IGS receives, charges four new principals on dedication to service, humanitarianism

The four newly-appointed principals of Ibadan Grammar School have been enjoined to carry out their new role with high sense of responsibility and dedication to service so as to carry on the legacies of the founding fathers.

These were some of the charges of the old students while officially receiving the four principals who recently assumed the administrative office in the school.

The new principals are Mr Abiodun Emmanuel Ogunleye and Sunday Awoniyi Fatorisa (for senior school 1 and II) and Mr Olumide Akintunde Asiribo and Mr Bamidele Ojo (for junior school I and II) respectively.

The event, which was held recently at the Emmanuel Alayande Hall of the school, saw the presence of different sets of the association graced the occasion, as the new principals were received amidst joy and felicitation at a programme tagged “Welcoming of New Principals and Staff End of the Year Party” in the school.

The programme was sponsored by the Urban Books and Technology, USA, the organiser of  the annual Spelling Bee in the school, which is the initiative of Mr Jide Ogungbadero, a member of the 1965/69 set of the school.

He noted that the annual competition and the ‘Pick up a Book Instead of a Weapon’ campaign in Nigeria, which has its base in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where the benefactor resides “serves as catalysts for this generation of youths; to equip them for nation building, as well as to raise the bar of education standards in IGS and in the country at large.

He hinted that apart from the two laudable programmes, the benefactor had been sponsoring the students for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and had been giving a sum of N100,000 bursary award to outstanding but indigent students of the school who are able to gain admission into any university in Nigeria.

Receiving the new principal on behalf of Urban Books and Technology, USA, the national coordinator, Mr Hakeem Suara noted that “this is the first time in history we will be receiving/having four new principals coming on board at the same time to manage the affairs of the school.”

According to Mr Suara, the school was actually expecting two new principals but it eventually got four, saying this is a good sign and the beginning of something new.

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He stated that the rationale behind the celebration was to thank God Almighty for different achievements in the school; rejoice with the school on its milestone of academic progress and development, and appreciate the entire staff of the school for their hard work and dedication to service as well as to foster interactions among the old students.

He encouraged the new principals to tag along with the tradition of excellence the school is known for over the years as they also aspire to build on the legacy of humanitarian services of the founding fathers and old students association which has brought the school to the height it is today.

The National President of Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association (IGSOSA), Mr Gafar Ojetola, represented by the chairman of Ibadan branch, Professor Siji Adeogun while appreciating the national coordinator of Urban Books and Technology, USA, Mr  Hakeem Suara and his team for putting the programme together and Mr Ogungbadero for his continued support and dedication to the advancement of the school, he tasked the principals to add lasting value to the school and make impact during their tenure.

Also speaking, the former chairman of Ibadan branch, Mr Gbola Raji, urged the new officers to be futuristic in terms of the products they will be churning out in their time, admonishing them to place humanity above religion or other sentiments; be firm in terms of discipline, not condoning indolence among the staff and students and fostering unity among the old students.

Responding on behalf of the new principals, the principal of the Senior School 1, Mr Abiodun Ogunleye, thanked the organisers of the programme, the old students and the entire staff of the school for the warm reception, assuring them of their unalloyed commitment to their new roles.

Highlights of the event was dedication of 22 three-seaters classroom desk and benches with 18 of them donated by Pharmacist Yemi Onayemi and his family from Boston, Massachusetts, and the remaining four by Mr Olaoluwa Emmanuel Yayo in memory of his late father Mr Babalola Babson T. Yayo courtesy of Urban Books and Technology, USA.