The hugely successful dual celebrations of the 113th Anniversary of the founding of Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State as well as the 100th Anniversary of the known oldest Old Students’ Association in Nigeria, Abeokuta Grammar School Old Boys’ Association (AGSOBA) – founded in 1921 – had come and gone but their attendant reminiscences would linger on for some time to come. According to history, Abeokuta Grammar School was founded on 8th July 1908. That explained the reason the Founders’ Day Anniversary celebrations had always started on 8th July of every year of celebration, except in 2020 when the Anniversary did not take place, no thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was, therefore, a great relief that God made it possible for the dual events to take place in 2021.
The two-in-one programme of events started on Monday 5th July, 2021 and ended on Sunday, 11th July, 2021. The first day of the Event was set aside for the arrivals of Agsoba from across Nigeria and the Diaspora. Unarguably, every event on the programme was successful. Apart from the World Press Conference on Tuesday 6th July, 2021, the Anniversaries’ logos were also unveiled that day. It is pertinent to state that the logos were products of a keen competition that had taken place previously. The best of the logos (one each for the 113th and the 100th Anniversaries of the School and AGSOBA respectively) were unanimously selected at the Central Executive Commmittee (CEC) Meeting that took place a month or so before the Celebrations. Equally worthy of mention at this juncture and for the records, too, is that the logos that were selected and used for the Celebrations were designed by Agsoba Oluwaseun Asimolowo. Wednesday, 7th July, 2021 was the Education Summit which featured three Lectures.
The first was a Lecture on ‘The History of Abeokuta Grammar School’ which was well delivered by Agsoba (Chief) E.B. Adeyanju, DA, 4954, an Author and Authority on the History of Abeokuta Grammar School and by extension, that of AGSOBA. The Lecture was well received and applauded by the audience. The second Lecture was titled ‘Worsening Insecurity as Hydra-headed Catalyst of Disunity: Nigeria at a Cross Road’. It was delivered by Hon. (Chief) Benjamin O. Ogunmodede, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abeokuta Branch. His Lecture, too, received a thunderous applause. The third Lecture, entitled ‘Managing the Disruptive Economic Effects of Covid -19 Pandemic in Nigeria Society’ was delivered by Honourable Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora, the Vice President, Baptist Boys’ High School (BBHS) Old Boys’ Association. His Lecture, too, was equally well received and appreciated with rounds of applause. The Education Summit Session was chaired by Professor Alao Adelekan, the Chairman of the Conference of Old Students’ Associations, South West Region of Nigeria.
A retired Permanent Secretary in Ogun State Civil Service and a friend of many Agsoba, Alhaji Kunle Adegbite, availed AGSOBA of his wealth of experience as the Rappoteur for the three Lectures. On Thursday 8th July, there was a Football match between Abeokuta Grammmar School and Ijebu Ode Grammar School Teams. It ended 2- 0 in favour of the Host Team, Abeokuta Grammar School. The same day witnessed Cultural performances by four Schools, namely: Egba High School, Baptist Girls’ College, Revd. Kuti Memorial High School and Ijeun Titun High School. The four Schools performed creditably well to the admiration and enjoyment of all. The Event was chaired by Agsoba Lanre Laoshe, DA, 6872, the out-going President General, AGSOBA Global who showed personal appreciation to each of the four Teams which he described as ‘all Winners’.
On Friday, 9th, a Jumat Service was held at the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta where prayers were offered for the continued progress of the School and all – AGSOBA FEMI KOLAJO, DA, 6872 the communities in Egbaland. That same evening was ‘The Variety Night’ – a great night which was well attended. It was fun galore as usual. The Anniversary T-Shirts and caps were worn by not a few. Love was really shown to one another. Joyful screams, by Classmates and or Schoolmates who had not met for years, rendered the air. Assorted meals ‘adorned’ all the tables which were arranged and occupied, mainly, according to Club sets. ‘Poisons’ were freely destroyed while soft drinks competed, unsuccessfully though, as their patronage – by the few likes of this Writer – was extremely low. That same night of 9th, the out-going President General, Agsoba Lanre Laoshe. DA, 6872, gave out Certificates of Service to various individuals who assisted him in the course of his tenure in the spirit of ‘Recognition and Reward’ Perhaps, the highlight of the Night was the Launch of the Centenary edition of AGSOBA News Magazine which was described by not a few as a Collector’s item. The Chief Launcher was Agsoba Reuben Oluwambe Sogaolu, DA, 7681.
