St Anne’s old girls reiterate commitment to develop school in reunion events

The old students of St Anne’s School, Ibadan, under the umbrella of the Seminary-St Anne’s School Old Girls Association (SSASOGA), have reiterated their commitment to the school’s progress and development and to impacting the future of students.

The old girls made this known in the school during their two-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) and reunion, which began on December, Friday.

The national president of the association, Mrs Oluwafunmilayo Kehinde, while appreciating them for their continuous efforts and support towards repositioning and uplifting the school, noted that the AGM should not be for report presentation alone, but also for reunion and rehashing old memories, which she said can be therapeutic and unifying.

Mrs Kehinde urged members of the association not to shy away from their responsibilities to the school and the students, adding: “Let us each lay something meaningful on the sands of St Anne’s.”

While appreciating the members who donated and renovated buildings, and supported students’ welfare, she spoke about the two projects that were commissioned: the new Fayemi’s Vocational Centre and the St Catherine’s Reading Room.

She also spoke about the proposed boarding house project, which she stressed is a non-negotiable priority in 2026. Furthermore, she appealed to the members, who are teachers, to return and teach in the school.

“Let us remind ourselves that St Anne’s was more than a school; it was a community, a second home. We owe it to the next generation to keep this heritage alive,” she added.

The national president seized the opportunity to urge Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde and the commissioner for Education to support the school by providing the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and other resources that will foster learning and development of the students.

The immediate past national president and now chairman of the board of trustees of the association, Lady Similola Onabanjo, delivered the Alumni Talk titled ‘Excellence demands sacrifices’, in which she emphasised that, “Together we can, yes I can. But, yes, I can do the best.”

She stated that the government alone cannot develop the school, which is why the association has to give back to the school, stressing the need for timely payments of all the necessary dues the members are required to pay. She also urged their members to support and adopt indigent students in the school.

Lady Onabanjo also spoke extensively about the construction of the boarding house for the school, emphasising that all hands must be on deck to actualise it.

The secretary of the board of trustees, Mrs Doja Labinjo, spoke about the activities of the board and what they are doing to steer the association towards greater heights, irrespective of the challenges they face.

Reports from different executives of the association, branch representatives (in Nigeria and in the diaspora), house representatives, school principals of the school, auditors, among others, were presented.

SSASOGA’s strategic plan 2025-2026, in line with its motto ‘Giving our best to the school that we love’, is summarised in three Is: intention, implementation, and impact. And the need to focus on the strategic plan to develop the school was stressed.