As you read this,the old students of Methodist High School,ilesa,Osun state are in a happy mood.They are set to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the school.A few days back,Engineer Dideolu Falobi,the President of the Old Students Association told Citypeople what the old students plan to do, to celebrate the landmark event .
Below are excerpts of the interview.
Tell us a bit about your forthcoming old student anniversary ceremony….
The anniversary ceremony which will hold from October 29 to October 31 will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the School. It was meant to have been held around the founders’ day in January 2021 but we postponed it because of the COVID-19 Epidemic. The theme is “The Teachers and their products: Living Legends”.
How will the event be celebrated?
It will be celebrated at Ilesa on Osun State from October 29-31, 2021 with most of the events holding within the premises of the school, Methodist High School, Ilesa. On October 29, the highlights of the day will include inter-school Quizz competition, inter-school football & basketball games, feeding of the current students numbering about 1300 and a performance enhancing presentation to the teachers. On October 30, the Governor of Osun State, HE Gbenga Oyetola will commission various projects including two newly refurbished and furnished block of classrooms, Astronomy Observatory and Knowledge Centre, New Volleyball court and a newly upgraded and modernised multipurpose hall.
The celebration of teachers that taught in the school between 1956 and 1990 and the celebration of students that passed out of the school between 1961 and 1970 among others will also hold at a Special Luncheon to be held on the same day. On October 31, we will hold an Anniversary thanksgiving at Methodist Church Cathedral, Otapete, Ilesa.
Tell us how great the school is?
Methodist High School, Ilesa, without being immodest, was arguably one of the best schools in the old western region in the 60s,70s and 80s. It was a reference point for academic excellence and parents relocated their students from far and near to the school. The school was also particularly lucky to have been led by some of the best Principals also renown as enforcers of discipline in Ijesaland and the old western region. On Late Papa Onaeko, Olayinka, Oyedeji, Ogunleye and living legends like Mrs Sarumi and Mr Daramola to mention a few, we were truly blessed. They established a tradition of academic and moral excellence in the school which remain till date. In elitist sports like Table Tennis, Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball and Badminton, we were leaders too. Today, especially after the interventions of the old students, the school is fast returning to its glory days with first-class infrastructure and vast improvement in sports and academics.
Tell us about the great and Eminent Nigerians the school has produced?
Since 1961 when the school started producing products, the list of legends produced spanned all the sectors of the economy and ate too numerous to mention here. Among them are Elder Bode Dada, the former National Internal Auditor of the defunct National Oil Company Limited, Professor Yemi Kayode-Adedeji, a distinguished professor of law and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the School, Oba Oladiipo Olaitan, Deputy Leader of the Afenifere social political organization, Mrs Lara Euler-Ajayi, award-winning educator and former Principal of Queens College, Lagos, Prof Ademola Ariyo, renowned development expert of the University of Ibadan, Mr. Tunde Awobiyi, former Editor of the defunct Daily Times and former Chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Editors,Prof Tale Omole, former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr Gboyega Fatimilehin, an accomplished realtor, Mrs Yetunde Odejayi, former Permanent Secretary in Lagos State, Arc Gbenga Akintola, Mr Tunde Ogunrekun, a communicator per excellence, Mrs Adijat Olaniyi-Olopade former Managing Director of First Bank, and my humble self who has had the privilege of leading the Old Students’ Association since 2005.
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