….Old Students Charged to Give Back

By Adesina Wahab

Former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and his classmates on Sunday marked the 70th anniversary of their admission into Methodist Boys’ High School, Lagos, with speakers reminiscing on old memories and urging alumni to give back to their alma mater.

The President of the 1956/1960 set, Mr. Apinni Gbolahan Odeinde, in his welcome address, thanked God for keeping members of the set alive to witness the milestone.

According to him, the set fondly referred to itself as the “Liberation Set,” noting that their admission coincided with a historic period when colonial authorities handed over administrative control of the regions to Nigerian premiers.

“We called ourselves the Liberation Set because it was when we were admitted into the school that the colonial masters gave the regions the go-ahead to be administered by our own people,” he said. “Significantly, the year we left school, 1960, was also the year Nigeria gained independence.”

Odeinde expressed gratitude that members of the set, now in their 80s, were still alive to celebrate the occasion. He also acknowledged the contributions of past set leaders, including the late Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, and prayed that members would live to mark 70 years since leaving the school.

In his remarks, Osoba recalled that 55 students were admitted into the school in February 1955, out of whom 19 are still alive.

“We truly have cause to thank God for sparing our lives to witness this great occasion,” he said. “A lot has happened while we were in school and even after. Despite our age, 19 of us are still alive today. That is by grace.”

He also recalled that among their classmates was the late Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, whose wife, Chief Tinu Gbadamosi, attended the event and later became a chemistry teacher at the school.

Osoba listed other notable members of the set to include a former Chief of Air Staff, the late Air Vice Marshal Nureni Yusuf; the late Admiral Elegbede; and a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief Ogunleye.

He urged old students to remain mindful of the need to give back to their alma mater, stressing the importance of supporting the institution that shaped their lives.

The event was attended by the Vice Principal of the school, Mr. Felix Omoh, who represented the principal. Wives of the old boys were also present, while participants used the occasion to celebrate Odeinde, who recently marked his 85th birthday.