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Offa Grams @ 70: Lessons in Vision By Suraj Oyewale
What do these men have in common: Oladele Olasore, David Jemibewon, Alani Akinrinade, and Isa Ayo Salami? Forthrightness and integrity? Yes. But to us old students of Offa Grammar School, Offa, Kwara state, they are few of the national icons our school has produced for the nation. Yet, to me, even more important than flaunting our eminent old boys are the lessons to be learnt from the establishment of this secondary school. Offa Grammar School wasn’t founded by missionaries as was the case with many schools of its generation, neither was it founded by government ; rather, it was the product of the efforts of some community elders, some of whom were even unlettered, and more interestingly, spread between Islam and Christianity. They were Alhaji Sanni Giwa, Alhaji Gbadamosi Ijaiya, Alhaji Aliu Olatinwo and Alhaji Bello Jatto, all unschooled but reputed to be the richest men in the community at the time, and supported by the Christians, namely, Mr John Oyediran, Mr J.A Oyeleke, Mr J.S Onawola, Mr Samuel Adesiyun, Mr. John Opaleke, and Mr. John Ogunwunmi, some of whom had some degree of education, particularly, Oyediran who was already a top officer in Methodist Boys High School, Lagos and had to come home to lend intellectual support to the community project. This was in the 1930’s, and the school finally took off in 1943. The foresight of these men was legendary and despite being hardly educated themselves they recognized the importance of education early and stopped at nothing to provide education, principally to their community. At a time when western education was feared by the Muslims due to the tendency to lose their children to Christianity in missionary founded schools, the early Offa Muslim moneybags knew their best insurance was to provide financial support to their equally determined and perhaps more exposed Christian kinsmen to establish a school that would be the face of the community, rather than that of any religion. Yet, they realized they needed the expertise of a missionary with experience in school management, hence the decision to bring on board Reverend R.N Ludlow, a Methodist missionary, to chair the inaugural governing board of the school. The vision of these men deserves commendation. They were rich enough to send their children to the MBHS or St. Gregory's or CMS schools in Lagos or even abroad at the time and leave the children of their kinsmen wallow in illiteracy with all its implications, but they decided to establish a school for the whole community. The school would later be the springboard of who is who, not only in Offa community, but its environs and beyond. Like every good deed that is surely bound to be rewarded by the ultimate Maker, these men would later sire generation of children that became shining lights in the nation. Pa Abraham Oyediran’s son, Professor A.B Oyediran, rose to become Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan and son-in-law to the venerable sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Alhaji Olatinwo’s children became accomplished in their chosen fields, from medicine to business to military, with one of them, Group Captain Salaudeen Latinwo, becoming the military governor of Kwara state 1984-85; the Ijaiyas today boast of not less than 3 professors; to mention but a few. More than filially reaping the fruits of their vision, the foresight of these founding fathers of our dear alma mater has also brought joy to the community at large. Offa today parades an intimidating array of high-flyers, thanks to early exposure to education. Although the founding fathers conceived a secondary school that will serve their community, the standard set made it attractive to non-Offa indigenes and students came from far and wide to enroll at the school. Sixteen year old Oladele Olasore came all the way from Iloko-Ijesa in present day Osun state far back 1951; Femi Olukanmi that would later become a top football administrator in Nigeria before his death few years back, came all the way from Ibadan in the then western region, now Oyo state to attend OGS; Isa Ayo Salami came all the way from Ganmo; Ibrahim Gambari (current emir of Ilorin) led the team of other pupils that came from Ilorin to school at OGS; while the likes of Hameed Adio (veteran sports journalist with NTA) came all the way from Jebba. Such was the attraction of Offa Gramms. Today, seventy years after, there is hardly any field of human endeavor that Offa Grammar School has no top product. If the history of banking in Nigeria is written today, late Oba Oladele Olasore, former CEO of First Bank, and Dr. Femi Adekanye, CEO of the defunct Commerce Bank, would occupy top spots - both of whom were old students of Offa Grammar School. So is Alhaji Aliyu Kola Belgore, current AMCON Chairman and former Director at Afribank, now Mainstreet Bank. Also in this sector, Akeem Oyewale, who at 21 was one the youngest persons to qualify as Chartered Accountants in Nigeria, at 27, one of the youngest CEO’s of any bank subsidiary (the largest asset management and stockbroking firm in Nigeria) and nominee for Nigerian young manager of year award by Thisday newspapers in 2007, and currently a Director of Equities brokerage at Standard Bank Group, proudly represents us . Late Alhaji Yinusa Oyeleke was also one of the earliest Chartered Accountants in Nigeria. It should be noted that Alhaji Oyeleke was the one who enlightened the young Akeem –then best final year student in OGS in golden anniversary celebrations in 1993 - on the difference between an Accountant and a Chartered Accountant, an advice that would turn out to be golden. Our products that opted for the military have not lagged behind as we have General Alani Akinrinade, former Chief of Army Staff; General David Jemibewon, former governor of old western state and later federal minister; Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye , erstwhile Chief of Naval Staff; Rear Admiral Tiamiyu Sanni; Air Commodore Bayo Lawal, former sports minister; Group Captain Salaudeen Latinwo, former military governor of old Kwara state. In politics and public service, Chief J.S Olawoyin was the leader of opposition in theS old northern parliament and frontline disciple of late Chief Awolowo; former presidential candidate, Chief John Dara; Chief Jimoh Shittu was the former deputy governor of old Kwara state; late Chief S.M Afolabi was former deputy of old Oyo state and later federal minister; Senator Ayantayo Ayandele; Senator Brimo Yusuf, the list is endless. Those that stayed in academia did not fare bad either: Professor M.O Oyawoye, one the first set of intakes in OGS in 1943, went ahead to become first professor of Geology in Africa; Professors A.B. Oyediran was a former VC at UI; Professors Suleiman Adeyemi and Musbau Akanji are respectively former and current VC’s of Federal University of Technology, Minna; Professor Jide Matanmi is a veteran don at Obafemi Awolowo University, etc. Also to OGS’ credit are Justice Ayo Isa Salami, former President of the Court of Appeal; late Justice Mahmud Babatunde Belgore, formerly of the Federal High Court; Justice Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, formerly of the Federal High Court and current emir of Ilorin; Justice Ajakaiye and many more. In business, Chief Emmanuel Adesoye of the Okin Biscuit and Adesoye College fame, leads the pack of alumni achievers, whose list I will not be able to reel out because of space constraint. As we roll out drums to celebrate our prestigious alma mater at 70, we must not forget to spare a thought for not only the visionary founders of our school but also for our teachers – men who worked their skin out to give us quality education. The history of OGS is indeed a classic idealization of its motto - labor omnia vincet (perseverance overcomes everything). Perseverance indeed has overcome every thorn in the path of its success. Offa Grammar School shall never perish.
Oyewale, an accountant with an independent oil and gas firm in Lagos, is former President of OGSOSA 2000 set |