Sufuyan Ojeifo
Fourteen years separated them. One belongs to the Class of 1971, the opposite to the Class of 1985. Yet their particular person journeys discover anchorage in a standard, strategic academic trajectory: Government College Ibadan.
Nigerian businessman, lawyer, philanthropist and Chairman of the Bi-Courtney Group of Companies, Dr. Bolanle Olawale Babalakin, proudly wears the badge of the Class of ’71. Today, as President of the Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association, GCIOBA, he leads an formidable dream — to remodel GCI into Nigeria’s greatest secondary college in infrastructure and educational excellence. Dr. Babalakin’s imprimatur is obvious in so lots of the tasks which can be telling a phenomenal story of how alumni can add worth to their alma mater.
At the guts of that dream is the GCIOBA Educational Foundation, which is driving a N15 billion transformation fund that’s step by step crystallising. Babalakin has been relentless, reaching out to trade captains, enterprise house owners and famend teachers amongst outdated boys to hitch arms in rebuilding their college.
One of these he reached out to is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Emadeb Energy, Mr. Adebowale Olujimi, a proud member of the Class of ’85.
Both males, like many different outdated boys, are imbued with a deep spirit of philanthropy that fires their firms’ company social duty.
On October 17, 2026, that spirit was on full show. The GCIOBA held its annual reunion and basic assembly on the college premises. Attendance was huge. Dr. Babalakin was in his elemental greatest as he presided over the Annual General Meeting. The gathering started with nostalgia and ended with resolve: all arms should be on deck now that GCIOBA has taken over the operating of the college from authorities. The Association thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for the chance to develop, handle and function “our school.”
Old boys from way back to 1958 by means of the 60s, 70s, 80s to current units had been current, united by one emotion — nostalgia driving ardour and dedication to their alma mater.
Mr. Olujimi typifies that sentimental attachment.
After being reached by Dr. Babalakin, he and his spouse, Mrs. Olugbesoye Olujimi — a phenomenal, good Executive Director at Emadeb Energy Group — visited the college a few 12 months in the past to evaluate what was on floor. Providentially, they met the principal on a weekend when he was alleged to be on a visit exterior Ibadan. He had stepped out however forgot one thing and returned to choose it up. That likelihood encounter led to a fast tour of the college and a choice that might change its science training story: to renovate and totally equip the Chemistry and Physics laboratories.
Multimillion naira was invested within the challenge. But as Mrs. Uduak Ugbodaga, Head of Human Resources at Emadeb Energy Group who immediately supervises the CSR and philanthropic arm, Emadeb Development Foundation, famous, the funding ought to be appreciated not in naira and kobo however in worth addition to studying and pupil growth.
Governor Seyi Makinde himself was available to inaugurate the Olujimi challenge alongside 4 different tasks executed by outdated boys.
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 near 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 recalled.
According to him, Government College Ibadan in his time may compete favourably with high colleges anyplace on this planet.
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 famous that GCI outdated boys 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 recommended GCIOBA Worldwide underneath Dr. Babalakin for elevating billions of naira from particular person pockets to rebuild the college, 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 services when he visited — a pointy distinction to the top-notch laboratories of his college 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 solely a place to begin, forward of his set’s reunion, pledging sustained help by means of 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.
He urged present college students to stay hopeful.
“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 Emadeb intervention provides to a rising record of alumni tasks which have helped maintain educational requirements at Government College Ibadan underneath the collaborative administration mannequin that enables outdated college students to take part in operating their college. It is a mannequin the place Babalakin gives the visionary management and Olujimi gives a shining exemplar of tips on how to comply with — proving that the truest measure of success shouldn’t be what you construct for your self, however what you rebuild for these coming behind you.
■ Ojeifo is a journalist and writer
