The Bishop Thomas Hughes Tower and administrative building of Aquinas College, Akure
My alma mater Aquinas College, Akure celebrated her 60th anniversary during the weekend. It was my first time back since 2007 and I took time to go round the school reminiscing the good old days (isn't that a cliche?) when I thought the world only revolved around the four corners of the school.
Prof O.S Adegoke
Oluwafeyisola Adegoke, a professor of geology and Nigerian National Merit Award winner (1987) took students, staff and old students down memory lane. In a lecture delivered at the occasion, Adegoke told of how he came to enroll as a student in the 1952 set of the school founded by the Roman Catholic Mission a year earlier on a piece of wild land called Igboliki that was donated by the Deji of Akure, Oba Adesida. Adegoke said the thick forest that had been used by the Akure community for the sacrifice of outcasts and twins became the foundation for him and many other young men (including my humble self, seriously) who have now become important people in society. The eminent geologist encouraged the staff members to continue to put in their best in the training of the young boys passing through the school as they are the leaders of tomorrow.
Old students at the event (I'm in there somewhere)
A dinner and launching was held to raise funds at the Alumni Hall. It was graced by Ondo Catholic Bishop Most Reverend Jude Arogundade as well as by representatives of the Deji of Akure. The old students held a thanksgiving service at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church on Sunday led by their president Engineer J.R Olusoga. A former student Monsignor Sylvester Adekoya of the Ijebu Ode Catholic Diocese blessed the thanksgiving service.
Monsignor Adekoya giving the blessings during thanksgiving
As part of the four-day events that marked the celebrations, inter-school debates were held as well as football matches between different schools. The buildings in the school were renamed after many of the old students and pioneering staff including founding principal Reverend John Keaveney, Francis MacGovern, Peter Kelly, Michael Evan, first Nigerian principal Ade Iluyemi, Enock Dare, Michael Ibikunle and the late Emmanuel Babalola. On Friday night, rising hip hop singer Ojoro, who is an old boy of the school (he was my class captain in third year), performed to the delight of all at the Rev’d O’Shea Library.
This statue of three Lagos white cap chiefs is one of the most famous monuments in Lagos. They reside on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where they welcome travelers into the city. I had a post two years ago that talks about the legend. The sculpture was created by Olugodun Shodeinde in 1991 and it was commissioned by the government of Raji Rasaki. The statues that represent Idejo chiefs in traditional greeting mode are about 12 feet tall. This sculpture was part of those made by world famous painter Kehinde Wiley in his The World Stage: Africa Lagos-Dakar collection.
Professor Akin Oyebode Law teacher, public analyst, and author Akin Oyebode delivered his inaugural lecture at the University of Lagos on Wednesday, 20 years after he became a professor. Better late than never, it is a debt every erudite scholar owes the university system. In "Of Norms, Values and Attitudes: The Cogency of International Law", Oyebode challenges the Nigerian political elite to "jettison its obsurantism and anti-intellectual attitude" concerning "policy formulation and implementation on international matters by encouraging informed input from academics and experts." Unilag top dons
During my recent trip from Port Harcourt I rode on G. Agofure Motors, the big transport company out of Warri. Their service was impressive and I'm glad to say that for a Nigerian company. The mini bus from PH had a little fault on the way to Effurun and the driver radioed ahead to have the bus replaced. Pronto it was done as soon as we got to their HQ in Effurun where the new driver held us spellbound with his Waffi jokes all the way to Lagos. With a fleet of over five hundred vehicles, founder Godwin Agofure employs thousands of people in his transport, hotel and filling station chains in the Niger Delta region. This is a kudos to a man of vision. Having flown the first leg to PH, it was great traveling back by road all through the heart of the Niger Delta where I saw out of the window my old primary school in Benin City. Ivbiotor Primary School has been abandoned because of the incessant flooding that occurs around the Dumez Junction on Sapele Road. Perhaps one da...
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