Adeyemi College alumni association celebrates 59th founders’ day in grand style

Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo was in the news for a good reason between Friday 19 and Monday 22, 2023. It was the period the institution became beehive of activities, following the influx of people from within and outside the country, who came to witness the celebration of the 59 years anniversary of the notable citadel of learning.

The institution, whose old and new students fondly addressed themselves as great arbicans was initially established by the defunct Western Regional Government on May 22, 1963, before its take-over by the Federal Government, which later affiliated it with the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State, South-West, Nigeria.

Although, the enabling act upon which the institution was established as College of Education, had been repealed, following the signing of a bill forwarded by the National Assembly to President Muhammadu Buhari, who later assented to the bill, however, the inability of the Federal Government to appoint a Vice-Chancellor to complete the process of its transformation to a university of education has continued to generate controversy among stakeholders within and outside the institution.

Perhaps, in attempt at making the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to hasten the process of appointing a Vice-Chancellor, the institution’s Alumni association stuck to the use of University rather than College of Education while making reference to the institution.

Hence, it is not surprising that all items printed for the 59th anniversary had the inscription of a University boldly written on them. From the banners to programme of activities all bore “Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo.”

Meanwhile, to refer the 59th founders’ day as one of the finest celebration in the institution in recent time, is to state the obvious, and this was further corroborated by the Registrar of the College, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede, who went memory lane by comparing it with the 50th anniversary which held in year 2014 in the institution.

The 4-day celebration began with a Jumat service which held at the College Mosque, where eminent personalities including the Acting Provost, Dr. Abayomi Olufemi Olajuyigbe led principal officers of the institution to the event.

Similarly, the National President of the Alumni association, Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade equally led members of the Alumni Association as well as members of the National Planning Committee of the 59th founders’ day committee to the mosque.

Also present on the occasion was the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, an alumnus of the College and its representative on the Governing Council, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi.

Earlier in a sermon delivered on the occasion, the Chief Imam of the College Moslem community, Dr. Suleiman Suleman Zubair, commended the vision of the institution’s founding fathers for establishing the college.

Noting that the institution has lived up to expectations in the production of quality teachers since its establishment, the cleric, therefore, advised former students of the school, those currently undergoing programmes in the institution, as well as members of academic staff working in the citadel of learning, to live up to expectation, in the preservation of the good name, which the college has earned over the years.

The religious leader congratulated the people of Ondo community, Management of the college, staff and students and prayed that the Almighty Allah would continue move the institution forward.

Meanwhile, in continuation of programme of activities outlined for the 59th founders’ day anniversary, a football match was held few hours after the Jumat service. The soccer encounter which held at the College Sports complex, drew a mammoth crowd which included the members of College Management, several sports lovers and members of ACE Alumni association from within and outside the country including the former Nigeria Envoy to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ambassador Godson Echegile, who appeared in a beautiful sport wear and His Royal Majesty, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji land, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, whose royal regale made him cynosure of all eyes.

At the end of the football event, which featured an encounter between the students from the College School of Science and their counterpart from Vocational and Technical Education, the former defeated the latter, by a lone goal, after which a trophy and a cash gift of N75, 000, was given to the winner while consolation prizes ranging from N30, 000 to N50, 000 were given to all the schools that participated in the preliminary, and final stages of the competition.

Activities of the 59th founders’ day also continued on Sunday 21 May 2023, with a thanksgiving service held at the Christ Chapel Interdenominational Church located inside the College. In a sermon delivered on the occasion by a member of the church, Mrs. Adeyinka Tugbiyele, who is also a Deputy Registrar, Division of Establishment and Personnel in the College, she congratulated Management of the institution, its staff and students, as well as members of the Alumni association and expressed gratitude to God, for preserving their lives to witness the anniversary.

Speaking on: “I shall not be moved”, the preacher, while quoting the Holy Bible in Samuel 16 verse 8, Samuel 24 v 1 and 2 and using the story in the book of John 20 v21 to buttress her points, urged the congregation to remain steadfast with God, stating that by doing so, they would be able to overcome challenges that may stand on their way.

While expressing optimism of better days ahead for the institution, Tugbiyele, admonished members of the alumni association to always commit their activities into God’s hands, stating that through constant supplications to God, and offerings of thanksgiving, the good Lord would bring more success to the association.

In his remarks on the occasion, the Acting Provost of the College, Dr. Abayomi Olufemi Olajuyigbe commended the founding fathers of the institution for having the vision to establish the college. He also lauded members of the alumni association, staff and students for contributions made towards the progress of the institution.

Also in his comments, the National President ACE Alumni Association, Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade, thanked management of the college, staff and students as well as members of the association for contributions made towards the success of the anniversary.

The event which featured singing of praises, bible reading and exhortation as well as offering of prayers for the College, its Management, staff, students, members of the Alumni Association, Ondo community and Nigeria nation, was attended by eminent personalities from all walks of life.

