Return Schools Back To The Missionaries, Alumni Association Tells Government

The 1977 – 1981 set Alumni Association of St. John’s Grammar School, Oke-Atan, Ile-Ife, Osun State has charged the government to return schools taken over from the missionaries and other private owners  to them for the  purpose of proper management and high productivity.

The association  made the charge on Friday  during a handing over ceremony of  renovated blocks of classrooms to their school, in which a symposium was organised  with a theme “Renaissance of Quality Education: Stakeholders Perspective”

The Guest Speaker, Prof. Olatunde Arayela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Akure(FUTA) who is also an alumnus of the school frowned at the level of indiscipline among the students  of this generation, lamenting that discipline which used to be the core values of learning in the theater pay has been regrettably eroded as students now hardly adhere to their teacher’s instructions to guide them in life.

Arayela expressed delight at the quality of personalities earlier produced by the school especially the 1977/1981 set. He attributed the success of these products to the painstaking and  qualitative education given to them by the Catholic missionary school under the leadership and supervision of Reverend Father Fabian Cloutier, who instilled discipline of morality, values and diligence in the then students who have today become distinguished and at the zenith of their various endeavors.

“What we are today is as a result of what we learned here under Rev. Fr. Fabian Cloutier of blessed memory who inculcated morals, values and diligence in us.”

“I’m proud today because our set of 1977-1981 have produced distinguished people who have reach the zenith of their professions and are still moving upwards.” Professor Arayela said.

Canvassing for return of the missionary schools to their original owners, Chairman1976-1981 set, of St. John’s Grammar School in Ile-Ife, Siyanbola Oladapo, the association Secretary, Segun Omoworare and Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser on Communication to Lagos State Governor while speaking at different times acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility of  government saying the schools if returned will enjoy better management and proper monitoring from the owners while the government can face other sectors that need utmost and adequate attention of government.

“What we are doing here is to give back to the society. We are doing this to challenge other alumni to have it at the back of their mind that it is good to give back to their Alma-mata.”

“What we met here was total abysmal as a boys school has turned to a mixed school. The school field which has produced several International athletes and footballer like Emmanuel Okorie has turned to a social party stage.

“We appreciate the efforts of government to make education affordable and accessible but it is high time it  allowed  missionaries to take over the school.

“Government should be formulating policy that would make it to function and operate effectively.” he said.

St. John’s Grammar School, Ile-Ife was founded in 1962 as a boys school by a Catholic Church priest, Reverend Father Fabian Cloutier and it has produced Several successful men and women as well as national figures in the Nigerian society like Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, MD/CEO of Vanguard Newspapers and former President Nigerian Guild of Editors, Gbenga Adefaye, a renowned journalist, Dele Agekameh, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Former National Secretary of PDP, Professor Wale Oladipo, two term Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA in Lagos and currently a Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan, an EX Super Eagles footballer, Emmanuel Okorie and a host of others.