…As Expert Decries Challenge of Fund
Progress Abisola
An Education expert has lamented shortage of fund as a critical challenge bedeviling the sector in the country.
The Permanent Secretary, office of Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sola Ogunmiluyi (MCIPM) who was a guest speaker at the 50th anniversary celebration of Obalatan Commercial Grammar School, Ilupeju – Ekiti gave the submission while delivering a paper titled :OBANCO AT 50: LEGACIES, PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES.
The guest speaker who is an alumni of the school noted that government could not do as much as it used to do in the past, such as overseas training for teachers, provision of laboratory equipment, provision of books for the library, regular appointment of teaching/non-teaching staff and provision of sporting materials, among others due to so many competing interests.
Ogunmiluyi who enumerated constraints facing by the School as infrastructural decay, encroachment of the school land, low population in the students enrollment, leadership problem, stakeholders attitude and general indiscipline in the society, called on the old students to think of panacea that would liberate the school which he described as a source of their learnings.
The Permanent Secretary however acknowledged the contributions of some old students to the school, commended the likes of late George Lolu Aduloju, the 1980 set Senior Prefect, who was said to have thought of Obalatan Commercial Grammar School with allocation of N.2.9 million naira from his life investment while preparing his wills as a show of love.
“This was confirmed and paid to the Association’s Account, after his death in February, 2018. Also, 1977 Senior Prefect, Mr. FemiJegede, facilitated the building of a block of classroom some years past before he retired as an Executive Secretary in Ekiti State Civil Service.
“Others include, Otunba Stephen Ojo, Chief Mike Osatuyi a.k.a, Akuka, Hon. Sunday Adunmo, a.k.a, Galaxy and Engr. Dare Omodudu, who was said to have been very consistent in giving bursary awards to deserving students of the school and other schools in the community”
Mr. Ogunmiluyi stressed that government role in the running and management of school cannot be overemphasized. According to him, “one of the agenda of the Ekiti State Government under Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is Knowledge Economy. In this regard, the present administration in Ekiti State must be commended for the introduction of free secondary education in all public schools in Ekiti State”.
“This, no doubt has made education cheaper and more accessible to many students who would have been roaming and loafing about as miscreants. Payment of teachers’ salary, rural allowance, science allowance and distribution of agric inputs to ensure food security and food sufficiency by the Ekiti State Government should also be commended “.
He added that there is still need for government intervention in the fencing of the school premises for security reason and to stop people from encroaching the school land, urging the government to assist in the renovation of some classrooms and administrative blocks to enhance the beauty and the values of the school.
The National Alumni President of the school, Professor Bayo Oloyede, said he has a vision and mission to reposition the Alma Marter and to give it a new identity as well as visiting some other areas.
According to the don, “there was nothing on ground when we came on board. But we have been able to give the Association a good constitution. We have also been able to reconstruct the road leading the school to the main road. We have visited some of the infrastructures. One of the things we have been doing during the week long activities of the anniversary, is to commission the few projects we have been able to execute.
We are on course and our joy is that people are now coming up to join hands for us to move the school forward and to see what we can do to give it a new name”.
Professor Oloyede, said the multimillion naira bore hole with overhead tank, ultramodern toilet and a few other projects would be commissioned, saying it’s a clarion call to all the stakeholders to make the necessary sacrifice to reposition the school.
The Assistant Senior Prefect of the 1979 set of the school, Pastor Tolu Ayinde, said there’s need for every member of the Old Students Association to bring everything they have to reposition the school and to recover its lost glory.
He advised that all hands should be on deck to achieve as he said it’s possible with the support and cooperation of all members.
The quest for secondary education by the people of the locality necessitated the establishment of Obalatan Commercial Grammar School on 6th March, 1971, by the then Western State Government led by late General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd).
“The school was jointly owned by Ilupeju and Oye – Ekiti, before it was released to Ilupeju – Ekiti. Record has it that both communities at the early stage contributed to its growth and development.
“The coeducational school effectively took off with the pioneer Principal, Mr. Fasuyi, a native of Ido – Ekiti, with about 70 students drawn from different communities, majorly from the present Ekiti State”