By Dada Ahmed.
L-R:The author and his pioneer principal,Chief Solomon Aboyeji during the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Gss Afon. The event took place in Ilorin and Afon about two years ago.The old students honoured their pioneer principal with an award during the occasion for his impact in their educational pursuit.
The relationship cultivated in secondary school, in such organized educational setting, said to be best among the old students as many of them leverage on that to forge, strengthen and wax the passionate attachment for mutual help, actualisation and national development.
While relationship among old students has passed the test of time, as demonstrated in the formation of old students associations, empirical evidence shows that the relationship between them and their former principal is short lived.
However, this is not so as the case of the relationship between the old students of Government Secondary school, Gss Afon, Kwana state, north central Nigeria and their pioneer principal, Chief Solomon Aboyeji, which start in 1976.
The year 1976 was a spectacular year for the educational advancement of Kwara state, a geopolitical entity created in 1967 as one of the 12 states carved out of the three regions of Nigeria by the regime of General Yakubu Gowon.
General George Agbazika Innih, the Military Governor of Kwara state,then, sensed the yearnings of the state for the establishment of an enabling environment for the education of the citizens and more secondary schools in the state.
The year saw the establishment Gss Afon, in a village about 30 kilometers from Ilorin, the capital of the state.
Consequently, Gss Afon, the first of its kind in Afon village and also the headquarters of Asa in Kwara state, kicked off on September on 3, 1976 with few students and Chief Solomon Aboyeji,as the pioneer principal.
Little did the students settle down for the business of the day to pursue their educational ambition than they soon discovered that the man superintending over them is a no nonsense man and an epitome of strict disciplinary deposition and sound character.
Besides being an all rounder in almost all human callings, which include sports, Chief Aboyeji is also an educationist/administrator of no mean importance.
In fact, the fear of Chief Aboyeji, especially among “stubborn students,” is the beginning of wisdom, because they know that the principal will not waste time in correcting them with commensurate punishment to shape them well into positive behaviour and the task of being responsible leaders of tomorrow.
Most old students,if not all, acknowledged that their pioneer principal applied disciplinary measure with the best of intention, and they described him as a father with compassionate tendency, not only towards the success of his biological children but other people’s children.
Friendly and caring for the students, the last thing he won’t take from them is indiscipline and indolence, academically and otherwise.
Most first set students of Gss Afon,most especially those that directly passed through the tutelage of Chief Aboyeji,agree that, indeed, they received the best of secondary school education, absolute discipline and sound moral character under the watch of Chief Aboyeji.
Many confess that this virtue they clinched imbibed remains the greatest oil that greases their wheel of progress for success, later in life.
Many of the products of Gss Afon are making waves in the social and economic and security sectors of Nigeria and outside the shores of the country.
To sustain his unquenchable love for his old students, Chief Aboyeji always explore every available opportunity to communicate with them with love and offering pieces of advice with the help of technology, for them know on how to be on the path of positive side of life.
This he did again in his 2024 new year message to his old students to further show his unique love for them and their progress in life.
He wrote:”CONGRATULATIONS. No doubt ,we met many bumps on our roads this year .Here , however we are. When the living are being counted this December 31st , you and I are counted. We are not missing.This is marvelous,, precious, glorious. God’s plan is perfect. Not even your enemies,try as they did, have been able to get you inside the soil. Beware, no matter how nice, kind, caring and loving you are,it is not just enough for some people.To live your life to the fullest, you need to learn how to detect the mood and mental. disposition of people through their body languages and cling to God.Let God use you more this 2024 year. Letting God use you more does not mean sleeping in the church or mosque..It means, being more Godly, being more humane , being more helpful, useful, friendly, tolerant, righteous and holy.
And note these. 1.God wants you to live your life to the fullest.
2 Live your life positively well when you can. The world will not stop for any true opportunity from God to pass you on.
3.Today, as the year ends, clean off all the 2023 problems and challenges. Look no longer back but forward. Clean off all the 2023 challenges to write opportunities on the slate of your 2024 year .
4. In 2024 ,God will decorate you in the presence of your enemies.Those who God has commissioned to bless you will remember you.
5. A family is like branches on a tree. We all grow in different directions but our roots remain as one. Never, never forget your root, your parents,your siblings, compound, town, local govt, country .
Participate, pay dues.come home, help in whatever ways, remember your home church or mosque.
6 Forgive anyone who has caused you pain or harm.Forgiveness does you all the good in the world.It calms down your anger and puts it at Bay. It heals your body ,mind and spirit .It opens up a pathway to a new story of peace. It takes from you all bitterness and depression.
7 Lean on God . Live in His sanctuary. He has promised He will never leave you nor abandon you
Happy end of year celebrations. Prosperous New year 2024. Chief Dr S O ABOYEJI.”
Many old students are of the opinion that this type of relationship, though lacking in many societies, remains one of the best solutions the society needs to unite its citizens of different social, economic and political perspectives and forge as one indivisible people.
They described the 2024 New year message from their highly respected former principal as a missive which content and context of which would remain indelible in their minds , adding they would incorporate the ideas contained in it to beef up their cherished New year resolution for 2024.
This, they note, will go along way to remould their actions, where necessary, towards maintaining with their neighbors and even colleagues in places of work to ensure peace and harmonious living with others in the society.
Nigeria, they argue,has been divided along ethnic, religious and political leanings in their relationship with one another, adding that the needs the kind of citizens who are well-knitted in unison to tackle their problems confronting Nigeria. According to them, this concerted effort cannot be achieved without unity, stressing that this must start sustainable relationship among the various ethnic nationalities that populate Nigeria.
They add that Nigerians need to take a cue from the unique nature of relationship between the old students of Gss Afon and their pioneer principal, internalize its principle and apply it as an essential balm that will heal the various wounds of the country serving as the bane hindering efforts aimed at realizing the desired socioeconomic and political development for all and sundry in Nigeria.
Without prejudice to his successors,dead or alive, that have made their impact on the sound of history of Gss Afon, it is instructive to note that Chief Aboyeji remains committed to amplifying his impact on the life of his old students, spanning over 45 years.
This he continues to do as exemplified by his annual new year message to the old students,2024 inclusive.
Dada Ahmed, a Media consultant,is one of the pioneer students of Gss Afon.
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