By Correspondent in Ilorin.
In apparent move to pay back to the school that laid solid foundation for their enviable heights in various sectors of the Nigerian economy and abroad, the old students of Gss Afon, Kwara state, say no stone will be left unturned to ensure a befitting 45th anniversary celebration for their alma mater, come March 2022.
Our Correspondent, who is among the first set of graduates of the school in 1981 and has been following trend in the warm up for the event, reports that the old students have set up various committees as well as tasked one another, financially and otherwise toward giving bite to the realisation of their aims and objectives of the event.
The Reporters,an online publication, gathered that a brother to an old student of the school,who is an engineer and a title holder in Ilorin, through the effort of a prominent judicial officer,who is also an alumnus of the school, donated a transformer toward the cause of the school.
The same erudite jurist promised to provide 10 standard rooms and hall at Kwara Hotel for the dinner during the event while the publicity committee has produced jingles and other media materials to herald the anniversary at the appropriate time.
As the various committee members indulge in healthy competition to accomplish the assignments given to them, others are also making conscious efforts to contact various segments of the society such as members of polical class, captains of industry among others to ensure that the occasion is well attended.
Our Correspondent recalls that in 2021, some of the old students of the school made giant strides as they constructed mini gate, repair borehole, examination hall and cleared bushes for their alma mater to ensure conducive learning environment for the current students.
This, they expressed optimism, would also boost the productivity of teachers and other members of staff of the school.
Our Correspondent further reports that Gss Afon has so far produced eminent Nigerians occupying various sensitive positions of responsibility and commanding heights, such as in judiciary, medicine, educatuon, civil service, media, politics, military, para-military, telecommunications and business enterprises and so on.
The old students, we learn, have also made efforts to penetrate government circle with relevant technicrats, on the need for Kwara state government to shortlist the school for massive renovation in its planned renovation of secondary schools and to change the current narrative of deplorable infrastructural condition of the school for the better.
In his remarks through a statement he sent to The Reporters, one of the first sets of the school, Alhaji Babatunde Ibrahim Isiaka, a.k.a Milo( 81 set) and the North Central Cordinator for the reunion/anniversary event, expressed delight over the impressive performance of committee members in executing various assignments given to them.
He said:”My observation regarding the preparations for the event which promises to be epic is that,a sence of belonging on the part of every member from “A to Z” has really played a major role in the achievements we have recorded thus far.
“Members voluntarily seek responsibility in the ongoing preparations and go extra mile, out of their tight schedules to ensure that the planned event remains the best among equals.
“Having delayed our coming together as Alumni for up to four decades, the sort of events the management of the school and the general public should expect from Alumni should be such that will impact positively on the school and Afon, the host community, educationally, socially, politically and economically.”
Isiaka noted that the kind of educatuon and experience acquired by the old students of Gss Afon laid a solid foundation for their career, adding that, therefore, it becomes obligatory “for us to show gratitude by according our alma mater a memorable anniversary.
Isiaka,who is also an Abuja-based business man, called on his mates to use the occasion to strengthen the bound of unity that defined their relationship as students of Gss Afon then, irrespective of tribe and religion,to enable them pull ideas and resources for the developmnt of the school.
Gss Afon, which was established on September 3,1976 by the regime of the late Man.-Gen.Gorge Agbazika Innih, has Chief Solomon Aboyeji, who told The Reporters that he would to attend the occasion slated for March 11,12 and 13 Ilorin and Afon respectively.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
