By Kayode Adeoti
Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State played host to several dignitaries from far and near as Oke-Ode Grammar School celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Speaking at the event, the Elesa of Oke-Ode, Oba Abdukadri Adelodun charged parents and guardians to priortise the education of their wards.
According to the monarch, the benefit of education cannot be quantified.
Speaking further, Adelodun charged sons and daughters of the community to inculcate the habit of investing in the community.
“I thank God I was able to witness today which is the 50th anniversary of Oke-Ode Grammar School. I want all sons and daughters of the community to always come home and invest. Such development will improve the quality of our education and other sectors,” he said.
Similarly, the Olola of Olla kingdom, Oba Aransiola Olajide, who is also an old student of the school, corroborated the Elesa, saying education has become a necessity for all Nigerians.
The monarch said education has advanced beyond what it used to be in the past.
“Education today cannot be said to be worse than that of yesterday, it is advancing. Education is not what will make you what you want to become but how one use it in the wider society,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, in their bid to improve infrastructure in the school, the Old Students Association raised substantial amount of money.
According to the old students, the fund realised will be used to procure modern toilet and furniture among other facilities for the school.
The Guest Speaker, Prof. Oladipo Ajiboye from department of Linguistics and Asian Studies, University of Lagos in his paper titled: ‘Remembering the History, Re-imagining the future at the anniversary’ took his colleagues down the memory lane.
Ajiboye, who is also an old student of the school, said, “There is no gainsaying the fact that many people here today are not likely to be alive by the time centenary anniversary of the school will come up 50 years from today.
โMy dream of Oke-Ode Grammar School at 100 is to see it as a role model to schools in the neighbourhood. Attention should henceforth be focused on basic skills in scientific oriented vocation.โ
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education in the state, Hajia Bilikisu Oniyangi commended the founding fathers of the school for their foresight in partnering with the state government to advance the cause of education.
The Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, urged the teachers to be dedicated to their profession saying that it has gratifying rewards.
โIn the past, teachers were trained but many people in the profession today are only there because of the high rate of unemployment. Whoever finds himself in the profession today should discharge his/her duties with passion,โ Akogun stated.
