The Olabisi Onabanjo University Staff School hitherto housed at the Mini Campus of the University has been moved to its newly constructed blocks of classrooms on the school permanent site located along the Main Campus road in Ago-Iwoye, courtesy of the Management Board of the school, under the leadership of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. (Mrs.) Ebun Oduwole.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde who commissioned the new buildings consisting of blocks of classrooms with adjoining offices for school headteacher and other staff members was supported by other members of the University Management, Provosts and Deans of Colleges and Faculties, Heads of Units in the University, some benefactors of the School, religious leaders and other distinguished members of the University community.
Delivering her speech, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Administration), and the Chairperson of the School Management Board, Prof. (Mrs) Ebun Oduwole could not hide her feelings in appreciating all stakeholders that had contributed in one way or the other towards making the dream of moving the 33 years old school to its permanent site. She, particularly, on behalf of the School Management Board, expressed her profound gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for not only providing good leadership and direction but also for lending limitless support and yielding to the Board requests at all times as the Proprietor of the school. She noted that the Vice-Chancellor’s financial and material donations towards the construction of the blocks of classrooms were unquantifiable and commendable.
Prof. (Mrs) Oduwole, thereafter, thanked most sincerely all the benefactors of the School since inception including other Management staff of the University for their immense contributions and personal donations both materially and financially. Speaking further, the Board Chairperson stated that “the donation of the new Gate House with a worth of a million naira by the family of Late Revd. Dr. Olukoya in honour of the deceased, was not only worthy of emulation but commendable as the beautiful edifice added to the security value of the institution.
While describing the historic movement of the staff school to its permanent site as the height of the present Board’s modest achievements, Prof. (Mrs) Oduwole highlighted some of the feats recorded so far to include ensuring stability in the school, regular payment of salaries, staff employment to fill vacant positions, payment of four years arrears and bonuses, adoption of cashless policy and regular attendance at seminar/workshop to update staff knowledge among others. She added that upgrading of the school ICT by purchasing computers, and installing internet facilities were also part of the Board’s modest achievements.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde who felt highly honoured for being part of the epoch-making event, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Chairperson and other members of the School Management Board, the donor family, staff, parents, past managers of the school, and other stakeholders for their selflessness and commitment to excellence. He acknowledged the efforts of all concerned towards making sure that the temporary locations of the Staff School in the past became history. In his words, “I feel highly honoured to be part of the gathering today in line with the vision of moving our pupils to this permanent site.
I also appreciate all who have contributed to the development of the school right from inception, past chairmen of the Board, members of staff, pioneer teachers, Parents Teachers Association (PTA), University staff, and all those who had contributed to the running of the school efficiently”. Speaking further, he gratefully acknowledged the family of Revd. Dr. Olukoya for donating the Gate House to the school. While promising to continue to support the school, the University helmsman announced the sum of one million naira on behalf of the management for immediate commencement of the construction of another block of classrooms for the school. He enjoined every stakeholder in the school to continue to raise the flag of excellence high in the interest of the pupils whom he described as the future of the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the headteacher of the school, Mr. Odeyemi who thanked all in-attendance appreciated the Vice-Chancellor and other Management staff of the University for their unflinching supports towards the realisation of the enviable projects being commissioned. He stated that the Management Board of the school had been wonderful in the discharge of its statutory roles towards the development of the staff school adding that the leadership style of the Chairperson of the Management Board was not only participatory but unparalleled in terms of being result-oriented. The headteacher concluded his address by extolling the virtues of the Vice-Chancellor whom he said had been a pillar of support to the school in all ramifications.
Meanwhile, the proceedings at the event took a dramatic turn when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olatunde galvanized all in-attendance including other Principal Officers of the University, Provosts and Deans, Directors, other Heads of Units, Parents and Teachers, and other guests at the event to donate more funds for the further development of the school. In the end, the Vice-Chancellor’s action yielded handsome donations of a whooping sum of money and tangible building materials like blocks and bags of cement to support further projects in the school.
Highlight of the event was the commissioning of the new blocks of classrooms for the use of staff and pupils of the school by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde supported by other dignitaries at the event including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Academic), Prof. Deji Agboola, University Registrar, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju, University Librarian, Dr. Adebambo Oduwole, other distinguished guests including religious leaders, and University functionaries.
