The members of the 1998 set of St. Mark’s Commercial High School in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have held their annual reunion on Saturday, January 22, 2022 in the school, AMILOADED reports.
The reunion, which was the second of its kind by the ’98 set, had many of the old students in attendance with so much excitement to meet up again after a year or even longer.
The association according to the executive, is set up to keep members abreast of happenings in their lives and to empower themselves.
In her goodwill message, the principal of the school, Mrs. Mary Oni, who doubled as the chairperson of the occasion, appreciated God on behalf of the 1998 set. She said, “It has been a year and six months I was posted to this school.
When I got here, things were tough. With the advent of the present governor and the commissioner for education uniforms were changed, things became better.
Over time, the school has been improving on daily basis.” “I specially thank Hon. Ismaheel Lateef, for his presence at the last inter-house sports competition of the school and the financial support received on behalf of class 1998 set,” she added.
While speaking at the event, the President of Class 1998 Alumni Association of the school, Hon. Ismaheel Lateef, expressed his appreciation to all members for their presence and cooperation so far.
He said, “This is the second reunion as an association and we have been able to rebuild our childhood friendship, rendered quite a number of supports to our members and our alma mata.
We look up for more robust landmark achievements in the nearest future.”
On his part, the former male senior prefect of class 1998 set, Pastor Oluwabunmi Ajibade, said one of the reasons for the reunion is to help one another. Ajibade stated, “I am a member of an alumni association at the Obafemi Awolowo University.
On that platform, there was a case of someone with kidney failure and I was amazed when within the association, we were able to raise a sum of 13 million naira for the person to be flown abroad for treatment.
The operation was done successfully for the person, he returned to Nigeria thereafter and the money left unspent was sent into his account to set up his life.
That is what our association is meant for, to be available to help one another at any point of need, both sweet and sorrow. We want to see a situation where none of us is looking up to the other for petty needs.”
The event also featured distribution of awards of excellence to deserving members of the association for their efforts in strengthening the association. Otunba Hamzat Lukman received the award as the Most Outstanding Member for the Year 2021, while no fewer than nine other members of the association received awards as Most Active Members under different categories.
The chairman of project implementation committee of class 1998, Mr. Oluwadare Babatunde, presented a brand new moer grass-cutting machine to the school on behalf of the ’98.
Some of the special guests who graced the event include the National President of the parent alumni association of the school, Engr. Kolapo, management and staff of the school, and Alhaji Yunus Zakariyau.
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