Education: Former SSG, Akin Olajide, Hands Over Two Schools to Oyo State Government

Afeez Bello,
Ibadan, Oyo State.

As part of his philanthropic efforts to contribute to the advancement of humanitarian causes, the former secretary to the Oyo State Government during Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s led administration, Alhaji AbdulWaheed Akin Olajide , has officially handed over his schools—Sankore College and Waheed Akin Olajide Basic Primary School—to the Oyo State Government on Monday, November 4, at Arulogun Ehin (now Arulogun 1), Ibadan.

Prior to this period, the residence of the area appealed to the veteran chartered accountant as a result of the arduous journey that the current secondary school students across the sixty villages under the community were experiencing to and fro. Meanwhile, the only government secondary school that is the closest to the area, which is situated at Olohunda Area.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Soliu Adelabu, who was represented by the Director of PR and S, Dr. Odekunle, maintained that“Many people were after what they would bring to their family and not what they would give back to the society. Giving this edifice to the government is a real religion irrespective of one’s faith. In this country, quite a number of people would have loved their children to be making millions through this kind of edifice, but it shows the personality of Olajide. May the lord continue to bless him. Some private schools cease to exist at the exit of their proprietors, and people would not know what befall all the assets. Olajide is doing this in his lifetime, which I congratulate him for. He has joined the leagues of public donors that have added value to the lives of the people.

Prof. Adelabu continued,”In a book written by Akin Olajide, titled “This Child Must Not Die, you are embodying the title in the lives of these innocent children that they must not die of knowledge. I sincerely congratulate you on behalf of the state government for this historic achievement. Almighty God will replenish your fortune tenfold. 

Adelabu advised the management to take proper care of the school and the children since children are like crude oil that need to be refined.”I strongly believe that the future of the school lies in the hands of the administrator of the schools. Be ready to sacrifice anything that will make the lives of the children better. 

Adelabu also charged the administrator of the schools to make the environment endearing to the students, transforming the school environments to agricultural land and introducing agriculture systems to the students.

Adelabu enjoined the students to learn from Olajide’s contribution to the growth and development of humanity and warned them not to be a destroyer of any facilities in the schools.”Always remember that Olajide founded this school, and you should come and add value to the school in the near future. The parents are significant in this regard and need to work hand in hand with the school management, such as advising the management and doing a little that you can use to assist the school, since there can be an immediate need from the school, although the government is not tired of providing all these, and there is a need for an association for the development of the school. He also urged the Baale of Arulogun to see the protection of the schools as a priority since he is the eyes of the government in the community.

Adelabu charged the school principal to constitute the school governing board. “Don’t hesitate to always state the schools’ needs to the ministry of education since the government will not give room for complacency. Ensure that Sankore College is one of the renowned schools in Oyo State. The founder request regarding the school governing board would be handled appropriately.

Adelabu assured the founder and the governing board of the school that the process of transferring staffers will soon commence, which will make the school more lively. 

In his welcome address, Mr. Bilyamin Bello, the principal of Sankore College, said,I’m highly delighted not only as a guest but as the pioneering principal of the school. I’m welcoming the representatives of the Oyo State Government. The school was established around 2009 at its temporary site, Agala Estate, Yemetu, Alaadorin, after recording excellent and brilliant performance by our students in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO). 

“The school was never a miracle center, because the founder of the school is a conscious Muslim, and it is embedded in the Qur’an and the Hadith that the quest for knowledge is mandatory for both males and females from the cradle down to the grave. Islam enjoins us to seek knowledge that is not restricted to Islamic knowledge alone. Prior to the handing over of the school to the government, the founder and proprietor of the school want excellent performances. My appointment as the principal of this school was ordained by God. Prior to my appointment, I was the Director of School Service in TESCOM. The founder and proprietor of the school employed members of staff irrespective of their religions. And I’ve assured the parents and the students to be calm that this is not a place where they will be indoctrinated. 

Bello continued,”I was truly happy that when I paid a visit to the Baale of Arulogun l discovered that he is an educationist, and he has been doing well for us. Recently, The Arulogun dynasty donated a chalkboard, inks, and a whiteboard to the school. Since my appointment, I’ve been receiving government officials giving us quality assurance. I met with the Commissioner for Education in the state, and I told him about the need to admit students across other classes since we have currently granted the authority to admit Junior Secondary School 1 students (JSS1) only. I want to implore our dignitaries in attendance to inspect the structures; we have more than enough facilities to cater to other classes if we were permitted”, he hinted. 

