Ebenezer Comprehensive High School Celebrates Golden Jubilee
Ebenezer Comprehensive High School, Ijaiye-Ojokoro area of Lagos State has celebrated golden jubilee of its foundation.
At the well attended event,the National President of the Old Students Association, Capt. Michael Makinde,explained that the golden jubilee of the school founded in 1971 was an opportunity for old students to see each other after so many years of exiting the school.
“There are some that we haven’t seen ourselves for over 40 years. Today marks an opportunity for us to see again and rejoice with each other and see how we can move our Alma mater on.
He added:”It is an opportunity for us to discuss some things that concern us and our school generally. We came in a couple of years ago and we have done a lot in the school. We refurbished the library and the science laboratory and we are working on converting the library to e-library at the moment. Also, we have just rebuilt the offices of the principal and the vice principal. There are quite a lot that we are planning to do”
He expressed excitement for the opportunity to renovate the administrative block and library, saying the old boarding arrangement in the school would be glowingly brought back to the admiration of the teachers and students.
He spoke on how the old students have hitherto added value,adding that the association gave out scholarships awards to some deserving students, gave them notebooks and textbooks.
He stated that they also planned to uplift the boarding school, saying that some of the buildings, where they stayed as borders then, had collapsed.
He added that some of his colleagues are doing well too, and that some of their members are scattered all over the world and doing very well.
“We have members in various fields. We are joining strength to do some of those things I spoke about.We have been having cordial relationship with the authorities of the school. They allow us to have our meetings here and we work hand in hand for our various projects in the school,” he said.
He added that members of the executive of the association met with some members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school and that they were trying to harmonise their plans so that they could come up with a resolution.
On funding for the projects, he said; “so far, glory be to God, members contribute to most of our projects and we have reached out to corporate bodies and it has been encouraging. But primarily the contributions come from the exco and members generally,” he said.
In his remarks,the Deputy National President of the association, Comrade Oladipupo Ajose,explained that the association’s gesture was motivated by the need to add value to the school.
“The essence of the event is for us to know ourselves and see how we could meet again. We were able to get 50 people from my set, this is an achievement. We believe that the vision of the school has continued, even when it changed from private to public and them from public to private.
“My advice to the government is that we need the co-operation of both the government and the private on the education sector.
“The government is trying now, but they still need the private sector to partner with them.One of the things that made the standard of education to fall is because the financing of education has not been easy,” he said.
He advised the youth to give increased attention to their education.
“Even if you want to become a carpenter, you need education, you want to be a mechanical engineer, you need education.
“I initially went to a road side mechanic to learn the practical of engineering before I went to Yaba College of Technology and later Ibadan Polytechnic and I was able to combine the two.There are some engineers, who only know the theory, but I know the two, so I can work with any machine.
“No matter what you want to do, you must be educated so that you will not be lost,” he said.
An alumnus of the school, Alhaji Mansur Oladunjoye said the memorable day was a great joy having acquired knowledge through the school and the uncommon opportunity to give back to the alma mater.
He also appreciated the support of all the sets for their financial and moral supports for a successful celebration.
In his address the Chairman, Board of Governors of the School, Chief Abel Fagbamigbe recalled the challenges encountered and the excruciating sacrifices made by the directors to make the school notable for quality school product, of which today every old students is proudly one.
Praying for the fame of ECHS, Pa Fagbamigbe thanked the old students for the enviable support given to the planning committee despite the economic challenges in the country.
Ms Abimbola Faseun who spoke on behalf of the founder’s family, said, “Our father Chief JMO Faseun, the Asiwaju of Ijeda Ijesa was a great entrepreneur philanthropist and farsighted person.He expended his energy on many fronts including education,” adding that for the old students to remember to give back to the school was highly commendable.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr Olaniyi Abatan said the event was an homecoming which afforded the old students to restore the school’s past glory.
Adding glamour to the event was the Olojokoro of Ojokoroland, Oba Oluwalambe Taiwo and Commander, Ogun State Amotekun Corps, CP David Akinremi (rted),who is an alumnus of the school.
