My dear, wonderful classmates, today, I reminiscence a day like this, about 35 years ago, when we were all in Ludlaw Hall, during our graduation. It was the year 1987, when Alhaji Kanmi Arowosaiye was our Principal, most of us were between 16 and 18 years olds then, full of hopes, expectations, ambitions, prospect, potentials and opportunities. At that time, we had completed the requirements for graduation after five full years of studies and burning the candle lights in this great Offa Grammar School. During that time, we had the rare privilege of being molded very carefully by our very dedicated teachers, our of course our parents. At that time in history, we were far from thinking that 35 years later we would be reunited here again to celebrate 35th Anniversary of our secondary school graduation, and that 23 of our classmates would no longer be with us. We are here to celebrate our common history, knowing that in the last 35 years, our decisions, beliefs, talents and personalities were shaped and impacted by the values we learned and by our experiences and interactions with teachers and ourselves.
These influences are part of what we are today, and those of us who have decided to attend this reunion are here to honor and acknowledge the importance those school years have had in our lives. Many of us were privileged to begin form one (as being called then) while others had enrolled in later years. Irrespective of the year we joined then, Offa Grammar school was our second home; a comfortable space where we received a great comprehensive education in the basics, the sciences, the arts and Commerce.
How can we forget the influence that teachers like Mr. Adediran, Mr. Yesufu (History), Mrs. Habibat Salawu, Mr. Femi Titiloye (PHE), Mr. Oladejo, Mr. Lateef Saliu, Mr. Braimoh, Alhaja S.A. Olagoke, Mrs. Agunbiade, had in our lives? Sadly, we cannot but also acknowledge the positive impact of some of our late teachers in our lives, teachers like Mrs. Morohunfola (our Vice Principal), Mrs. Taiwo (Biology), Mr. Akintunde Ogunlakin (Agric), Alfa Wahab Shittu (IRK), Alhaji Hussein Oladotun (IRK), Rev. Raji Omojasola (Business Method), Mr. Kolade (Geography/Social Studies), Mrs. Eunice Olukemi Afolayan (English).
Truly, 35 years may have gone by, but we can still re-live the reverence of the silence during examinations in our various classes, we can hear the gong of the bell indicating the end and change of classes, we can hear the voice of our teachers prompting us to listen, and we can still picture the classrooms with our nicknames written all over the walls. All these were silent witnesses to our growth and transformation from year to year. The school Motto: “labor omina vincent” was emphasized in everything we did, even our teachers here today were living examples of the knowledge, respect and dedication to that motto. Our academic, spiritual and emotional needs were met with the different subject matters and activities, and the time we spent here left us very well prepared for the next step of our education and of our lives.
I need to mention that even though we were so focused on studying, that didn’t mean that we did not have fun. Teenagers as we were then are always hyper-active, mischievous, risk takers and accident prone, and we had a good share of all of the above. The trips to the principal’s office were frequent and repetitive for some of us, but I guess that was also part of the learning experience. As a class, we had many funny, awkward and memorable moments, too many to mention, but I am sure that whenever we think and reflect upon them it brings a smile to our faces.
Distinguished colleagues, 35 years ago we walked through Offa Grammar School as students for the last time and said good bye to each other and to our teachers. We graduated and began another chapter of intellectual development, either educationally or in the acquisition of skills. Today, we are working in different fields, trades and professions. We have become doctors, lawyers, academics, accountants and politicians. Some of us are in the military and paramilitary agencies. In the home front, we are pleased to say that we are successful married men and women, some of us are even grandparents today.
Looking back today, we believe we have every reason to thank God, for without Him, we wouldn’t have achieved, attained or become what we are today. That is why we have earmarked considerable hours in the course of this celebration to come together to pray and thank God for his benevolence mercies upon us all.
Equally, in appreciation to the contributions of our Alma Mata to our lives’ achievements, we have decided to give back to the school by renovating and upgrading the very block of classes we started our educational journey. This building was specifically chosen because we are the first set of students to use that block of classes. It will be a disservice to my mates if I failed to acknowledge with deep appreciation their financial and moral contributions to the task of renovating the building. We set a goal for ourselves, tasked ourselves and today we are pleased to say that the commissioning of the renovated building shall be done in the course of this 3-day Anniversary celebration. Let me put on records that before now, we have made our impact felt by the School: we donated a generating set and quality Public Address system to the School in 2019. In 2021, we were called upon by the management of the school to renovate some structures of the School Clinic and with the assistance of all class members, the task was accomplished. I want to thank you all for the confidence reposed in the executive members and for rising up to the task whenever we come calling. You have made our tenure very eventful and to this we shall be eternally grateful.
To the erstwhile executive members of our class, I want to sincerely thank you for setting the road map as well as laying the foundation upon which we are building today. Thank you for all your efforts in midwifing this association and also for still standing dedicatedly behind the present executives members. The class indeed appreciates you all.
Kudos to the entire Anniversary Planning Committee, ably led by Engr. Lukman Olaosebikan (who incidentally was our Senior Prefect). The success of the anniversary is a testament of their hard work and dexterity to the assignment given to them. Exco and indeed all member of the class deeply appreciate you all.
In the words of Alexander Smith: “You can go through life and make new friends every year, but there was never any substitute for those friendships of childhood that survive into adult years. Those are the ones in which we are bound to one another with steel!” So, there is NOTHING LIKE AN OLD FRIEND, AND THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS GROUP OF OLD FRIENDS: We are bound to one another with steel! According to all this quote, friendship always fills your heart with pleasure and make us feel connected, and after 35 years, we are all able to feel each other’s joys and sorrows. We are like a big beautiful tree full of leaves and life that germinated out of the seed of Destiny, who put us together in the same class, and that grew nourished over many years by the time we spent together, by our common experiences and by the love that unquestionably exists within our group. Every one of us is a leaf that contributes to the beauty and life of this tree, which by now is solid and indestructible. Even though some of the leaves have already fallen, these fallen leaves continue to fertilize the soil in which this tree grows and stands tall, and is a testimony to the union of the Class of 87.
Esteemed class members, 35 years ago we played, studied and graduated together. Today, to the glory of God, we are still dancing, playing and celebrating together. Let’s continue to do this and rejoice in each other’s company, let’s keep feeding, grooming and protecting the friendship that was born inside the classroom more than 35 years ago, and especially, let’s keep being ambassadors of the values and principles we learnt in this great Alma mata of ours.
In conclusion my dear members of the Class of 87, I want advise that while we still have the current of life flowing through us, let us rise to the challenge presented to us by the times we are living, and just like the saying goes: LET US DO ALL WE CAN, WITH WHAT WE HAVE, IN THE TIME WE HAVE, IN THE PLACE WE ARE.
I wish us many years of anniversary celebrations with sound health and God’s abundant prosperity.
Gbolahan Bilewu
President, OGS Class of 87.
