Aquinas College Akure @ 60

The Bishop Thomas Hughes Tower and administrative building of Aquinas College, Akure

My alma mater Aquinas College, Akure celebrated her 60th anniversary during the weekend. It was my first time back since 2007 and I took time to go round the school reminiscing the good old days (isn't that a cliche?) when I thought the world only revolved around the four corners of the school. 

Prof O.S Adegoke

Oluwafeyisola Adegoke, a professor of geology and Nigerian National Merit Award winner (1987) took students, staff and old students down memory lane. In a lecture delivered at the occasion, Adegoke told of how he came to enroll as a student in the 1952 set of the school founded by the Roman Catholic Mission a year earlier on a piece of wild land called Igboliki that was donated by the Deji of Akure, Oba Adesida. Adegoke said the thick forest that had been used by the Akure community for the sacrifice of outcasts and twins became the foundation for him and many other young men (including my humble self, seriously) who have now become important people in society. The eminent geologist encouraged the staff members to continue to put in their best in the training of the young boys passing through the school as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

Old students at the event (I'm in there somewhere)

A dinner and launching was held to raise funds at the Alumni Hall. It was graced by Ondo Catholic Bishop Most Reverend Jude Arogundade as well as by representatives of the Deji of Akure. The old students held a thanksgiving service at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church on Sunday led by their president Engineer J.R Olusoga. A former student Monsignor Sylvester Adekoya of the Ijebu Ode Catholic Diocese blessed the thanksgiving service.

Monsignor Adekoya giving the blessings during thanksgiving

As part of the four-day events that marked the celebrations, inter-school debates were held as well as football matches between different schools. The buildings in the school were renamed after many of the old students and pioneering staff including founding principal Reverend John Keaveney, Francis MacGovern, Peter Kelly, Michael Evan, first Nigerian principal Ade Iluyemi, Enock Dare, Michael Ibikunle and the late Emmanuel Babalola. On Friday night, rising hip hop singer Ojoro, who is an old boy of the school (he was my class captain in third year), performed to the delight of all at the Rev’d O’Shea Library.