The 1968/1972 set of Ilesa Grammar School old students has renovated a block of 12 classrooms in the 78-year-old institution.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, an old student of the school, commended the initiative, saying he would encourage his set –1966-1970 – to emulate the gesture of the 1968-1972 set.
Adewole, who was the chairman of the occasion, urged old students to help their alma mater in areas of need.
Spokesperson for the set, Mr. Bosun Falore, said the gesture was in commemoration of the 1968-1972 set 40th anniversary graduation from the school.
He said, "In January 1968, some 180 young boys and girls after competitive examination and interview, signed their paths of destiny to have a very sound secondary school education in this great school of the titans.
"Our members thought that in the present solemn state that our nation has found itself, it would be ideal that we appreciate the Almighty God for his benevolence on us by giving back a little to our society and especially the school where our foundation was laid."
Explaining that government alone could not adequately fund education, Falore urged the old students to support the school at all times.
Principal of the school, Rev. D. O. Oke, urged various sets of the school to emulate the 1968-1972 set even as he recalled that some other sets had embarked on renovations in the school.
Oke said, "A block of six classrooms was built by an old student, Chief Odogwu, for the school. Also, the school's main library was built by a set of old students. The science laboratories were renovated by another set of old students while the oldest building in the compound was renovated by yet another set."
