Ajowa alumni renovate 17 classrooms, donate Laboratories, boreholes as College clocks 43

In giving back to their Alma Mater, the Old Students’ Association of Ajowa Community Grammar School, Ajowa Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, has refurbished four blocks of 17 classrooms, donated science laboratory and administrative Block for the school.

The Association also sank two boreholes for the use of the students, and also facilitated a well-equipped ICT facility and a modern laboratory.

The projects were commissioned, Saturday, during the college’s 43rd Founders Day Anniversary and N100m Fundraising for building new projects and renovating dilapidated buildings.

Ajowa Grammar School was founded 43 years ago, specifically on October 3rd, 1975, through community effort and was handed to government years later.

The motto of the school that was conceived to be a light and conveyor of development is Knowledge and Service.

Through self effort and donations from well-meaning Nigerians, the Old Students Association has, in the last six years, changed the face of the school by renovating four blocks of 17 classrooms, the old science laboratory and the Administrative Block, sinking two boreholes and facilitating a well-equipped ICT facility, courtesy of the Nigeria Communications Commission and a modern laboratory, courtesy of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

As part of the weeklong programme slated for this year’s Founder’s Day programme, the students’ association has also organised career talks for students of the school to enhance their career choice.

Meanwhile, every year, in the last six years, the association has contracted a training institution to organise capacity development training for teachers of the school and schools to hone their capacities and improve on the learning of students.

In his welcome address, the National President, Ajowa Community Old Students’ Association, Major General C. T. Olukoju, said the association’s efforts are a show of love to school that moulded her alumni to become what they are today and a response to government’s call on stakeholders to rescue education from imminent collapse.

He said, “Conscious of the need to give back to the school that gave us so much at formative and the inability of government to respond to all challenges owing to obvious financial dire straits and overwhelming demands, the old Students Association decided to heed government’s call on other stakeholders to rescue education from imminent collapse.

“And powered and motivated by the kernel of service, which is a core component of the school’s motto, the Old Students adopted a holistic approach to restoring the old glory of the school through massive infrastructural development and robust capacity development efforts for student and teachers.,”

General Olukoju also appealed to alumni associations in Ondo State and across the country to collaborate with government to fund and develop schools as government alone cannot fund education.

According to General Olukoju, “It is becoming increasingly obvious that government alone cannot fund education, hence, we encourage old students associations in Ondo State and across the country to collaborate with government to fund and develop their alma maters.

“As landlords of their alma maters, old students and old students associations should own their schools and offer the desired support in the serious business of educational development. “The nation grows stronger when stakeholders, especially old students give back to their alma maters.”

Other highlights of the event include certificates presentation to empowered trainees, awards presentation to awardees and presentation of plaques to invited guests

The programme was well attended by government representatives, top brass of Nigerian military personnel, Obas and army of the college’s old students.