By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The Old Grammarians Society (OGS), CMS Grammar School, Bariga, has launched a 40,000 litres of water processing plant worth eleven million naira as part of celebrations to mark its 164th Founder’s Day.
The event, hosted by the 1993 set, took place at the Rev. B.A Adelaja Hall on Tuesday and had as its theme “Looking up by faith, we see”.
The weeklong event had activities such as Lectures, Career Talk, Speech/Prize Giving Day, Novelty Match, Founder’s Day Service, Commissioning of School Projects, Luncheon and Students Feast.
Mr Olu Vincent, President of OGS, in his address declared that his administration achieved some modest successes which impacted on the performance of students of the school founded on June 6, 1859.
Vincent said that with the completed Sen. Gbenga Ashafa E-Resource Library and laying of the Optic fibre in the school, students would be better armed with materials and opportunities for excellence.
According to him, the Solar Power Project is about 50 per cent completion as well as that of Computerisation Project.
“We will require more support of Old Boys on these schemes.
“These are projects undertaken by the OGS UK, Europe and Americas; in the last four years, my greatest concern was to ensure that we build this and lay a sustainable working environment for the greatness of OGS.
“I’m thanking God Almighty for these achievements and I appreciate members who gave me hope for leadership and massive votes for my second term in office,” he added.
The OGS President who also called for amendment of its constitution, said there was need to accelerate and complete the process which would be required for the legal backing of processes in place.
“Accounting processes, we have requested and obtained management report from the Auditor and presented to Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting to improve our processes, a legacy that we must maintain.
“Also, unveiling of OGS website, working relationship with proprietors of the school, effective communication with sets, chapters and branches as power must devolve to these various units.
“This is one of the cardinal objectives of the society, where the welfare of the boys can easily be addressed.
“Restoration of confidence in the leadership of CEC which can be evaluated with the multimillionaire naira projects in the school,” he added.
Speaking, Dr Dipo Arigbede, Chairman, Founder’s Day Committee 2023, described the event as a day where OGS celebrates the establishment of the school.
“We are here globally to celebrate our Founder’s Day being June 6, 1859”.
According to him, the commissioning of ICT Centre, Staff Room and project on Landscaping, including lots of laudable things going on in CMS Grammar School courtesy of OGS made the 164th Founder’s Day a significant one.
“We will continue to sustain the tempo of our support as long as CMS Grammar School remains because this is an annual event that the OGS looks forward to and prepares to improve on records,” he added.
Also, the Right Rev. Dr. James Odedeji, Chairman, Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Foundation, the Lord Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, during his sermon said it was important to observe anniversaries because they are ways to acknowledge what God had done.
Odedeji, represented by Ven. Victor Alausa, who said that celebrating was scriptural, made reference to Genesis 40 Verse 20, added that CMS Grammar School, the first secondary school in Nigeria, had numerous reasons to thank God.
“God is indeed good to CMS Grammar School, from the Revd. Thomas Macaulay, Founder and first Principal of the school through generations, God has used them mightily and continued to raise leaders to pilot affairs.
“We indeed have reasons to give thanks to God. He has been faithful and will continue.
“These are the basis of our anniversary; we need to acknowledge God because it is the Lord’s doing and marvelous in our sight since inception,” he added.
Also, the Revd. Jacob Ogunyinka, Principal of CMS Grammar School, commended the 1993 celebrating set and affirmed that the forms of support extended to the school by the OGS could not be overemphasised.
Ogunyinka noted that sets upon sets had been making efforts toward physical reconstruction, rehabilitation, renovations and restoration of projects in the school.
He prayed that the good Lord would continue to bless them beyond measures.
NAN reports that the event which had members of OGS from across the nation and those in diaspora, also had activities to recognise and present awards to Elder Grammarians celebrating 60 years of graduating from the school.