The old girls of Queens School Ede now at Ibadan, gathered on Saturday 18th November, 2017 at their current Apata Ganga Ibadan campus to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of their school.
The president of the Old Girl’s Association (QSOGA), Dr Adetoun Agbe-Davies in her address, welcomed everyone and highlighted the activities of the day. She commended His Excellency and his team for their effort in turning the Educational sector around with the establishment of the School Governing Board (SGB), abolition of automatic promotion, 80% attendance by all pupils and the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI). She alluded to the fact that it was no surprise that the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted Ibadan as a Learning City in October 2016 and that QSOGA will continue to strengthen the partnership with Oyo State Government (OYSG) in restoring Queen’s School to her past glory and repositioning her as the school of choice for girls in Oyo State. She further thanked all staff members of the school, the QSOGA members especially the 65th Anniversary Planning Committee led by Alhaja Modupe Leshi, the indefatigable QSOGA National 1st Vice President. She enjoined members to work tirelessly to ensure that they continue to PASS ON THE TORCH – brightly gleaming as ever!
Speaking at the event the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Mrs Bisi Akin – Alabi, special adviser to the Governor of Oyo state expressed her profound gratitude to the old Girls Association for their never failing support of the school, in the development of its infrastructure and other assistance given to the school over the years.
She hinted that since Ibadan has been designated a learning city, the government plans to create various learning hubs all over Ibadan, Queen’s School is being considered as a learning hub, she enjoined the current student, a number of who were seated at the hall with the old girls to study hard so they could be proud and worthy members of the society. She felt very proud to be associated with the members at the gathering.
The guest speaker, Ms. Moronke Azeez, the executive Director of Sage Consult LTD and an old girl is the Chairman of the School’s Governing Board, as well as former SA to the Lagos State Government on EKo Project (a world Bank assisted program on Education), gave a presentation about the poor state of education in Oyo State and the failing curriculum of the schools in Oyo State. She also identified the inadequate facilities available for the use of the almost 2000 students. She reminded the gathering that save for extra classroom blocks that have been added over the years by the Old Girls, the basic infrastructure the girls use now was used by girls in the 60s and 70s when their population was no more than 500.
The Good news is that the Old Girls have answered the clarion call according to the president of the Association. QSOGA members have contributed immensely and passionately to the infrastructural development of the school. They have built, renovated and equipped several of the buildings over the years. In 2017 alone, over 20 million Naira was invested in the school amongst different sets. The 12 million naira reconstruction of a 5 classroom block was done by the 1967-71/73 set while the 70/74 set renovated and equipped the Biology lab for over 3 million Naira.
Expressing his goodwill to the old girls, as they celebrated their alma mater, the Special Guest of Honour, Honourable Commissioner for Education, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela explained that education was expensive and admitted that the help of the PTA and old students has helped the state a great deal with the much needed education for the girls. He promised that his ministry will look into the pressing needs of the school and most especially to allocate more teachers to the school.
Five deserving old girls were given awards by their alma mater, including Mrs Olasinmi Akindele Odunbakun, the erstwhile Commissioner in Ondo State and Mrs Sola Adebule the first national president of the Association. Likewise the wife of Senator Dada, Mrs Abimbola Dada also got a distinguished old girl
Award as well as Justice Oluremi Adesida.
There were also three post humours awards, two to former staff, including Mrs Comfort Oredugba, the school’s first indigenous Principal and Late Mrs. Adeyemi a matron in the school. Also, a former old girl as well as the immediate past National President, Canon Felicia Bello, who died a few months after handing over to the current executive.
A few of the old girls displayed their products to sell to friends, and it was a pleasure to watch as they all scramble to patronise each other and to exchange telephone numbers and business cards. What a momentous celebration!
