By Law Ibitoye
The 1979 Glorious Set of Obalatan Commercial Grammar School, Ilupeju-Ekiti, has distributed free school uniforms to newly admitted Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) students of the school, as part of efforts to support education and encourage school enrollment.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Thursday, Chairman of the pioneer set (1979), a retired permanent Secretary in Ekiti state, Mr Sola Ogunmiluyi, said the initiative was part of the set’s contribution towards giving back to its alma mater and reducing the financial burden on parents and guardians of the beneficiaries. He added that the gesture was also aimed at boosting enrollment in the school, which had experienced declining patronage in previous years.
Ogunmiluyi who bemoaned the declining rate of enrollment in the school, called on stakeholders and residents of Ilupeju Ekiti to send their children and wards to the school. He called on other alumni sets and well-meaning individuals to contribute to the development of the school, particularly in restoring its infrastructure and promoting discipline, moral education and academic excellence. He commended the Ekiti State Government for its recent recruitment of teachers, but urged the government to make sustainable budgetary provisions that would address infrastructural deficiencies in secondary schools across the state.
Flagging off the distribution, the Apeju of Ilupeju-Ekiti, HRM Oba Sunday David Awe Akingbade I, commended the 1979 Set for demonstrating leadership and urged other alumni sets to emulate the initiative. The monarch specifically called for urgent attention to the school’s fencing and gate, while urging students to reciprocate the gesture by taking their studies seriously and shunning social vices. He also charged teachers to be committed to their responsibilities and ensure that students do not roam the streets during school hours, assuring that the community would continue to support efforts to increase enrollment in the school.
The Area Education Officer for Oye Local Government, Mrs Ayegbusi Modupe Catherine, also applauded the members of 1979 set for the initiative, stressing that education could not be handled by the government alone. A member of the 1979 Set, Pastor Rufus Eleso, pledged that the set would pay the salaries of security guards to protect the school pending government provision of security personnel, while the Oye Local Government PTA Chairman, Alhaji Amusa Olayemi Rasaq, urged each alumni set to identify and undertake urgent projects in the school.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ayoola Opeyemi expressed appreciation to the 1979 Set for providing the uniforms and promised that the students would make good use of them. The new Principal of the school, Mr Oke, commended the initiative and appealed to other alumni sets to return to the school and identify projects they could execute, assuring that he would prioritise discipline and quality education.
Dignitaries at the event included the Obanla of Ilupeju-Ekiti, His Highness Sunday Ogunsola; Mr Joshua Oriowo; Mr Sesan Jemiseye; Mr Kunle Jemilehin; Mr Sunday Osatuyi; Hon. Ojo Jacob Ajayi; Mrs Fatope and PTA Chairman of Obalatan, Mr Mathew Ogunleye, among others.