The interdenominational thanksgiving service was preceded with the presentation of the 59th founders’ day anniversary lecture, which held on Saturday 20th May 2023 at the Babatunde Ipaye Lecture theatre in the College.

Speaking on the topic: “NIGERIA’S CIVIL RULE AND THE IMAGINED POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT”, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Odunayo Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, emphasized the need for political office holders to make the citizens centre of development.

Represented by Mr. Dare Aragbaye, his Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duty, the governor explained that the development of Nigeria, would remain an imagined possibilities, unless the citizens are made to feel impact of government, through provision of people-oriented programmes that would add values to their lives.

Governor Akeredolu equally urged government at the three tiers of administration in Nigeria, to embark on aggressive education of the citizenry, stating that the move would helped in casting aside disbelief, and helped the people to place their hope more on realities instead of imagined possibilities.

The one-time President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), also made case for true federalism, saying the step would encourage regional autonomy and promote healthy competition among federating units that make up the country.

On ways of tackling current economic challenges facing the nation, Governor Akeredolu, advised the federal government, to ban importation of items, which the country is capable of producing, while equally calling for freedom to be given to state to control their resources, stating that the step would make them financially buoyant, to meet the needs of their citizens.

The well attended event, where invited guests were entertained by the Obiton Cultural troupe from Ondo town, also featured presentation of N500, 000 (Five hundred thousand naira) cash award ⁸to ten outstanding students of the college by the Alumni Association. The beneficiaries were selected from students currently undergoing Degree and Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes in the institution. The five degree students that obtained Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), ranging from 4.72 to 4.37, were from departments which include French, Religious Studies, Mathematics, Physics and Educational Psychology and Counselling, while those from the NCE category were selected from Early childhood Care Education, Agricultural Science, Integrated Science, Primary Education Studies and Business Education departments. The presentation of the cheques of N50, 000 each to the beneficiaries, drew thunderous applause from the audience, as each of the beneficiaries whose names were called came out beaming with smiles to collect their award.

The occasion was also used to present award to eminent personalities which included the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), CON; Ambassador Godson Echegile; One-time Provost, Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, Dr. Emmanuel Filani; Hon Abiola Peters Makinde and Dr. (Mrs) Olawunmi Egbayelo-Ilawole.

Subsequently, the continuation of the activities moved to Lande Event Centre, Ondo, where members of the Alumni Association, who were gorgeously dressed in different attires, principal officers of the College as well as invited guests from all walks were treated with sumptuous meals, and entertained with sonorous music by a popular juju band. The event was later followed with a dinner at the same event in the evening.

The climax of the 4-day event, which held on Monday 22 May, 2023, was the commissioning of the multi-million naira event centre built by the Alumni Association. The building edifice, located within the college premises, was commissioned by the Chairman College Governing Council, Hon. Idiat Oluyemisi Babalola represented by a member of the Council, Elder Adebiyi Clinton.

In an address delivered on the occasion on behalf of Hon. Idiat Babalola by Elder Adebiyi Clinton, she commended members of the Alumni association, for embarking on the project, and prayed that the good Lord would continue to guide the association, and grant them progress in their efforts at contributing their quota to the development of the institution.

Also in his remarks, the Acting Provost of the College, Dr. Abayomi Olufemi Olajuyigbe, lauded the alumni association and thanked them for adding values to the institution. While reiterating his administration’s resolve to continue to work for the advancement of the institution, Olajuyigbe, appealed to the association to continue to identify with the College, in its quest at achieving its goals and aspirations.

The highpoint of the event, which was attended by some principal officers of the College among whom were the representative of Chairman Governing Council, Ho. Idiat Oluyemisi Babalola, Mr. Adebiyi Clinton; Acting Provost, Dr. Abayomi Olufemi Olajuyigbe; Registrar, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede; Librarian, Mr. Azino Akpokuriere represented by Mr. Michael Jato and Bursar, Mr. Ganiyu Abdul was the commissioning of the building.

The final event which climaxed the end of the 59th founders’ day, and held on the same day of the building commissioning was the presentation of a lecture by an alumnus of the institution, Professor Abimbola Adesoji from the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Speaking on: “Moving Away from the Past: Revitalizing Tertiary Education in Nigeria”, Prof. Adesoji identified insufficient funding as one of the bane of tertiary education sector in Nigeria.

As way of addressing the problem, the lecture presenter said since it appeared that the government cannot solely address the funding of education, new ways should be explored for assessment of money through endowment, gifts, grants and donations.

He equally charged institution’s alumni associations, to come to the aid of their Alma mata, through rendering of services, and provision of moral support to their leadership, stating that the step would help in alleviating some of the challenges facing the institutions.

Although, the 59th year founders’ day anniversary had come and gone, its memory would however, lingered in the minds of people for a very long time. As the institution prepares for its golden jubilee next year, it is hope that the excitement that greeted this year celebration, would be a child play, if the plans being put in place by the College Management, the Alumni association and members of Ondo community towards the celebration, becomes a reality.