The Ijebu Muslim College Old Students Association (IMCOSA) is one of the vibrant old students’ associations in Nigeria. Though formed in 1956 when the pioneer alumni were relatively young, the Old Students Association was not inaugurated till 1969 and Mr. L. A Lawal was elected the inaugural National President, while Mr. I. I. Olusanya (Set ’53) was elected the General Secretary.
The 21st Founders Day celebrations were held from 11 to 20 March, 1971, involving, among others, such activities as (1) Torchlight procession round the-town, (2) Planting of the 21st Anniversary Trees, (3) Concert play by Duro Ladipo National Theatre, (4) Meetings, (5) Annual Prize Giving/Speech Day and (6) Special Anniversary Dinner/Dance.
It must be pointed out that Mr. L. A Lawal served on the Board of Governors of the Ijebu Muslim College for several years as an Old Student under the Chairmanship of Late Pa S. T. Rufai, Late Pa Alhaji S. A Onafuye and late Pa S. AAshiru. In 1972, Mr. L. A. Lawai stepped down, and Dr. Salami was elected the new National President of IMCOSA. Dr. A Salami was the President of IMCOSA for the period of 1972 to 1981, while Alhaji A. Atekoja, Otunba Tade Ismail and Dr. Biodun Kassim served as General Secretaries. The Silver Jubilee celebrations were held from 20th February to 1st March, 1975 during his tenure. It was a big event encompassing (1) Press Conference, (2) Jumat Prayer at the Central Mosque, Ijebu Ode, (3) Exhibition of Science, Fine Arts, Technical Drawings, etc. (4) Symposium, (5) Lecture, (6) Anniversary Dinner for the students for which a cow was slaughtered, and (7) The launching of the New Library Appeal Fund. On 4th August, 1977, Dr. A Salami was appointed Chairman, Board of Governors of Ijebu Muslim College, the first Old Student to be so appointed. Through his oversight functions, he impacted positively on the proper running of the School. Dr. A Salami relinquished the post of National President of IMCOSA in 1981.
Dr. Iyowun Ishola Olukayode Allinson took over from Dr. Salami as the National President in 1982. The Allinson era saw the consolidation of the IMCOSA structures by giving legal basis to its existence.
Dr Allinson singlehandedly wrote a draft of the IMCOSA Constitution, while the Executive Committee later appointed a three-man Committee,. made up of Mr. G. O. Olorode, Dr T. M Salisu and Alhaji Tunji Fowora, to review the draft before being presented to the first ever IMCOSA PARLIAMENT of Sunday, December 8, 1985.
Members at the Parliament expressed their opuuons freely, differences of opinion were debated in a very lively manner and where there was no unanimous agreement on any article of the draft Constitution, votes were cast to resolve issues by simple majority. Democracy was truly at work in IMCOSA. The historic Parliament was made by Allinson; Alhaji Agbabiaka, the Secretary, and 13 members, representing 7 Sets and one interest group. This number formed a quorum, going by Article (15) 2 of the draft Constitution. From 1969 to date, IMCOSA has produced 15 National Presidents, including the incumbent Major General Abiodun Role (Rtd).
By the provisions of the Constitution, IMCOSA operates as a federation of constituent clubs, interest groups and individuals conforming to the following definitions: A constituent club shall be an association of all members who commenced their school career together in form one, and all those members who joined them in the course of their career. IMCOSA Set 62-68 is one of such constituent clubs made up of those who started Form I in 1962 and all those who joined midway through 1968 including those who came for HSC in 1967 and passed out in 1968.
The Ijebu Muslim College Old Students’ Association, JMCOSA, has gone through stages of metamorphosis; finally stabilizing as a federation of Sets. Although each Set has its officers and holds its meetings as deemed necessary, the National Body of the Association organises programmes and functions which are mutuaLLy agreed upon by the Parliament and all sets.
In the last four decades, the body has been the leading partner among stakeholders in the continual academic and infrastructural development of the School. The Ogun State government, in 2018, adjudged IMCOSA as the “Best Old Students’ Association in Ijebu Block”, applauding the untiring efforts of its members in building on the legacy of the founding fathers of the College, who, with meagre resources, established an institution that towers above its contemporaries and has justified the labours of its heroes past.
Abridged History Of Ijebu Muslim College Old Students’
Association (Imcosa)
– Culled and edited from the 70th Anniversary Brochure of Ijebu Muslim College
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