The old students of former Unity Secondary School, Ikere-Ekiti, now known as Government College, has called for support from stakeholders to bring back the old glory of their alma mater.
The National President, Akinjide Johnny Ogunwale who spoke Sunday, at the climax of a weeklong activities marking the 2023 Alumni Homecoming, lamented that the school was suffering from infrastructural decay.
Ogunwale said the school, founded in 1985, was primed as one of the elite secondary schools in the old Ondo state, but had since become a shadow of itself, due to neglect.
He said that it was becoming difficult for the students of the school to experience convenient learning, with the deplorable state of facilities, which has been left in ruins for many years.
“It’s saddening and disheartening to see the the poor infrastructural status of the Unity Secondary School, now Ekiti State Government School. Virtually all facilities which wie enjoyed during our time, have rotten away without replacement.
“Government presence here is zero. We encouraged the government to come to the rescue as long as the old students are also trying their best to restore the school old glory”.
He expressed the readiness of the old students to partner with the Ekiti State Government towards making the school conducive for learning by providing the necessary infrastructures, equipment, laboratories among others.
Ogunwale commended the old students for their immense support and giving back to their former school despite the harsh economic situation in the country.
He appealed to the alumni to join hands towards restoring their alma mater old glory, saying no effort should be spared in ensuring the school takes its rightful place in the comity of schools.
“My compatriot, 11 years down the line, we can say we are not doing badly. It’s not yet uhuru but we can progressively improve our involvement as well as our commitment to this course of our alma mater. Our college is our heritage and we must rescue it from the parlous state”.
In his welcome address, Mr Kayode Jimoh, Chairman, Homecoming 2023, said the events represented the heart of who members are, which is, beacon of academic excellence and an enduring symbol of community pride.
” The events put up to mark the homecoming is more than a celebration, it is renewal of our shared commitment, , reaffirmation of our bonds, and a reflection of our shared history and vision for the future”, he said.
The major highlight of the event was the raising of fund for the proposed ultra modern Assembly Hall, and presentation of awards as well as cash gift to eight former teachers of the school, for the positive impacts they made on their lives.
One of the awardees and pioneer staff of the school, Chief Bayo Adeniran, lauded the old students for their tireless efforts in improving the standard of education in the school.
