J.B. Odebiyi, the great Forester and BOT Chairman of FAN to receive BBHS Distinguished Centennials’ Award

Chief James Bola Odebiyi , a two time President of the Forestry Association of Nigeria and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association is among the 100 great men of timber and calibre that will receive the Centennials’ award of the prestigious Baptist Boys’ High School.

According to Professor Gabriel Adewunmi Dedeke : “the 100 Distinguished Old Boys of the past century ( tagged Distinguished Centennials’) is for those who have imparted the school, our beloved Ogun State , our great country, Nigeria and the entire world.”

ValidViewNetwork reports that Chief James ‘Bola Odebiyi, a 1964 set of the famous Baptist Boys High School will join others to receive the Distinguished Centennials Award of the school on January 17, 2022. A special anniversary lecture, to be delivered by Vice President Osinbajo, will hold same day.

No doubt , BBHS established on 23 January 1923 by Baptist missionaries has produced many eminent Nigerians in various walks of life. Among these are Chief Obasanjo, Justice Bola Ajibola, retired World Court judge; Chief Funso Kupolokun, former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State; Oba (Dr) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland; Dr Onaolapo Soleye, former Federal Commissioner of Finance, Professor Olukayode Oyesiku, National President, BBHS Old Boys’ Association; Mr. Tunde Oluwasola, Editorial and Publishing Committee of the Old Boys’ Association and Chief James Bola Odebiyi, BOT Chairman, Forestry Association of Nigeria. The school also produced Chief M.K.O Abiola, the adjudged winner of the freest and fairest election in the history of Nigeria.

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) are among the dignitaries expected to grace the centenary anniversary of the famous Baptist Boys’ High School (BBHS), Abeokuta, which will climax on January 23, 2023, the school’s Founder’s Day.

The details of the centenary program was disclosed in a statement by Professor Gabriel Adewunmi Dedeke, the National Secretary of the Old Boys’ Association. According to Dedeke, the week-long event, starts on January 16 with a city-wide road walk in Abeokuta.

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According to the program, the second day will also feature the commissioning of various projects initiated by the school’s old Boys’ Association. Among these are Sir Kessington Adebutu Alumni Building, built by Sir Kessington Adebutu; the Centennial Park built by the old Boys’ Association, Alhaji Isiaka Car Park Arena, the N43m main access road constructed by the 1984 set, among others.

The third day is dedicated to the Legacy Lecture, entitled “BBHS Value” to be delivered by former President Obasanjo. Also , a tree planting event and prize giving for the debate conducted earlier in the week and hymn sessions.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Chief James Bola Odebiyi would always use every slightest opportunity to preach the planting of trees. It is believed in some quarters that there is no known Forester in Ogun State either living or dead that has displayed his rare commitment to Forestry.

It would be recalled that Chief James Bola Odebiyi has consistently been committed to ensuring that Baptist Boys High School is one of the secondary schools in Nigeria with a plantation which serves as the laboratory for teaching the students aside from the protection of the environment from degradation. JB, as he is fondly called would do everything possible towards protection of the environment through planting of trees.

ValidViewNetwork reports that another old boy of the school, Former Governor Gbenga Daniel had during his first tenure in office flagged off the establishment of a teak plantation facilitated by Chief J.B. Odebiyi within the school.

Next up will be a discussion of the role of education in 21st Century Nigeria, with Dr Adesina being the keynote speaker.

This is to be followed by career talks by representatives of professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Nigerian Medical Association.

On 20 January, the event will feature discussions on leadership and personal development as well as Jumat Service at Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta. The celebration train will, on 21 January, move to the annual Distinguished Old Boy of the Year and Merit Awards Luncheon at the school premises, with the next day dedicated to worship at First Baptist Church, Ijaiye, Abeokuta. The event will wind up on 23 January with a Founder’s Day Devotion and a novelty match between current students of the school and an old boys’ team to be captained by former president Obasanjo.

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