Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has lauded the donation of facilities by the old students of Okeho-Iganna Grammar School, describing the gesture as one his administration appreciates.
Governor Makinde, who equally commissioned the projects, noted that old students play an important role in school development across the state.
Representing the state governor, the Permanent Secretary and the Inspector-General of Education, Kajola Local Government, Mr Adebayo Salam, said, “the state government is happy because we believe stakeholders can contribute to education to make it better as there’s no government in the world that can do everything on education. And we are pleased with the gesture of the old students of this school.”
The governor, therefore, charged the school teachers to train the students in a way that would make them relevant to the government and society at large in the near future and to also ensure that the facilities are effectively used.
Speaking at the event, which was held recently, the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale Mustapha, Adeitan II, who was elated at the donation, pledged solidarity with the Governor Makinde-led administration and in turn made an appeal to his office on the 14km road, which he described as an economically viable one, which leads to some of the border towns of Oyo State and neighbouring countries.
In his address, the national president of the Old Students Association, Mr Moyo Ajekigbe, disclosed that the delivery of a project cost about N20 million.
Speaking on the delivery of the projects, Ajekigbe said: “The foundation laying ceremony of the building was performed on 14th October 2017 when the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Mustapha Adeitan II turned the first sod. The construction work was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and some other factors, but we thank God that the project was completed in His own time.”
While thanking the Surv Ola Shiyanbola-led Commissioning/Project Implementation Committee, he extolled the contribution of Dr Ibrahim Moshood, an old student based in the diaspora, towards the donations.
“The contributions of Dr Ibrahim Moshood to the development of infrastructural facilities in the School have been exceptional. He took it upon himself to renovate the Science Laboratory and the PTA block of classrooms.
He has also built a modern toilet facility to replace the pit latrine, which collapsed in the early hours of 20th June 2022,” he added.
Appreciating the gesture, the Principal, of Okeho-Iganna Grammar School, Pastor Abraham Ojetunde, described the donations as amazing feats.
Ojetunde, who also serves as the Oyo State ANCOPS President and the Southwest chairman of the Nigerian Federation of Principals for secondary schools, described the school-community relationship as a cordial one.
“We just want the impact of the state government here. Since this school started, only boasts of a single structure erected by the government. So, we seek intervention in terms of structure, especially a multipurpose hall. We give. We can be given desks and chairs for the comfort of the students. We appreciate it. More than multiple posts or is given to us. That is our desire for now,” he added.
Kajola Local Government Chairman, Mr Salimon Borikansunwon, admonished the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to be role models to the students and equally appealed to the parents to pay adequate attention to the education and wellbeing of their wards.
Borikansunwon equally joined words with the monarch on the need for the Oyo State governor to rehabilitate the road. He also called for an upgrade of the town’s General Hospital.
The projects commissioned are a block of six classrooms, which was built by the national body of the alumni, a modern toilet facility and the renovation of the PTA building by an alumni, Dr Ibrahim Moshood.
The event had in attendance dignitaries, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) chairman, Honourable Akinade Alamu, and other government officials, as well as members of the alumni association, staff and students of the school.
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