As part of the activities marking the 7th Annual General Meeting/ Convention of the Alumni association of Baptist High School, Iree, the 1983 set has commissioned a block of classrooms donated to the school as part of its commitment to the development of the school that produced them and to mark 40 years that they left the school.
Cladded in beautiful attires, the members of the 1983 set joined by other members of the Alumni gathered at the school premises recently to commission the landmark project.
READ ALSO : 83 Set Of Baptist High School, Iree, Holds Reunion, Donation To Alma Mater
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the set, Mr Zacheaus Abiola Oke thanked God Almighty for making the day a reality.
”It is with a heart full of joy and gratitude to God Almighty that I welcome us all specially to this 40th reunion and commissioning of four blocks of classroom. You will all agree with me that it is a rare privilege to be alive to celebrate 40 years on earth let alone 40 years after we all left the great citadel of learning, Baptist High School, Iree. I can affirm that the school moulded us both in character and learning and provided the ingredients for what we are today”.
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I must thank us for creating time to come together today for this reunion. I am not unaware that many of us have so many other engagements which competed with this time, but you decided to give priority to this program in recognition of the love and affection you have for our togetherness. I pray God Almighty will continue to keep all of us in good health and sound mind.
The presence of the Chairman, Board of Trustees, other members of the Board, the Global President, National Executives and other great members of the Alumni has added so much value to this reunion and we would like to thank them immensely. We cannot afford to take their presence for granted”.
While appreciating members in the diaspora whi sacrificed their time and resources to attend the program, Oke said : I am happy to place on record that Mr Michael Tunde Ilori, the Global Vice Chairman from US and Mr Samson Adepoju, the Diaspora Chairman from UK travelled several kilometres to attend this reunion because of the immense love, respect and honour they have for this association. It is my fervent prayer that God Almighty will honour them. To our dear Super Senior Pastor Oluwole Adeyemo also from UK, we want to appreciate your unalloyed commitment towards our dear Alma mater”.
Oke further used the opportunity to appreciate the teachers that helped them in moulding their lives. In his words : ”Let me use this opportunity to appreciate all our teachers both living and dead. They are part of the memories we are here to celebrate today. How can one forget the morning beatings and punishments. It looked like they were harsh on us but today we can look back to say those beatings and punishments made us to be what we are. Therefore, to all our teachers, we say a big thank you”.
According to Oke, the reunion had three perspectives loaded into one. ” To every one of us, we are delighted to have you join us for this special gathering. Our gathering today has a tripodal focus. Firstly, it is an opportunity for us to thank God for preserving our lives. I am sure if we are to share what we had passed through individually and collectively in the last 40 years, we will not leave this place. Secondly, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate the cherished memories and bonds formed during our time at school. It is a unique time for us to reconnect, reminisce, and create new memories that will bring us closer together.
There is nothing whatsoever that can wash away the memories we share together. How can one forget Olori ebi, Alooma, Taska, Odegbami, Santos, Alaso ebi, Oyin and our beautiful ladies who are now grandmas. Just take a voyage back into yesteryears and you will know that God has been good to us.
Finally, this reunion is to commemorate the commissioning of four blocks of classroom renovated by our set. I must thank all of us for our financial commitments towards earlier projects and this current one. The renovation of the classrooms is part of our efforts and commitment towards ensuring that the current generation of students enjoy quality education in a conducive environment. I pray we will continue to make impact in our world. We must thank our dear principal, Deaconess Yetunde Ogunleye (Nee Dairo) for granting us the permission to renovate the four blocks of classroom. No one would have thought that Yetunde would return to the school as the principal.
Mr Oke used the opportunity of the reunion to roll out some of the interventions the 1983 set had made in the past while charging members to do more . ” May I intimate us that the 83 set had made remarkable impacts in contributing to the development of the school and would have loved to do more but for paucity of funds. In the past, we have been involved in renovation of Corps members’ Lodge, donation of items and N1M endowment for the perimeter fencing of the school while members have also made personal donations. These are aside from donation of basic tools such as books, sandals, mattresses etc. I am always happy to emphasise that a member of 83set single handedly raised fund for control of erosion in the premises of our Alma mater. We plan to do more projects and this our reunion will set the tone for that. We have a renewed commitment to the school as we are where we are today by the grace of God and the school”.
In a tone of reflection and appreciation to God Almighty, Oke stated : ”Dear colleagues, I remember just like yesterday how we met more than four decades ago. I remember the football matches. I remember the escapades. I remember the guys avoiding punishment and our juvenile excesses. I remember the ladies in their clean uniform and the guys doing ‘guy man’ with our tiny chests out. Despite our different backgrounds, the school built confidence, eloquence, discipline, tenacity and friendships in us. We never knew what life had in stock for us. We came to Baptist High School, left with different ambitions, aspirations and determinations. Today, we have produced great men of timbre and calibre in different professions including the military. Looking back, I am proud of us and can attest to the fact that we have every reason to say thank you God”.
In appreciation of the great men and women of the set and setting the tone for the conevntion, Oke said : ”Baptist High School, Iree ’83 set is blessed with great men and women. I look at our women reflecting and radiating the beauty of yesteryears. We must thank their husbands for taking good care of them and for allowing them to join and participate fully in the Alumni. I can easily conclude that the virtues of Baptist High School have helped them in solidifying their homes and making meaningful impacts in their chosen professions. Our ladies are never lazy and can never be shy. They are virtuous!
Therefore, I charge each one of us to relax, loosen up and enjoy the atmosphere of this beautiful reunion. Let us re- ignite the fire of friendship and set the tone for a greater future.
Speaking to the newsmen, the Global President of Association, Olaniyi Ibiyemi advised other Alumni of other schools to try and give back to the Alma Mater in which they graduated from. According to him, this will help in contributing to the development of the school and building great men and women for the future.
An highly elated Ibiyemi listed other projects that were commissioned during the AGM and targets set for the second term.
Members of the Alumni association used the opportunity of the reunion to relax, wine and dine together and establish business links towards growth and development.
The current Principal of the school, Deaconess Yetunde Ogunleye (Nee Dairo)who coincidentally is a member of the 1983 set was full of thanks to God Almighty and the Alumni for supporting the school while encouraging them to do more.
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