….Seek Ondo Govt’s Support, Execute landmark projects.
The Alumni Association of Ahmadiyya Grammar School, Ogbagi-Akoko in Ondo State, today flagged off a week-long activities to celebrate the 50th Anniversary, calling on the Ondo State government to assist in repositioning facilities at the school for conducive learning environment.
The school was founded in 1975 as iconic community school and centre of learning, in which the Association recounted five decades of academic brilliance, cultural pride, and the uncommon unity.
Speaking at a Press Conference held in Akure, the Chairman, National Organising Committee, Sirajuddin Kofo Abdusalam-Alada (1976-1981 Set), said the golden jubilee is more than a ceremony—“it is a historic reflection on the sacrifice, brotherhood and communal commitment that shaped generations of leaders”.
Abdusalam-Alada recalled that although the school was founded by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, its first classrooms sat on the compound of a Salvation Army Primary School—an extraordinary symbol of Christian-Muslim harmony that defined Ogbagi’s communal spirit in the 1970s.
“With support from notable community families, the school stood on the pillars of love and collective purpose,” he noted.
“From the modest plains of Ogbagi, the school produced leaders across disciplines—traditional rulers in Ondo and Ogun States, professors, doctors, accountants, lawyers, top public servants, and administrators.
Alada said, “GIVING BACK: In appreciation of the role the school played in their lives, and recognizing that the Government alone cannot shoulder the huge infrastructure responsibilities of schools, many members of the Alumni Association of this great school have, jointly and severally, been giving back to the school over the years.
“They have renovated and are still renovating blocks of classrooms in the school. Some have rebuilt the school Gate House and constructed drainages on both sides of some of the roads around the school. Indeed, a high ranking alumnus of the school, who upon retirement from service could not bear the sight of dilapidated classrooms and laboratory in the school dedicated his gratuities to the reconstruction and renovation three different buildings in the school.
“A CRY FOR HELP: The Alumni Association is currently involved in a number of projects for the school. These include completing the reconstruction of the Boys’ Hostel; the fence round the school; renovation of the Youth Corpers’ Lodge; furnishing and restocking of the Library, including electronic library services; and tarring of the school roads. It plans on securing the services of extra teachers for certain core subjects in the school curriculum. The Association seeks support for the construction and equipping of an ICT Center for the school.
“AS WE MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, we set out with Gun salute and interdenominational prayer worship on Monday 17 November; there will be a Football match between Ahmadiyya Grammar School and Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi Akoko at 3pm;
Tuesday 18 November, environmental sanitation and Alumni insights/Career talks to be anchored by an Alumnus, Professor Olubunmi Alo ;
Wednesday, 19 Quiz Competitions, and a Novelty football match
Thursday 20, School Inter house sports completion;
Friday 21, Jumaat Service and thereafter, a Church Thanksgiving on Sunday 23 November;
The main event comes up on Saturday 22 November .
“The event will be graced by His Excellency, Hon Dr Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, the Executive Governor Ondo State who will commission all the service projects executed by the Alumni Association of Ahmadiyya Grammar School Ogbagi.
“Other activities for the day include the launching of the N500 million Naira Development Fund; and an Anniversary Lecture titled ‘’Solid Minerals: Key to Economic Diversification and Sustainable development’’ to be delivered by an Alumnus of the school, Professor Muraina Mohammed of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba.
“It is our main expectation that the State Government will consider adopting the Ahmadiyya grammar School Ogbagi as a model for Government and School Alumni Association Collaboration for the development of functional infrastructure in secondary schools in Ondo State.
“To God be the glory we are all here today to herald the commemoration of 50 years of excellence of Ahmadiyya Grammar School Ogbagi Akoko, built on the toils of our fathers and mothers who conceived, birthed and nurtured this great School.
“We seize this opportunity to challenge well meaning Alumni associations of schools in Ondo state to join us in partnering with government for the development of secondary school education in the state by giving back to their Alma mater that nurtured and nourished them like a loving mother!”
The Alumni anniversary committee Chairman narrated the school’s colorful evolution: the era of charismatic pioneer principal, Mr. Oduwole, the young teachers who later became university academics, and the Pakistani tutors—among them AbdulQadeer Kaukab and AbdulRasheed Battih, the famous palmist whose predictions “amazed students.”
There were humorous memories of National Youth Service Corps members whose accents kept students entertained, including one who pronounced “therefore” as “zeapo” and another who described Shakespeare’s As You Like It as “za flay… a durama by Shekuspaya”.
Life in the boarding facility—donated by the revered Alhaji Oloruntoba—was spartan but memorable. Students woke at 5am, prayed, fetched water, trekked three kilometers to the principal’s residence, and bathed in the open.
Nicknames were born from classroom habits, food plate numbers, and hilarious misadventures. Number 19 earned his name by forever demanding more food. Rival boys fought for girlfriends. Some students mastered snail-hunting expeditions. And pranks in the “Health Center” (a tiny staff room) created memories still retold with laughter.
Despite its rural setting, AGSO became a terror to bigger schools academically.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the school dominated the Ondo State Radio Quiz Competition. The trio of Agbebi Joel, Clement Komolafe, and Sirajuddin Kofo Salami answered both their questions and those meant for rival schools—earning the institution an almost mythical reputation.
The school excelled in essay writing, science competitions—even during years when it had no physics teacher. In cultural displays, match past, athletics, and drama, AGSO dazzled Akoko communities. The legendary 1978 staging of The Gods Are Not to Blame birthed the nickname “Asoon,” after a student forgot his lines and kept repeating “as soon…”
The Alumni Association has become the backbone of the school in recent years, funding classroom renovations, road drainages, a gatehouse, and major structural upgrades. One retired senior civil servant even committed his entire gratuity to rebuilding school blocks.
The association is currently executing ambitious projects, including:
Reconstruction of the Boys’ Hostel
Completion of the school fence
Renovation of the NYSC Lodge
Furnishing and digitisation of the school library
Tarring of internal roads
Recruitment of extra teachers for core subjects
Establishment of a modern ICT Center
The body issued a passionate “cry for help”, urging government, philanthropists, and corporate bodies to support the urgent infrastructure needs of the school.
