The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Saturday, emphasised the crucial roles of the old students associations in transforming the education sector.
Abiodun said that his government places a great premium on every initiative of the old students tailored towards achieving qualitative and accessible education in the country.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, spoke during the 65th anniversary of the Christ Apostolic Grammar School Old Students Association held within the school premises at Iperu Remo.
Abiodun said that he was always excited to see the old students lending their support to address the gap in the education sector, knowing fully well that the intervention of the old students is not because they wanted anything in return other than the continued progress of the education sector in the country.
He said, “If politicians do anything, it may be because he or she is seeking the people’s support; if it were to be industry, it might be because of publicity, but when the old students do any projects for the school, it is out of their love for the continued progress of the school.”
Abiodun hailed the old students for not only limiting the 65th anniversary to winning and dining but also for embarking on projects that are crucial to achieving qualitative education in the state.
The governor said the school, being one of the flagships in the state, is already pencilled down for the smart classrooms policy and laboratory remodelling of the state government.
Abiodun explained that having recognised the place of education in achieving sustainable development, his administration, since its assumption of office five years ago, has been carrying out a lot of interventions to address the rot in the sector.
The governor said, “This administration has carried out a lot of intervention in our education sector to address the neglect of the past.
“We have supplied our schools with furniture, we have built over a thousand blocks of classrooms, you can see the yellow-roofed building all around, and we have equally employed over 4000 teachers to ensure that our children get the very best, among others.”
The governor said that his administration would continue to pursue initiatives that enhance a conducive learning atmosphere and support a greater future for the students in the state.
Speaking during the programme, the National President of the Christ Apostolic Grammar School Old Students Association, Armstrong Akintunde, said the whole essence of the anniversary is to galvanise the strength of the past students of the school to further contribute to its greatness.
Akintunde said, “This anniversary is a call to service; it is a call to action that reminds us of our duty to give back to the school that has laid the foundation of the success story each of us flaunts today.”
The property merchant urged the old students to use the occasion of the anniversary to foster unity and be deeply committed to working out a greater future for the coming generation.
Highlights of the anniversary include the inauguration of the ultramodern Gatehouse of the school, donated by the old students, as well as a Toyota coastal bus for the students and another minibus for the executives of CAGSOSA.