He was supported by his 7681 Classmates. The UK/Ireland as well as the North America Branches also bought sizeable copies as a way of supporting the Launch of the Magazine. For this Writer, the major highlight of the Anniversary took two place in the morning of Saturday, 10th July 2021. That was the Annual General Meeting during which new Officers were appointed to lead our Association, AGSOBA, for two years. That was after the dissolution of the two terms of a four-year administration led by Distinguished Agsoba (Hon.) Lanre Laoshe, 6872. Agsoba (Dr.) Femi Kotoye, 6771, DA, a US – based Agsoba was appointed ‘Electoral Officer’ to conduct the election.
He was assisted, and ably too, by Agsoba Aderibigbe Adesola, 7782, DA, a Past President, AGSOBA UK/Ireland and AGSOBA Dunni Amode, 7984, who at the time was the Sitting President of AGSOBA, UK/Ireland. The atmosphere under which the elections were carried out was peaceful. In the end, Agsoba (High Chief) Sunday Olurotimi Oduntan, 7681, DA, was elected, unopposed, as President to lead our Global Association for a two-year term, 2021/2022 – 2022/2023, the year of Nigeria’s General elections by Gods’s grace. The table below contains the details of other Officers (all elected unopposed) to assist the President to run the Association’s affairs. I call on every AGSOBA to give 101% support to the new Adminstration led by Agsoba (High Chief) Sunday Olurotimi Oduntan, DA., 7681.
A number of Projects were donated to the School on Saturday, 10th July. AGSOBA Club 6770 donated Perimeter Fencing around the School Hostel to mark their fifty years of leaving the School. Also, Agsoba Club 6771 donated a ‘Block of 3 Classrooms with a Staff Room and 8 Toilets’ with a Water Tank to ensure the supply of water to the Facility. On its part, AGSOBA Club 8591 renovated, to a modern Facility, the Conference Hall which had previously been named after the Late Olisa Chukwura, SAN, DA. On a different vein, a state-of-the art Camera was donated to AGSOBA News by US- based Agsoba (Prof.) Matthew ‘Sola Adeyanju, DA, Senior Prefect of the School in 1968.TheCamera was presented on his behalf by Agsoba Bisi Adelabi, President, AGSOBA North America. Similarly, another US-based Agsoba Alani Babalola, 6973, also donated a state-of-the art Camera to AGSOBA News the following day, Sunday 11th July, 2021. Yes, the Anniversary Dinner in the evening of Saturday, 10th July.
It was so colourful with so much to eat and drink. His Royal Majesty, Kabiyesi, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland was the Royal Father of the Day. The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Ogun State, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, was represented at the Dinner by a Director in the Ministry. Ilesha Grammar School, an AIONIAN School, Old Students’ Association was also represented at the Dinner by Alhaja Nusiratu Bakare, the President of one of the Club Sets of the Association.
The Dinner featured the award of ‘Distinguished Agsoba, DA’, to Five (5) Agsoba after scaling through the screening by Distinguished Agsoba Awards Selection Committee. The new addition to the Distinguished Agsoba Honours’ list were Professor Olufemi Peters, 6872; Professor Omololu Soyombo, 73/74H; Agsoba Nike Begbaaji, 8287; Agsoba Obafemi Badmos, 7984 and Agsoba Tolu Fagbemi, 8591. The family Members of Late Agsoba Fela Anikulapo Kuti (ABOK 56) were also at the Dinner to receive, on his behalf, the posthumous award of DA. The Award was given in 2019 but couldn’t be presented as there was no Founders’ Day Anniversary in 2020, owing to Covid-19, during which the Award would have been presented. Sunday, 11th was the Grand Finale. The Thanksgiving Service was held at 10 am in the AGSOBA Hall.
The Sermon was preached by Agsoba (Venerable) S.S.O.Sodipe. He admonished Agsoba to remain worthy Ambassadors of the School in every sphere of their lives. The AGSOBA Talk to the Students was given by Agsoba Tolu Fagbemi, DA of the North America Branch. All said and done and in the spirit of appreciation, I like to place on record Agsoba who worked tirelessly to ensure the outstanding success that the oneweek Anniversary was. The Founders’ Day Anniversary Committee (FDA) was chaired by Agsoba Bayo Oluwole, DA, 7681.
In conclusion, I pray God to grant us all divine health to witness many Anniversaries to come in the mighty name of Jesus.
Agsoba (Barr) Femi Kolajo, DA, 6872 is the Editor-In-Chief, AGSOBA News.
