It was joy laced with emotional reactions, spirit of camaraderie and fun as old students of Egba Comprehensive High School, Dream Set 1996 marked their 25th year of leaving the school with the commissioning of a Modern Food shed for the school and the use of the students.
The joy of seeing their loved ones again, for most people after 25 years of graduating from the school filled the air as friends and former school and class mates threw banters ,exchange pleasantries and hugs ,shared old memories and appreciated the grace of God in the lives of each and every one of them.
The event was full of activities as the celebrants also danced to good music and merried together even as they savoured the pleasure of having some of their old teachers who impacted positively on their lives in their midst to share in the joy of the moment.
The roll call of dignitaries at the event include the National President of the Egba High Comprehensive School Old Students’ Association, Engineer Lanre Bisiriyu, Dr. Nurudeen Sanyaolu, the National Secretary of ECHSOSA, a former Principal in the School, Chief Dola Jibowo who was represented by his wife, Mrs.Doyin Jibowo, the Zonal Education Officer for Abeokuta South, Mr. Omotayo who was represented, Alhaji Alimi, a former employee and Biology Teacher in the School, Mrs. Moriamo Alimi, a former Yoruba Teacher in the School and Mr. Femi Popoola, a former Literature Teacher in the School all of whom later rose to the position of Princopals before their retirement recentl, Mrs Bolatito Abimbola, Principal Senior school , Mrs Yomi Adeneye, Principal ,Junior School.
The National President of Egba comp. High School Old Students Association (ECHSOSA), Engineer Lanre Bisiriyu had while commissioning the project thanked the Dream Set ’96 for keying into the programme of the Old Students Association by building a modern and befitting food shed for the school and the students, which according to him was conspicuous and stood out.
He enjoined them to further key into the vision of the Old Students Association by taking part in the ongoing construction of a befitting school hostel for the School in order to uplift its standard.
” In Egba Comprehensive High School , we had so many of us that came from many places and the school hostel was our rallying point then.That is what brought a lot of people together.. We want a boarding facility for Egba Comp High School . We want your set to try and make meaningful contribution to that”
He said about the project which was Commissioned
“The environment must be inviting and this one that you have put here is very different from what we used to have here . So, this has actually caught attention, such that nobody will actually come to do anything in the school that will not want to see what is going on there because it has created that particular attraction for this place. So, once again I really want to thank you and appreciate you. And, as a person and as the National Chairman, I want to thank you for the privilege that you are given me to commission this project ”
He further commended the Dream Set ’96 for the strategy adopted in actualising their mission which according to him followed due process.
” Let me also say something that you did that is of important to us as National Executives. We have said it that we want all projects in this campus to be well coordinated. So, I am glad that the Steering Committee consulted the school to know which project can be embarked upon based on the need of the students and the school. It is not that you sat down somewhere and just came in and do something .If you had done that, that thing could be nice ,but it would be uncoordinated. It may not bring the kind of impression that we want it to bring. But, the committee did excellently well by getting in touch with the Principals to ask for the list of projects to be done. This is also a good move”
Said he further ” I am also happy that today, we are not just doing this, we have brought some of the students to come and see things and how some of their fathers and mothers who left the school years back are doing it , so that they can emulate them”
He later appealed to the school Principals to see to the maintenance of the edifice.
” And, finally, I want to appeal to the school Principals to ensure the maintenance of this structure in order to make the donors happy and have the mind to do more”
The Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the Set who invariably is the Acting Chairman of the Set, Mr. Waheed Ogunjobi earlier in an address of welcome recalled how the dream started. He said:
” The first reunion- meeting facilitated by Haroon Koleoso who has been a national officer for several years and hosted by my humble self and Tosin Adeyemi, which was held in the year 2016 right here at the school premises and had fifteen members in attendance including the wife of our mate Ade Oyewoga, the late Mrs. Funke Oyewoga was the very first attempt at re-union by our set”
” From that humble beginning, it metamorphosed into a Facebook Forum and later became stronger with the creation of a whatsapp platform in subsequent years”
He appreciated members of the Coordinating Committee which he Chaired for holding forth for the group and ensure smooth running of its activities.
“At this point, permit me to allow the following people stand for recognition.A Yoruba adage says, Ori lo duro fun agbon mumi.Were it not for their steadfastness, today may not have come so easily. Let me therefore appreciate members of the Coordination Committee.
” The following people should please stand up for recognition: Nurse Tade Biobaku, Dr. Olusanjo Rotimi, Mr. Koleoso Haruna and my humble self, Waheed Ogunjobi ,already standing before you.
Thanks for the noble service to humanity and for shouldering the burden for us”
Speaking further, he poured accolades on the Steering Committee for its role in giving the set a befitting 24th anniversary and project commissioning…
He said ” Recall that on January 2021, the coordinating committee inaugurated two Committees: The 25th Anniverssary Planning Committee,and the Welfare Committee. Let me state it clearly that the two committees have been up and doing, but due to the exigency of work at hand, the Steering Committee’s role became more prominent and their painstaking efforts led to what we are having today”
“Let me therefore specially appreciate the committee for successfully completing the task given to it today, with a resounding ovation”
He also appreciated some of their mates who made ample donations towards achieving the dream of the set.
“We also have wonderful mates who made huge donations. Personally and Collectively, we are grateful. While, I will not want to divide the accolades, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, my good friend, Mr. Remi Oladipupo will brief us more about the activities of the Committee, when it is time and definitely ask its members to take a bow”
Mr. Ogunjobi thereafter called on other mates to always make themselves available for such service, saying the greatest way to spend one’s life is to spend it on service to humanity.
“At this point, I wish to call on our mates to kindly make themselves available for service to humanity. Ajoji Owo kan ko gbe eru de ori.
One of the former Teachers of the School, Mrs. Moriamo Alimi in a remark appreciated the Dream set ’96 for the gesture and also acknowledged the unity that pervades the set, while urging them to keep the spirit alive.
The Zonal Education Officer for Abeokuta South Local government, Mr. Omotayo n a remark observed that 95 per cent of secondary school students nowadays are hooligans.He thereafter urged members of the Dream Set ’96 to always find the time to visit the school once in a while to give career talks as a role model. He said behind the funfair of the event the set should work to build new future role models for Egba Comlrehensive High School.
The event also witnessed award of excellence to deserving members, quiz, and a raffle draw with Mrs. Omotade Biobaku going home with the Star Prize of a rechargeable standing fan while other members won different consolatory prizes.
Under the Award of excellence, the following awards categories were issued to deserving members, Best Hot Seat Host: Titilayo Kaiser, Most Resourceful: Oladipo Remilekun, Most Informed: Akinlabi Ahmed, Most Innovative: Alaba Oluwakemisola.
Other categories include,
Peaceful, Calm & Friendly Mate , Adegbite Mary, Silent Contributor: Segun Morawo, Diaspora Connect: Saidat Folorunsho, Most Efficient: Waheed Ogunjobi, Most Supportive: Sadiat Akindele, Pillar of Togetherness: Haruna Koleosho, Pleasantly Friendly: Jummai Adenekan, while Social Vanguard Awards go to Wunmi Dasaolu Omolara Awolesi Alaba Oluwakemisola
Aminat Obasa Temitope Soyoye
