The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group of Companies, Dr. Wale Babalakin, has lauded the initiative of the Seminary-St Anne’s School Old Girls Association for their efforts in bringing back the glory of the 152-year-old school.
Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and President, Government College, Ibadan Old Boys Association, who recalled the glorious years of first choice schools in the country in an interview at the sideline of the Annual General Meeting/Luncheon of SSASOGA, St. Annes School, Molete, Ibadan, on Saturday, described the efforts of the Old Girls as a “beautiful payback.”
Also, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Oyo State, Rahman Abdul-Raheem, described the contributions of the SSASOGA as a worthy drive towards complementing the state government’s initiative on education.
Specifically, Babalakin, alongside some officials of the state government, praised the efforts of the Old Girls on the general rehabilitation of the school and the construction of new blocks of buildings to improve the learning environment and foster all round development of both the students and the staff.
Among others, the alumni association embarked on the planting of flower within the kerb stone demarcation on the front fence of the school (done by the 1967/1971 set); installation of iron windows on the Senior School 1 storey building (by SSASOGA UK); rebuilding and furnishing of block of three classrooms and a staff room in School 2; re roofing of the administrative block of School 2 in 2021; donation of SSASOGA House by its National President, SimilolaOluwa Onabanjo; rehabilitation of toilets and payment of salaries to two toilet cleaners for close to two years; and provision of over 800 desks and chairs to the classrooms and the WAEC Hall.
Babalakin said, “We are very proud of Old Girls of St. Anne’s and we think that we are all working towards the same purpose which is to elevate education in Oyo State and Nigeria in general.”
On the call by some education stakeholders that the alumni associations should adopt schools, Babalakin said, “Well, the alumni will spend more money on the schools. Government will provide policy guidance on what needs to be achieved, and I am sure we can work symbiotically to achieve this purpose. Old students that are serious can take over their schools.” But first, he said, “we have to demonstrate capacity.”
Onabanjo, who expressed appreciation to the state government for its cooperation with the Old Girl’s on the development of the school, said, “The national body of SSASOGA is just two years old. We are not buoyant enough to take over our schools financially in all ramifications but we are trying. First, we would improve our structures and quality of education.
“Where we don’t have teachers in the pool, we would support so that the children would have all round education. There has to be an alternate funding system. The federal allocation is not enough for Oyo State. We have gone away from farming which gives Oyo State money. The bottom line is that they don’t have enough to fund education the way they want. They can only work with what is available to them. So, we would support them with what is available until we are able to win our school for ourselves if necessary.
“I always have one prayer that God would bless every SSASOGA member. But, whatever they have today, this is the foundation. If the foundation had been faulty, they would have had no chance of getting to wherever they are, so there is a payback time and they must remember their alma mater.”
Prof. Adebisi Showumi, a prominent Old Girl, said, “We want the girls coming behind us to enjoy the same privileges that we had, because that was what, through the grace of God, made us. We want them also to be like us or even better. It is a duty; we owe a responsibility. The Holy Bible says freely you have received, freely give. We received the grace through our teachers, many of them, missionaries who thought us words of God and brought us up as ladies with complete education which is lacking today.
“It is a burden on us that these girls are missing out and we feel that it is an obligation that we owe to pay back and let those coming behind us to aspire to be like us and even excel us. We feel that it would be ungrateful of us to enjoy so much privileges and not pass it down. Our school song says shall we hand on to those after us, treasures of beauty, skills and of love.”
In her charge to the current generation of students of the school, the President, SSASOGA, Lagos Branch, Titilola Ilori, said, “They have to realize that there is a lot. This generation, to us, is not where it should be. Most of them did not go through the tutelage we got. And, to make Nigeria good, these are the people that the future of the country rest on.
“They have to learn that they have to be patient and persevere, and become somebody without being selfish but they also should be able to look at the well being of others.”
On sustaining the legacy of development by SSASOGA, the President of Ibadan branch, Motolani Akinkoye, said, “We want the principal and the teachers to follow the system. We want the teachers to be compassionate; to love the children as if they are theirs. We want them to care for them, to mentor and teach them. When we were here, our teachers and principals took us as if we were their children.
“We were brought up to be our sisters’ keepers. Our teachers would tell us there is goodness in every human being.”
The education commissioner said, “Alumni associations in the state are strategically placed to complement government’s efforts in her quest to delivering quality education to our students. The state government appreciates your efforts, and we count on you to produce well-informed, disciplined and responsible citizens out of our younger ones.”
The Chairman, Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, Pastor Akinade Alamu, lauded the association for its achievements, noting that there is no limit to the power of good women.
The foundation laying ceremony of two blocks of staff rooms were performed by the education commissioner and Babalakin in the presence of the SSASOGA executives and some Old Girls of the school.
