No doubt, there comes a date in the life of an individual or institution that remains indelible in minds or evergreen for posterity. That date, for the Government Secondary School,Afon in Kwara state,is February 25,2021.
All roads led to the oldest Government Secondary School in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara state in the north central Nigeria by the old students of the 46-year-old educational institution and their well wishers and lovers of education for a historic event in the life of the school.
Their mission was not to catch glimpse of what remains of a one time darling educational outfit in Nigeria in the past, but pay back to a secondary school that laid solid foundation for their social, economic and political accomplishments and self actualization, in life, Nigeria and the world at large.
It was the day that saw Gss Afon,a school, whose old and current students are proud of and have sworn never to make its name go rot,wore a new look after many years of delapidated infrastructural existence.
Besides the basic reason for the occasion, some of the old students used the unique occasion to exchange pleasantries with each other and reflected on the past experiences while in the school as well as reunited after so many years of no contact or communication, thus strengthening national unity and enhancing peace in the country.
It was joy unlimited as the old students of Gss Afon, within and outside the shores of Ilorin,the capital of Kwara state trooped enthusiastically to the premises of their alma mater, about 30 kilometers from Ilorin, the state capital to commission a befitting gate and fence built by the 84 set of the school.
The novel effort is part of their contribution to uplifting the school from years of infrastructural decay.
The need for such effort is not a misplaced priority as Gss Afon has produced eminent Nigerians such as top military and para-military personnel, judges, professors, engineers, business men and women, teachers, administrators, tecno crafts,politicians, media personalities, medical doctors, just to mention but few, making meaningful contributions toward nation building.
The elated Chairman, Old Student Association, 1984 set of the school, Mr. Dada, Olushola Williams the 84 set set of students of the school has this to say during the commissioning of the gate, to the cheering crowd that gathered to witness the epoch-making event.
He said:”Government Secondary School, Afon was established in 1976 by the then military Governor of Kwara State (Late) Major General George Agbazika Innih. The School has graduated about 40 sets since 1981.
In 2006, the school was partitioned into two giving rooms for the new policy of education in Nigeria ie (6 -3-3-4) system. The partition led to the emergence of two principals, the ISS and the S SS section. The school is 30 kilometres distance from Ilorin and a kilometre distance from the hosting community, Afon.
The well-structured school established in 1976 with students in classes A to F. The overall best school in science subject in 1982 WAEC result, the winner of Kwara state inter-school Governors cup in 1982.
A school with one of the best science laboratories in the state, discipline and highly qualified teachers, the school engages in many brain developing activities such as school farm, house competitions, house inspection, social night to mention a few.
These activities will forever remain fresh in our brain. Before and during our time, students were trained to be self-sufficient and independent. The harvest from the school farm could almost feed all students in the boarding house then.
The school was among the prominent secondary schools in Nigeria, tagged as Unity School. It was blessed with enough infrastructure, though now dilapidated. Hence, the need for reinstatement of the school to boarding system.
The dilapidating state of the school is far beyond what any single Individual or old student can face. The few old students are trying to do is out of pity for our golden starting point.
We are aware that Government has more than enough loads on its shoulder, but education being the foundation and pillar of every state should always come first.
We plead with the Governor of the state, AbdulrlRahman AbdulRahasaq to please, as a matter of urgency, assist in looking into the sorrowful state of infrastructure in Government Secondary School Afon.
The effective and proactive 1984 set project committee, Justice Nureni Kuranga, Hajia Sidiqah Hamzat, Mrs. Bose Adeduntan Adedokun, Alhaji Abdullahi Gaffar and Saliu Balogun, my humble self and some of our members like Baba Amosa and Kudirat Amoo got to the venue early to set the ball rolling.
Special appreciation goes to our colleagues in diaspora, Pst. Sunday Anthony Abolarin, Yemisi Olagunji and Kemi Owolabi for both their financial and moral encouragement on the project. Many of the 1984 set were fully on ground to grace the project commissioning today February 25, 2021.”
Contributing, the Principal of the school Mrs. Ogunsean, commended the old students of the school for their contribution to the cause of their alma mater by fixing some of the decayed infrastructure.
She recalled that during the peak of COVIDV-19 in the state,the old students and the state government provided hand washing soap and sanitizers as well as fixing of damaged manual borehole.
“They renovated and converted two dilapidated classrooms, in fact, the project we are commissioning today was fully powered by 1984 set of the old students,” she added.
The principal enumerated the school challenges which include the dire need for general renovations with emphasy on adequate water facilities, school bus to ease transportation of staff, laboratories and sporting equipment.
The principal,who recalled that Gss Afon was in the list of the schools to be renovated by the state government, reminded the government that “we are still in anticipation.”
She, however, appreciated His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasag for sending the former Commissioner for Education and the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission to inspect the general situation of the school.
“Today, we appreciate the presence of the Secretary to the government of Kwara State in our midst to commission this laudable project. We wish you journey mercy back to your various destination.
Responding, the secretary to the state government of Kwara State Prof. Saba Jubril, commended the old students association of the school for their effort to improve the standard of their alma mater.
He promised to relate all the complaints from both the old student and principal to governor for prompt action, stressing the commitment of the present administration in the state to commence general renovation of school in State soon.
The SSG, who commissioned the gate and fence, advised the students to be more committed to their studies.
Professor Sulaiman Ambali of the University of Ilorin, who is also a member of the set, stessed the need for government commitment to total renovation of the school.
In a nutshell, the belief and optimism of all and sundry that graced the colourful ceremony is that, the commissioning of the gate and fencing of Gss Afon will serve as a floor gate that attract plethora of efforts by other sets to restore the lost glory of their alma mater.
This fact has started manifesting in recent time as other sets have taken the cross of rectifying the sorry state of infrastructure in the school by clearing the bushes that enveloped the school.
They have also taken upon themselves by repairing the school borehole and examination hall among others while fingers are crossed that very soon, the state government, the sole owner of the school, will fulfill its promise of carrying out massive renovation of the school.
