This year, 2021 mark exactly thirty years when the class of 1985-91 of Anglican Grammar School, Sabo, Ogbomoso graduated from the school. This set was a unique in the annals of education history in Nigeria due to the fact that, 6-3-3-4 system of education started with the set. The beauty side of the system is that, it is job oriented; it places premium on manual activities, technical proficiency and respect for dignity of labour and economic efficiency. It also provides the students with basic tools to prepare them for local craft.
In fact! The plan for the thirty years reunion of this historic set started like a joke. A few classmates of this particular set who formed an online platform mooted the idea of rekindling old flame and camaraderies that existed among them, while at the popular school. For them, those old interesting years must be re-enacted, if not as juveniles, this time around, but as successful men and women, in vantage positions to review those years with nostalgia.
Some years back, an online platform was created by the few, and the search for other former mates of the 91 stock began. Interestingly, less than couple of years after the online platform, christened AGSO 91 SET was setup, over sixty-five percent of old school mates, spread across the globe where ‘fished’ out and given the association’s membership status. Yet, the good old days are back. AGSO 91 SET is rekindling old flames, and everybody is glad interacting with long-lost mates and friends on the platform. It is rather amazing, but it is beyond rekindling old flames.
As a way of ‘walking the talk’, for instance, in preparation for the thirty years reunion, coming up on Saturday July 3rd at Pa. Benjamin Adeniyi Oke Hall in the school premises, the association had embarked on projects, and started achieving some of those lofty objectives. Recently, the association keyed into the plan of the school to re-furnish some classes and the school wall-fence with the entrance main gate. The set with other sets were able to pay the WAEC registration fees of some educationally-gifted students of the school.
Also, as part of the activities marking the association thirty years reunion, sets of soccer kits will be presented to the school football team. The decision to give out the sports kits is without doubt, a venture that will have to draw accolades from both the staffs and the students of the school, because AGSO is known for formidable soccer team and excellent performance in sports. These and other laudable plans are in the pipeline to add glamour to the thirty years reunion.
At this juncture, it is refreshingly remarkable to acknowledge the aura of love that exists among AGSO 91 SET. All their accomplishments so far were made possible through financial and non-financial supports of members. With the team work they were able to squeeze water out of stone. Although, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since they graduated in 1991; sadly, few numbers of the set are dead. May their souls continue to rest in peace.
Without a doubt, the contributions of AGSO 91 to their alma mater will go a long way in providing succour to the staffs and the students of the school, especially at this period when it is becoming increasingly glaring that government can not do it alone.
Three decades after leaving the school, this set still come together with the primary aim of lending support to their alma mater. Without being immodest, the set of 91 to which I belong blaze the trail by this giant step. Other sets should borrow a leaf from 91 set. However, with all honesty, through the records, some sets and individuals are contributing their own quotas diligently to the development and progress of the school, but this is a challenge for those who are yet to take step.
On a final note, the rhetorical question that is begging for answer is that, have we achieved all we can achieve as individual members? Or as old students of AGSO? We have not; we are going further beyond. Has AGSO 91 Set reached the pinnacles of good deeds? It has not; we are taking the association further beyond. May God help us.
SUNDAY OGUNKUADE,
08036142877
OGBOMOSO.
