..As EBHS Alumni Launches 1Billion Naira Endowment Fund
By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Owa Ajero of Ijero Kingdom, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole has called on all old students of Ekiti Baptist High School, Igede Ekiti to give back to their Alma Mater, and contribute mindfully to its development.
Oba Adewole who is one of the 1970 alumni set of the school spoke on Saturday at the mega launching of one billion naira endowment fund organized by Ekiti & Ondo States old Students’ Association of the school.
The monarch who is also the Chairman of the occasion at the event held at EBHS Igede Ekiti, Ekiti state said “The reason for this cannot be far fetched. This is our Alma Mater, the fountain from which our academic and professional achievements takes its source.
“Today, we are gathered together to give back and help rebuild our school which has for several years been assailed by several infrastructural challenges. The conditions of the classrooms, hostels, library, staff offices, and accommodation are nothing to write home .
” The time has now come to rebuild our Jerusalem, EBHS , and reenact the confidence of our children and grandchildren who are entitled to the excellent medication that the EBHS is well known for .”
“And I make bold to say here today that graduates of this great school are scattered in all continents and all fields of human endeavors, where we are making our marks and projecting the good name of the school”.
While recalling how they were moulded by the school , he said, “the school taught us three great things. The first is hard work, without which no one can succeed. This is an axiom that cannot be controverted by time and space. Hence, we all owe our achievements to God and this great school.
“The second thing that EBHS also taught us are honesty, integrity and fear of God. These are the principles that have underscored our lives over these long years. Without honesty and integrity, nobody can get far in life, And the Holy Bible makes it clear that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As old students of EBHS, whatever we are today is by the special grace of God and the solid foundation that this school laid in our lives.
“And the third lesson that we were taught in this school are giving, benevolence and philanthropy. And this is in line with the teaching of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ who said that it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The National President of ECHSOSA, Quantity Surveyor, Ifelola Oyebade said the endowment fund was designed to create a solid financial base for execution of more developmental projects in the school
He said, “Despite all the aforementioned interventions by the Old Students’ Association, a lot of ground still needed to be covered.
Your support for the Endowment Fund project is an investment in the future one that makes a real difference in the lives of the students and staff.
“We have great expectation and hope that, this day marks a turning point in the life of our great school as it starts the journey to becoming a more nationally competitive school that would be the pride of all stakeholders, Ekiti State and the nation in general.
“To sustain the feat achieved so far the need to have a sustainable source of income is sacrosanct. This is why we have deemed it fit to organise today’s lauriching.Whatever we are able to realize will be invested and the interest accrued on it yearly shall be drawn for state of the Arts capital projects.”
Giving the keynote address at the Occasion, the Professor of Political Science and Defense Studies, and Lecturer at Nigeria Defense Academy, NDA, Prof. Toba Alabi who urged the congregation to cultivate the habit of giving, pointed out that one can only be blessed and remained blessed through giving.
He said giving is the only principle of life according to the God’s injection that does not require any prayers and fasting before one could be blessed, pointing out that this has been his guiding principle in life. He urged the congregation to give graciously to the development of the school, EBHS and be blessed mightily in return.
Speaking on the security issue, the Professor of Political Science and Defense Studies who commended the Nigerian Army and all other security agencies for their efforts so far in the country, added that they deserved to be appreciated.
Prof. Alabi equally urged the school owners to take security of their schools seriously, adding that they shouldn’t leave the security issues for the governments alone.
The Chairman, Mega Launch Committee, Barr, Dr. Oludare Bello who said, the planned return of the schools back to the original owners by the government was long overdue, expressed the willingness and readiness of original owners of the schools to take their schools back, saying “we are ready to take over the ownership of our school to ensure the needed development and proper management of our school”.
Barr. Hello who announced the donation of the Chief launcher at the occasion disclosed that, Otunba Olumide Soyonmbo did not donated graciously to the launching but equally distributed motivational books published by him which worth millions of naira which were to be distributed to the dignitaries at occasion and also to the school’s Library for the students.
The monarch of the town who was also an old student of the school, Petu bi Owuro, the Onidege of Igede Oba James Aladesuru appreciated all the organizers of the event and everyone who contributed towards the development of the school. The monarch therefore prayed that they would all be blessed mightily in return.
The side attraction at the event was the impressive cultural display by school’s cultural group, and presentation of gifts to Special guests at the event.
Among the dignitaries given special recognition at the occasion were: Alex Bankole, Austin Ibikunle,Chief Sola Okebiorun, the national president of EBHOSA. Barr. Dr. Oludare Bello, Onigede of Igede, Oba Aladesuru, and Olumide Soyombo.
Photo speaks at the occasion:
