OGSA Celebrates 73rd Founder's Day Anniversary in Grand Style

 

The Global President of the Oyemekun Grammar School Akure Alumni Association, Dr. Adeniyi Ijogun, has stated that the institution's founding fathers planted ideals of discipline, excellence, service, character, faith, and community when they established the school. He made this remark during the 73rd Founder's Day Anniversary Lecture of the school in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Dr. Ijogun noted that the legacy of the institution lives on through the confidence of its students, the dedication of its teachers, the pride of its alumni, and the trust of parents and the wider society. He emphasized that the OGSA Alumni Association is committed to giving back to the school through mentorship, infrastructure support, scholarships, advocacy, and engagement.

The Global President urged students to wear the name OGSA with confidence and to live out the values they are being taught. In his words: "To our dear students, the leaders of tomorrow. You are the current custodians of a great name, OGSA. Long after today’s ceremony, long after the applause fades, what will matter is how you live out the values you are being taught here. Please, continue to wear the name of OGSA with pride. Let your conduct speak louder than your certificates." He also appreciated the school management, staff, and parents, saying their efforts ensure that standards remain high and values remain intact.

The Founder's Day Anniversary featured a formal unveiling of a commemorative compendium titled: The Legacy, which chronicles the activities and giant strides of the 10th Global Executive Council. Describing the compendium, Ijogun noted: "The Legacy is more than a book. It is a mirror of our past, a record of our present, and a bridge to our future. Within these pages are memories of classrooms and corridors, of discipline and dreams, of friendships forged and values instilled. Each name, each photograph, and each story is a reminder that this institution did not just educate us; it shaped us."

Dr. Ijogun commended the editorial committee, contributors, and sponsors of the compendium, stating that their achievement is proof that when alumni unite with purpose, the results are remarkable. He challenged alumni to ask themselves what story future editions of the compendium will tell about them, and whether they will have actively given back, lifted others, and strengthened the institution.

Ijogun appreciated the school's old students for their unflinching support for the Global Executive Council, describing the alumni as a progressive body: "Wherever we are found, we carry a piece of this school with us. Be reminded that OGSA Alumni is more than an Association, not merely a social body. It is a bridge between generations, between past and future. It represents continuity. It ensures that the values we received are not diluted with time, but strengthened through action. Through mentorship, infrastructure support, scholarships, advocacy, and engagement, OGSA Alumni Association remains committed to giving back, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude."

The anniversary featured a lecture titled: "OYEMEKUN GRAMMAR SCHOOL AKURE: THE LEGACY CONTINUES. THEY WERE HERE, WE WERE HERE, YOU ARE HERE NOW, WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER THAN EVER," delivered by an erudite scholar, Professor Femi Adu of the Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure. The guest lecturer, who dressed in green and white colors, the colors of the school's uniform, reminisced on his days as a student in the institution.

Delivering the 73rd Founders’ Day Anniversary Lecture, Adu traced the journey of the school from its founding to its present status, highlighting continuity, excellence, and service as the pillars of the institution’s enduring glory.

He urged the alumni and current students to see themselves as active custodians of a legacy that must be consciously sustained and improved upon. According to him, “Legacy is strengthened when each generation deliberately adds value, not when it merely celebrates history.” He stressed the relevance of strong alumni networks in promoting mentorship, national and international development.

Also speaking, the Principal of the Oyemekun Grammar School, Mr. Oluyide Adeniyi, commended the alumni body for its concerted efforts and consistent contributions to the growth of the school. “We are deeply encouraged by the strength and unity of our alumni,” the principal added.

The Global Deputy President-Elect of the association, Elder Femi Olabimtan, lauded the accomplishments of the outgoing 10th Global Executive Council led by Dr. Niyi Ijogun, and stressed the need for continued collaboration among alumni, school management and students to advance the cause of educational excellence and institutional development.

Speaking on the association's enduring value, Olabimtan said the incoming 11th Global Executive Council would build on the achievements recorded, foster strong ties and leverage the alumni global network to contribute meaningfully to the growth of both the association and the institution.

Giving the vote of thanks at the event, Comrade Rotimi Boboye, Esq, the Global General Secretary of the body, appreciated all stakeholders present, including the chairman of the occasion, Chief (Dr.) Michael Ojo, the Managing Director of Mao Hospital, Akure, who is also an alumnus of 'the Only School'.

The celebration, held within the school premises, attracted alumni across different sets, educational stakeholders, school administrators, students, parents, and invited guests, who gathered to celebrate the school’s rich legacy and reaffirm collective responsibility towards its glorious future.