• Olujimi: GCI is faculty with a distinction
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a newly renovated and absolutely outfitted Chemistry and Physics laboratories on the Government College, Ibadan (GCI).
The multi-million naira mission was donated by the Group Chief Executive Officer of Emadeb Energy Group, Mr Adebowale Olujimi, via the Emadeb Development Foundation, as a member of the Class of 1985.
Makinde minimize the tape and unveiled the commemorative plaque to formally open the amenities which run on a 24-kilovolt-ampere solar energy system to be used by college students and academics.
The faculty attended by many distinguished Nigerians is shut to 100 years outdated. Founded in 1929, the varsity was modeled alongside British public boarding colleges. Its former college students embody: Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka; former Oyo State Governor, Victor Olunloyo, former ambassador to Britain Christopher Kolade and lawyer and businessman Wale Babalakin, who chairs the outdated boys’ board of trustees.
Speaking on the ceremony, Olujimi stated returning to GCI after a few years evoked deep nostalgia, recalling his days on the hockey pitch and the 100-metre monitor shut to the laboratory block.
“This field was a hockey pitch. I used to love hockey and we used to run on this field, 100 metres. It was so beautiful,” he stated.
According to him, Government College Ibadan in his time might compete favourably with high colleges wherever on the earth.
Olujimi stated regardless of visiting a number of colleges throughout the nation, GCI stays distinct due to the sustained partnership between the Oyo State Government and the outdated boys affiliation.
“This particular school has enjoyed so much, especially from this partnership with the government of the state and the association led by its President, Dr Wale Babalakin. I have been to other schools and without mentioning names, Government College is one school with a difference,” he stated.
The vitality magnate stated outdated college students of the varsity are excelling globally, making giving again not simply fascinating however crucial.
“We have a huge set of people from this school who are in different fields all over the world. So in our own little way, we are giving back. I got engaged with the management of the school. We had a chat and we looked at what can be done,” he stated.
He counseled the Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association (GCIOBA) Worldwide, beneath Babalakin, for elevating billions of naira from particular person pockets to rebuild the varsity, citing interventions by Nigeria LNG, Aradel Holdings PLC and several other class units.
Olujimi disclosed that the selection of Chemistry and Physics laboratories was knowledgeable by the deplorable state of the amenities when he visited, a pointy distinction to the top-notch laboratories of his faculty days.
“When we came here, we saw what was obtainable in these two laboratories. That time, they were very, very top-notch, from any best school all around the world. I just felt like we can do better,” he stated.
He described the intervention as a place to begin forward of his set’s reunion, pledging sustained help via yearly stakeholders’ engagement.
“Even just looking at the pictures, it shows how things have changed. For someone like myself, I feel very happy. And this is a starting point. We are committed to yearly stakeholders’ engagement to give back and collaborate with the state,” he added.
Olujimi urged present college students to stay hopeful concerning the nation’s future.
“There is no country like Nigeria. We are so blessed. Those learning here have the future leaders among them. The future is so bright for Nigeria,” he stated.
The donation provides to the rising checklist of alumni interventions which have helped maintain educational requirements at Government College Ibadan beneath the collaborative administration mannequin that enables outdated college students to take part in working the varsity