The Baale of Arulogun 1 & 2, Chief Yonbo Arulogun, highlighted that,“Since two years ago, we wrote to the government, implored, and used influence to facilitate Government Secondary School in this area, which will be very close to all the 60 villages that were under my jurisdiction, but all to no avail. I am the most delighted person at this official event”. 

Chief Arulogun hailed Olajide as one of the good sons of Arulogun. He emphasised that Arulogun has 3 different sets of children: biological children, those that Arulogun gave land to and who are paying tributes, and those that bought land from Arulogun and came to be developing it. He reiterated that Olajide belongs to the third category, whom he described as the true son of Arulogun. He has been cooperating with me in terms of security, electricity, and others.” Indeed, I’m excited on this occasion, but I expected it to be more elaborate than this because this is a groundbreaking event, and it ought to be massively celebrated. Sincerely, this structure is more substantial than that of the ones that the government is erecting with huge amounts and using millions of naira to commission. May our children achieve this kind of greatness, and may God give Akin Olajide sound health and long life. 

“I want to implore the government to grant permission to the school to admit other class students’ since they’re large in numbers across this area, especially the Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS2), in order to relieve the parents”, Arulogun appealed. 

While responding to some pertinent issues raised by some guests at the occasion, the founder and proprietor of the school, Alhaji AbdulWaheed Akin Olajide, commended all the representatives of government that graced the occasion. He noted that the government officials wanted to come and present the letter for him at his residence, but he was the one that declined and asked them to schedule the presentation at the school premises. “May God elevate all the civil servants. Why is this school named Sankore? Initially two members of the governing board of the school wanted it to be named after me, but I insisted on Sankore. This is because Western historians claimed that Africans had no history until the presence of the Europeans in Africa. Meanwhile, the role of Sankore University, Timbuktu, present-day Mali, in preserving African history cannot be underestimated. The institution recorded African history in Arabic, and this reproves the jingoistic and racial views of Westerners against African history. Kudos to Arabic scholars that recorded early African history. So all we know about Africa was from scholars from Sankore. So I chose Sankore to remind ourselves of the injustice that the westerners have done to Africans by giving us names meant for animals. One of my sons also asked me to name this school after my name, and I told him that the history I’m protecting is greater than Olajide; if there is anything to immortalise Olajide, let it be other sources in the future. That is why I retain Sankore. 

“God has rewarded our efforts at Sankore College. We have 11 students in our first set: 9 students bagged A1 in mathematics, while 5 students had A1 in Further Mathematics. One of the challenges we had was that our students placed a premium on science and mathematics.

Olajide continued,”Why do we want to hand over the school to the government? This is because this community needs assistance. We offered scholarships to some students who ought to be paying two hundred and fifty thousand naira per annum to be paying ten thousand/twenty thousand naira per annum. We will give them some materials, like books, out of the money, yet they could not afford it. And they’re brilliant; some of them got 80% in mathematics, science, etc. Anyone that has a conscience will not chase them away. I’m investing heavily in these schools every month. 

Olajide suggested to the government to let the school have a governing board, and he appealed to nominate 2 individuals for the governing board in order to ensure proper progress of the school. Let the governing boards be the people that can assist the school”. He encouraged the government to admit students to other classes such as JSS2, SSS1, and 2. 

Olajide also encouraged the Baale to be cautious about the security and protection of the school since the school is a standard school that needs protection. and hinted to him to take the schools as his own schools. “Sir, I humbly appeal to you: you need to be assisting the principal. 

Olajide commended the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adelabu, whom he described as a committed public servant; the Director of PR and S; and other notable officials in the education sector in the State. “I’m doing all these for the benefit of mankind,” he stated.

In attendance were Mr. Kunle Sani (personal assistant to Oyo State Deputy Governor), Mrs. Oloyede (deputy director, PR and S), Mrs. Fawole (deputy director, basic education), Alhaj Moshood Akintola, Mrs. Olabode A. (director, Basic Schools Department), Mrs. Busanu M. (L I E Lageulu Local Government), and Baale Arulogun. 
Chief Oyebade Oyepeju, Mr. Moshood Folabi Olajide, Mrs. Fawole, Mr. T. A. Mustapha, Mr. M. O. Omotayo, Mr. Raji, among several others.

Akin Olajide , Akin Olajide