Aiyedatiwa urges alumni to support public school development

File: Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has appealed to financially capable alumni and other education stakeholders to partner with the government in tackling infrastructure challenges in the state’s public schools.

Aiyedatiwa said such partnerships were needed to improve access to quality education, and urged old students to give back to their alma mater by supporting its development.

The governor made the appeal on Saturday in Akure, the state capital, at the 50th anniversary celebration of Omoluorogbo Grammar School.

He was represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Sunday Olajide.

Aiyedatiwa said alumni contributions were vital to sustaining the growth of educational institutions. According to him, collaboration between government, alumni and other stakeholders would help bridge the infrastructure gap in public schools and create a better learning environment for students.

He said, “Government cannot single-handedly fund the education sector, so we need the old students and other stakeholders to complement our efforts through meaningful contributions to the development of their alma mater.”

The governor urged the school’s old students to use the anniversary to renew their commitment to the institution that laid the foundation for their achievements in different fields.

The Chairman of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee and former Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said the alumni had invested heavily in the school, particularly as it marked its golden jubilee.

He described giving back as a responsibility and a way of thanking the school for the foundation on which they built their careers.

He stated, “The interventions are aimed at improving the school’s infrastructure, creating a more conducive learning environment and ensuring that current students benefit from facilities that would enhance their academic performance.”

Akinmade said he built and furnished a four-classroom block and donated a generator to improve the school’s power supply. He added that another alumnus, Dr Munirat Ogunlayi, renovated the school hall, while Mr Oluwole Adelabu renovated the staff office and administrative block.

Other alumni interventions include a perimeter fence to improve security and protect school facilities, and a donation of exercise books to support students’ learning.

“The old students have also established a Student Support Programme to provide financial assistance to indigent students to enable them to meet the costs of their Junior Secondary School examinations and West African Senior School Certificate Examination,” he stated.

Akinmade called on other former students to identify with the school and contribute towards sustaining its legacy, noting that investment in education benefits younger generations and society at large.

The governor’s appeal comes as public schools across Nigeria continue to grapple with dilapidated classrooms, inadequate facilities and limited funding.

Alumni associations have increasingly stepped in to renovate buildings, provide equipment and support indigent students in their former schools.