with an Alumni Dinner on Saturday, 5th February 2022.
“The entire programme will come to a close on Sunday, 6th February 2022 with a thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Arigidi Akoko. The full programme of events shall be made available to you for your reference,” Saba said.
…..Aregbesola, Others To Interface On Alma Matter’s Renovation In Ondo
Saba said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola would join other old students of Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State to raise N250 million for complete renovation of the school on Saturday next week.
This was disclosed by the National President of the old students association, Mr. Adewale Saba while addressing newsmen on the 60th anniversary programme of the school in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday.
Saba explained that the N250m launching became necessary because the school still needed more renovation and facilities despite the intervention projects done by the old students association.
He disclosed that ultra-modern furniture and books were provided in the school’s library by the old students association. Borehole was also sunk in the school by the association besides perimeter wall constructed round the school.
On Monday the programme would kick off with a road show to sensitise residents of the host community on the 60th anniversary of the school established on February 2, 1962.
The chairman of the anniversary organising committee, Mrs. Mojisola Ajayi disclosed that Professor (Mrs.) Ogunsuyi from Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) deliver lecture on entrepreneurship at the event.
Mrs Ajayi also revealed that the association had concluded plans on arrangement of entrepreneurial trainings for the underprivileged as a way of giving back to the host community.
Prizes and scholarship would be presented and awarded to students who emerge winners at debate and quiz organised by the old students association in commemoration of the anniversary celebration.
