At 65, Anwar-Ul Islam College (formerly Alhmadiyya College) in Agege, a Lagos suburb, has come a long way. But the school has gone through a lot in recent times. To restore its glory, its old boys are holding a gala nite and N100 million fundraiser in Lagos on Friday, reports Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon
Many first experienced boarding life at secondary school. Only a few went to boarding primary schools. So, for most of who entered Ahmadiyya College (now Anwar – Ul Islam College) in Agege, a Lagos suburb, in 1973, it was our first time of experiencing life outside our parents' homes. We came from different backgrounds and places. But one thing bound us together – our desire to learn. Being of tender ages helped us in easily becoming friends soon after meeting. It was as if we had known before entering the school. That bond is exists till today.
The class of 1973 remains a unique set because of the change in the nation's education calendar, which began that year. From a 12- month education calendar, the policy was changed to nine months. Thus, in 1973, because of this unique education calendar, another set of students was admitted into Form 1 in September after those admitted in January had advanced into Form 2, that is for those who passed the promotion exam.
For us starry-eyed boys, who entered 'Diyya College, as we fancifully called our school those days, it was education mixed with pranks. Because boys will always be boys, Ahmadiyya is a boys only school, we engaged in acts which we could only indulge in behind our parents. But to us, it was all part of growing up. As juniors , we met some traditions, which we were expected to follow or find ourselves in trouble if caught. In most instances, some of us broke away from these traditions and paid dearly for our actions.
It was in the era when Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi held sway as principal. A no-nonsense man, oga, as we called him behind his back, was fatherly and at the same time strict. He did not spare the rod as any pupil who ran foul of the law had him to contend with. Oga used a swagger-stick (he was the first man I would see with that) and it made no meaning to me and I believe to many of my contemporaries too then, why a man should be moving about with such a stick. Not that it served as a cane to aid him in walking. No, he just held it in his hand while walking. We watched in awe as he moved around with his stick, which also came handy whenever he wanted to cane us
And oga was adept at caning. Oga moulded us in character and learning. He was also a sportsman. Whenever we gathered on the pitch for games, he was always there to cheer us on. He would sit on his swagger-stick and watch us play football on our Olympic – size field or run on the well laid tracks. Where necessary, he would chip in one or two words before taking his leave. Whenever oga was around, everybody, including our teachers, behaved. Once he turned his back, we started our own thing.
It was a rich experience growing up in Ahmadiyya (I still find it difficult to reconcile myself with the name Anwar – Ul Islam), but I guess that's a name we've got to live with now whether we like it or not. The school was a training ground of sorts for us. As long as you knew what you were doing, you were allowed to come to your own. The most remarkable event in the school during our days was the celebration of the 25th anniversary in 1973. We were the Silver Jubilee pupils. The celebration came up barely four months after we entered the school.
It was celebrated with fanfare and widely covered by the media, especially the Daily Times, of which the late Alhaji Babatunde Jose was then Chairman/Managing Director. The late Jose was a leader of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam then and through his influence our stories and photographs made the front page of the then powerful Times. Today, 40 years after, we are rolling out the drums again to celebrate a great school. We have every cause to celebrate because not many schools that were founded at the same time with Ahmadiyya are still standing today.
Our school is still standing today by the grace of God, the one that we describe as ''the creator and the fashioner'' in our school anthem. At 65, our school cannot be described as a toddler. It has come a long way. Whatever many of us are today can be traced to that guided beginning in Agege, which in our days was a bush! At 65, our school can be likened to an old man, who needs the assistance of its offspring to survive. This school that nursed and nurtured us needs us at this critical moment of its life.
Many of the facilities that we used while in school have become dilapidated. They are begging for rehabilitation. On Sunday, May 5, the 1977/78 set took a tour of the school after its meeting there that day and what we saw brought tears to our eyes. We could not believe that this was the same school that we left some 36 years ago. In simple terms, our school needs assistance so that it can continue to be there for us to refer to in future.
What will we tell our children if they ask us which school did we attend? Do we tell them that our school is dead because that is what may happen if we, as old students, do not act fast to save our alma mater? The school has given us what it has, it is now time for us to pay back in the little way that we can so that the name Ahmadiyya will continue to reverberate across the country. Our 65th anniversary could not have come at a better time than when we are celebrating our boys' victory over King's College in the Heritage Cup final last May 31.
Football has always been synonymous with our school; so it is not a surprise that those behind us are keeping the flag flying. Our school can only keep on winning football trophies if it remains in existence. Like me, I know that as an old boy, you don't want the great 'Diyya to die. So, let us turn up in full force on Friday, June 21 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers for our Reunion and 65th Anniversary. The cards are already out and they can be obtained from the National Publicity Secretary of Anwar – Ul Islam College Old Students Association (ACAOSA), Alhaji Muftau Ottun. The cards are N25,000 for couple and N15,000, single.
Your presence at this event will go a long way in achieving the N100million target for rehabilitating our school. Let's come and support the Lawal Pedro (SAN) – led national executive in its mission to rebuild our alma mater. As the school motto goes : Aut Optimum Aut Nihil, meaning either the best or nothing. It is time to give Anwar – Ul Islam nothing but our best because the alternative is not a choice for us at all. Up School.
