Abeokuta – The Class of 2006 of Ebenezer Grammar School Old Students Association (EGSOSA) in Abeokuta has emphasized the need for alumni associations to collaborate with their alma mater and support the government to enhance education in Nigeria.
According to the President/Coordinator of the Association, Prince Usman Seriki, said Alumni associations must work with their schools and support the government to take education to a higher level in the country.
Seriki made this statement during the Association’s General Meeting held at the school premises in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Saturday.
He highlighted the importance of old students’ contributions to their alma mater, as well as the association’s role in providing a platform for members to network and socialize for the advancement of education.
He said: “The Old Students Association exists primarily to foster interaction amongst these entities. The basic philosophy behind such association is the development of a platform for mutual support socially, for their members, individually and collectively, and for the development of their alma maters and, by extension, the nation.
“Giving back to the school is a great way of keeping the school’s legacy going and ensuring that future generations of students have the will to excel more in their academic pursuits.
“Old Students Association is an alternative means of funding the education sector in Nigeria. The government cannot do it alone. Giving scholarships to students of the alma mater and infrastructural development of facilities in the school are ways of funding education”.
“As a set, we have plans in place to give back to our Alma mater and we are working towards actualizing this to coincide with our 20th Anniversary in 2026”.
“Today, we have gone round the school and we have identified areas of interests that we can assist the school with and we are working towards achieving it”.
He further decried the rot in the educational sector across the country and called for more funding and training for teachers to change the trend.
“Similarly, there are challenges in the educational sector at all levels, from basic to tertiary levels, and it is our responsibility to address these situations not just the government alone, but the alumni association, civil society organization and other critical stakeholders must work together towards a better educational environment”, he added.
While speaking, the Principal of the school, Mr. Adebo, who also played host to the 1992/1992 set as well as the 2001 set, commended the contribution of Old Students Association to the infrastructural development of Ebenezer Grammar School.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend the Old Students Association of Ebenezer Grammar School (National and individual sets) who have been contributing towards the development of the school in terms of infrastructure and other educational supports”.
“I want to charge other sets who are yet to identify with the school to do so as the government alone cannot fill the void needed in the school. They should rally round and see towards sustaining the legacy of the school”, he noted.
The meeting which was attended by more than thirty (30) old students witnessed familiarization, bonding, fun and unlimited merriment to catch up with old memories.
