By Yemi Agagu (Ondo State Correspondent, in Akure)
Former students of Owo High School, Owo in Ondo State, South West, Nigeria, is set to launch an endowment fund for their alma mater.
The fund is being floated by 135 old boys and girls of the institution who are graduates of 1970 to 1974 sets over 50 years ago. The school was founded on January 18,1963 by the Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin.
According to a statement by the alumni students, Owo High School, Owo signed by Mr Wale Ogunkoya, the institution has a rich history of achievements with an enviable repertoire of accolades.
"It is one of the leading secondary schools not only in Owo and Ondo State but also in Nigeria as a whole. It has produced - and continues to produce - generations of achievers in all fields of human endeavours.
"The heroics of Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin, its Founder and Principal for over a decade (1963 - 1975), remain indelible in the sand of time.
"Pa Ajasin, one of the trusted right-hand lieutenants of the late sage, first Premier of Western Region and leader of the Yoruba, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, is credited as being one of the brains behind the revolutionary FREE EDUCATION PROGRAMME, a game-changer whose positive impacts on the life of generations in the South-west of Nigeria reverberate to this day.
"Pa Ajasin was also, between 1979 and 1983 the civilian governor of old Ondo state (now comprising Ondo and Ekiti states). He led the pro-democracy struggle against continued military dictatorship as the leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a struggle which gave birth to the democracy that we enjoy in Nigeria today.
"Pa Ajasin was principled, selfless and incorruptible. We are proud and feel highly honoured to have been under the tutelage of such a great mentor. Thus, as a refection of some of the lessons we learned from him, we have in diverse ways and on different occasions given back to our Alma mater.
"Now, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our passing out of the school, we have decided to do something novel and revolutionary: LAUNCH AN ENDOWMENT FUND FOR THE CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ALMA MATER.
"Saturday, 18 January, 2025 has been chosen for this epochal event. The launching will take place at the historic OWO TOWN HALL, OWO, where the momentous event of the public inauguration of the Action Group party of Chief Obafemi Awolowo took place on 28th April, 1951.
The prime facilitators of the event who are the board of trustees include Mr Bola Bolawole, a renowned veteran journalist and former editor and deputy Editor-in-chief of the Punch newspapers group and Mr Wale Ogunkoya. Others are: Omotayo Abu; Mr Eric Ijabiken; Abimbola Olanrewaju and Folasade Odejobi. NNL.