By Prince Lucky Okikiola Aremu.
Former Student, Victory College Ikare-Akoko.
I, Prince Lucky Okikiola Aremu, join the people of Akungba-Akoko and the entire Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State in celebrating His Royal Majesty, Oba Oseni Isiaka Adu (Agure I) Òdúndún Asodedero, the Alale of Akungba-Akoko.
Kabiyesi is not only a revered monarch but also one of my teachers at Victory College, Ikare-Akoko, where he taught me Technical Drawing and Woodwork during my SS1–SS2 days. He was a passionate teacher, humble, approachable, and ever committed to imparting knowledge. Learning under him was a privilege one could never regret being his student.
Through his guidance, I gained strong foundational skills in woodwork, particularly carpentry and furniture making. I still vividly recall how he taught us to make cushion and sofa chairs etc, right in the school workshop. Beyond this, Victory College offered us a wide exposure to vocational and technical subjects such as Electrical & Electronics, Building Construction, and Auto Mechanics. The only aspect I did not explore deeply was Metalwork, as I eventually streamlined my subjects from seventeen (17) core science courses down to the nine (9) required for SSCE in SS3.
Victory College, one of the prestigious AIONIAN schools (1st twelve) in South West Nigeria, highly competitive in admission and excellence-driven. Kabiyesi’s teaching and commitment contributed immensely to the institution’s legacy of raising well-grounded students with both academic and vocational strengths. Though today I am in the medical field, the basic things I learnt under technical and vocational training in secondary school added glamour to my life.
I can conveniently handle repairs/maintenance services in Electrical and Electronics up to a certain level, as well as Electrical Engineering services, Mechanical Engineering services, and related technical skills, just to mention a few. These exposures have been of immense benefit to me and remain a testament to the solid foundation laid by committed teachers like Kabiyesi.
As I reflect on those formative years, I cannot but acknowledge Kabiyesi’s lasting influence in my life and in the lives of many others he taught. His life is a reminder that teachers and lecturers play a pivotal role in shaping the future. I therefore encourage all teachers and educators to emulate his example, knowing that the small children, pupils, or students they see today will one day have something to say about them, whether good or bad. Let every teacher strive to leave a legacy worth celebrating and no student under your care should ever be written off; nurture each one with hope and dedication.
Furthermore, I urge the Nigerian government to invest more in education, as it remains Education remains the bedrock of national development. I urge the Nigerian government to invest more in our schools, support teachers, and provide quality facilities to raise well-rounded future leaders.
I also commend the Ondo State Government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for its bold steps in reshaping primary and secondary education, particularly the recent placing ban on extortion called graduation ceremony and enforcement on the re-use of textbooks by pupils and students. This progressive policy is an answer to the long time yearning of the society and will ease the financial burden placed on parents and guardians by the proprietors and proprietress of private schools in the state.
The Federal Government and other state governors across the nation should emulate this laudable initiative. There is need to further look into the exorbitant amount of money being collected by tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the name of acceptance fee, noting that some institutions charges as high as #150, 000 (One Hundred and fifty thousand naira).
I pray for Kabiyesi’s long life, peaceful reign, and divine wisdom to continue guiding the good people of Akungba-Akoko. May his legacy as both a teacher and a king endure for generations to come. Kabiyesi remains a shining symbol of knowledge and royalty, one whose impact will forever be cherished.
Signed,
Prince Lucky Okikiola Aremu.
Former Student, Victory College Ikare-Akoko.
