Lagos Commissioner Hails Upgrading Of College Home Economics Laboratory By Old Students

By Frank Oshanugor

The Commissioner in charge of Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun has lauded the old students of Oshodi Secondary School, for spending huge sum of money to reconstruct and refurnish the college Home Economics Laboratory with modern facilities.

The Honorable Commissioner who was a special guest at the 40th anniversary ceremony of the school which held at the weekend, noted that by voluntarily contributing money to upgrade the Laboratory, the old students had clearly shown the way forward in assisting government “because we have limited resources that cannot adequately solve the problem in the educational sector in present time.

He added that “we are expecting not only old students associations but all other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and stakeholders in the society who can help to make a difference in educational governance in Lagos.”

The two-day anniversary celebration which held at the school premises located at Tolu Complex, Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos was well attended by many male and female old students of the college, most of whom are doing well in their respective professions.

Speaking to newsmen at the event, President of the Old Students Association, Dr. Oluwatola Akintoye, explained that it was really great for the old students to reunite many years after graduating from the college.

Akintoye, an Information Technology specialist with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Computer Science, in expressing his joy of coming back to the college after 35 years of passing out, said it was worth it, adding that “I am an IT manager today is because Oshodi Secondary School laid the foundation for me.

“As one of the pioneer students of the college, I will ever be grateful to our pioneer principal, Mrs. Dawodu who ensured we had good educational foundation.”

He regretted that the current generation of students in the college like their counterparts in other schools in the country are not having the same quality educational foundation like what obtained in their own time.

“The standard and quality of teaching in my time was high and that is why we are striving to see how we can reverse the ailing standard to be like of old.”

Another old and pioneer student of the College; Mr. Lucky Sunday Nkeki told journalists that his joy of the re-union by the old students knew no bound as many of them

had moved higher in life, courtesy of the foundation laid for them by the earliest management of the college headed by the pioneer Mrs. Dawodu who incidentally graced the 40th anniversary celebration physically.

Speaking in terms of the academic and professional achievements of the old students in the last 40 years, Nkeki who was the pioneer games prefect and football captain of the college for five years, said “we have achieved a lot because 40 years ago, it was not like this. Today, we have our old students as naval officers, sports administrators, journalists, medical doctors, academic doctors, engineers, scientists, politicians etc.”

He contended that without the requisite academic qualifications, no one would attain such position in life. “So, when it comes to academic record, the school is doing well.”

Nkeki, who is currently the Chairman of Delta State League Management College and former Senior Special Assistant to the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; over the years had played professional football spanning a period of 18 years both in Nigeria and outside.

A female old student of the College who belongs to the 1992 set, Mrs. Evelyn Usman told journalists that the uniqueness of the 40th anniversary celebration was the fact that

the event was the very first time all graduated sets of the students would come together to celebrate. In the past years, it was only particular sets that would come together to celebrate separately.

Usman, a senior journalist with the VANGUARD newspaper recalled with nostalgia how the male students used to dominate first and second positions in class examinations and leaving both males and females to fiercely compete for third and other positions.

The anniversary celebration which attracted many old male and female students featured many activities reminiscent of old school days

beginning with early morning assembly, moral instructions and match past. The old students

were all decked in the white and green uniforms with the men neatly tucking in.