MY FIVE-YEAR NOTRE DAME JOURNEY, 1965 – 1969 Part 3

This is the 3rd of a six-part series from an article published in the 2019 Chicago anniversary brochure by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, North American Chapter – Part 2 here

By Mr. Pius Adebayo Omodara
National President (Emeritus)
and 1969 Senior Prefect

PART 3: OUR NOBLE TEACHERS 

            We were particularly lucky to have a set of hardworking and dedicated teachers who were anxious to see us become successful in our different callings. They baked us for higher education and in a crucible of morality for future leaders of the society. We therefore say emphatically that we owe our preset positions in life to their doggedness, Spartan discipline and sense of responsibility. For those of them who are still alive; we shall continue to hold them in high esteem.

 Among many other teachers, who played great role in our life, special mention will be made of the following:

(1)       Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Patrick Kelly– He was our first Principal, he taught us Latin and Religious knowledge. We used his books: My Faith Books I-III in forms I-III-May his soul rest in peace.

(2)       Rev. Fr. Patrick Flatley, He also taught us Latin and English Language. He was sound in the Catholic Liturgy. This white priest taught us Yoruba songs among which is: “Akara Lara Mi” which eventually became his acronym.

(3)       Rev. Fr. Benedict Adegoketaught us CRK and Latin. He was a very strict priest, very miserly with his marks which were hardly visible from the edge of the answer sheets where he usually put them.

(4)       There came the biggest of them all, Sir R. O. Afolalu (1965-1969), the first African Principal in the then Ondo Diocese. He brought a lot of innovations and different changes to the school. He introduced science subjects, employed many science teachers, notwithstanding the fact that he was a great historian. He was always with his koboko to instill discipline to the lazy, rude and rascally students. He was a principal the students loved with passion. He made many of us. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace – Amen.

(5&6).   Messr Bayo Ojo (now Engr. Ojo) and the Late Messr Anthony Akinola who are 

coincidentally ex-students of Notre Dame both taught us Mathematics and Additional Maths. They were the architects who built the few of us who are engineers today and the scientists among us.

(7)       Mr. Luke Ogundiranwas an embodiment of hard work and discipline. He was feared for his no-nonsense posture by many students. He handled our literature in English and Religious Studies. He was nicknamed Jehu.

(8).      Pa Ojo-Awa taught us English Language. Very articulate and fatherly. He taught us what life was all about. He would not spare any late comer or rascally students. He was always telling us how to become responsible in life. One of his common saying: “We accept the fact that you’re late, sugbon o tun wan yon”. To mention but a few.

(9)       In 1967, Mr. Akinpelu joined the staff of Notre Dame. He was our sports master. He also taught us English Language that year. He was eloquent, fluent and always neat. He brought life into his teaching so much so that we never wanted him to end his class period; he introduced phonetics to us, taught us how to behave and comport ourselves in social gathering. More interesting was the fact that he led us into knowing how to woo girls.

We had three science teachers who were expatriates. They are Mr. & Mrs. Smith who brought science subject to the school. We were opportuned to have this couple who laid the foundation of our science subjects. Posterity will always remember them for what they brought and taught in Notre Dame. Mr. Tofts was a young graduate who came from Britain to teach us Physics.He was instrumental to the approval of physics for the set after us.

Other teachers worthy of mention are: our baba, late Mr. Adebayo Jeje the man who taught us Yoruba. We all cherished his book: “Awon asa ati orisa ile Yoruba”, a book popular among Yoruba students throughout Western Region.

 Mr. Jaiyesimi came in when the school was in dire need of a chemistry teacher in order to get approval for the subject. Mr. Fayomi came in 1967 when we were in form III. He introduced physics to the school.

 Messrs Adaran, Dada were other science teachers who taught Biology with their Higher School Certificate. The last but by no means the least was Mr. Ogunmoroti who taught us Latin. Continue with Part 4