Ilesa Grammar School 90th Anniversary Planning Committee, and National Executive members of the Old Students Association (ILEGSOSA) held a press conference at the School Hall on Monday to present the activities slated for the weeklong celebration.
The event which had in attendance representatives of various ILEGSOSA sets, parents and students of the school, signified the first day of the weeklong 90th anniversary celebration programs with the theme "The Renaissance" coincided with the school's founders day. Dr. Obi Daramola, the National President of ILEGSOSA declared the activities of anniversary open after the press conference. Thereafter, it was immediately followed by Anniversary Road Walk and a courtesy call on Owa Obokun of ljesaland and his chiefs at the Adimula Palace.
Several media outlets attended the event.
In his address at the press conference, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, Former Commissioner of Finance, Osun State. National Vice President, Ilesa Grammar School Old Students Association (ILEGSOSA) and Chairman, 90th Anniversary Committee, restated the commitment of the illustrious alumni of the school in Nigeria and in Diaspora to elevate the school, to the national consciousness so as to make it difficult for the repeat of the experience when the school was abandoned and its name changed under the then Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola schools reclassification policy, to rethink the way Ilesa Grammar School is run or managed henceforth and to galvanize the old students towards what is needed urgently to bring back the glory of the school.
Dr Wale Bolorunduro informed the press that ILEGRAMS is the school of legends and heroes.
"Ilesa Grammar School is the great institution that produced legends like Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Hon. Justice Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore, a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria; Justice Emmanuel Araka, a former Judge of the High Court of old East Central State and later, Chief Judge of Anambra State; Dr. Festus Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the first Nigerian to make first class in Law at the University of London; Justice Egbert Udo Udoma, former Chief Justice of Uganda, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and Chairman, Constituent Assembly (1977-1978); and Dr. Jaja Anucha Wachukwu, first Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, first Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, first Nigerian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
"Other luminaries produced by the school include: Hon. Justice Kayode Eso, former Justice of the Court of Appeal of the old Western Nigeria, former Chief Judge of the old Oyo State, and former Justice of the Supreme Court; and Hon. Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, former Chief Justice of the Gambia, former Justice of the Court of Appeal of Seychelles, and former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
"Other eminent Made-in-Ilesa Grammar School Nigerians are: billionaire businessman, Alhaji Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo; former Health Minister and ex-Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole; his successor as VC, also an old student; Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka; another old student, who started as a first-class scientist but ended up as the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, ever produced by the University of Ibadan, Chief Mrs. Funmilayo Victoria Awomolo. The list also includes: Sir Folu Olamiti, former Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Tribune, now, publisher, Newspot online newspaper; Prof. Femi Odekunle, Nigeria’s first Professor of Criminology and former political Adviser to the former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya; Prof. Sola Adeyeye, two term senator, of the federal republic of nigeria." Wale Bolorunduro recounted
"The purpose of Renaissance Agenda is to reset the school to be able to produce the above luminaries again, for the next generations. In the last three years, we have seen various alumni class sets reconstructing and renewing buildings that had been run down due to abandonment and previous relocation of students away from our school. We have had serious interventions by old students to return the Omoluabi ethos that binds us together, various intervention in the last three (3) years is closed to 400million Naira. What we need to do in the next three (3) years will be unveiled on Saturday, 10th February which is the Grand Finale of this ceremony." He said
The activities, which will last for a week, were announced at the event of the press conference.
Mr. Lekan Raphael Orisajiimi, Principal 1 and Mrs.Yomi Mohamed Principal 2 of the school after the press conference led the students in a road walk that stretched Okesa street down to Ereja square to the palace where the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland HRH Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II CFR LLD and his chiefs received the old students and current students of the school.
Addressing the gathering in his palace Oba Aromolaran hammered on the importance of dedication to service and hard work.
"Work is the antidote for poverty" . He said as he narrated the circumstances that led him to his aunt in Ibadan in 1952 that eventually led to his being educated.
Coverage/📸 Camera/Script ✍️ Oladimeji Lasore +2347035105413 [email protected]
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