Professor Goke Bodunde – NODACO National President

Bynodacoalum

ADDRESS BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, NOTRE DAME GRAMMAR SCHOOL, USI – EKITI ON THE OCCASION OF THE 56th FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATION HELD ON OCTOBER 8th, 2016

Your Excellency, Ekiti State Governor,
Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries,
Your Royal Highnesses,
Your Lordship, Catholic Bishop  Ekiti Diocese,
Chairman, Parents Teachers Association,
Principal, Notre Dame Grammar School,
Past Presidents of our Alumni Association,
Members of our National Executive,
All Alumni Members,
Current Students of Notre Dame Grammar School,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentle men,

Professor Goke BodundeTo God be the glory for the fulfillment of our assembling here today to once again celebrate our great Alma Mater, Notre Dame Grammar School, Usi Ekiti, a producer of many great men and women.  A lot of people who are sufficiently familiar with the school would probably wonder why we are celebrating this event in October rather than the traditional month of May, a few events of our recent past compelled us to have it so. Our optimism is however high that God willing, we will normalize the timing in 2017 and subsequent years.

It gladdens my heart that our school continues to make progress, not only in student enrolment but equally in excellence with regards to the SSCE results, information has it that over 80% of our candidates had credit and above in more than five subjects, including English and Mathematics, in the last released result. That truly reflects the Notre Dame of old. The school’s academic status remains enviable, it is a first choice of prospective admission seekers, to the extent that young boys and girls put themselves in the school even before the official placement is made. This display of preference for the school suggests that the administration and teachers of the are up and doing, I give kudos to them. Related to this is the recent recognition of the current Principal, Mr Egunjobi as among the best three principals in Ekiti state. I seize this opportunity to congratulate him on behalf of the Alumni Association and to remind him that getting to the top is much easier than remaining there.

The School has witnessed a good show of passion and concern from many alumni in recent times in improving vital infrastructure. Among such are;

  • Full renovation of a block of classrooms by Prof. Patrick Aina
  • Provision of modern toilet facility by Prof M. F. Alonge
  • Renovation of the Principal’s quarters by Deacon Richard Adeola
  • Renovation of the staff quarters by a youth corps member
  • Renovation of the block of laboratories by the 1980 set.
  • Reticulation of water supply/distribution in the school facilitated by the United States of America chapter of Alumni Association.
  • Establishment of an ICT center courtesy of Mr. Jide Adebulehin of PTDF, Abuja

These are worthy interventions no doubt but the fact remains that we still have many deserving areas of such intervention waiting forbattention in the school. I implore individuals and year sets or a combination of sets to show a renewed passion in this regard. A long list of needs waiting for intervention is available with the school principal for all of us to key in.

Our tradition of giving recognition to our shining stars is still sustained, thus this year, ten individuals drawn from the alumni, as well as past and present teachers will be so recognized. I congratulate them and I am asking them to see this as a call for more commitment to the interest of the school. Each awardee of today should please reciprocate the love the school has for them with something to advance the development of the school.

Today, we are privileged to have one of our own who has put together vital details of the first 25 years of our alma mater in a book form. We congratulate Anthony Olusola Adetoye for this feat. I am particularly elated that this is coming from my graduating set of 73. All alumni and indeed present and future students of this school should be interested in having this book that tells it all on the formative years of our great alma mater.

I wish to register the appreciation of the association for the giant strides being made by the United States of America chapter, a chapter that has in no small measure, amplified the visibility of Notre Dame School outside the Nigerian shore. The chapter has been a challenge to the parent body in terms of commitment, nothing threatens their annual re-union in contrast to our usual experience at home.

We are at a point when we need to review the sustainability of our annual Founder’s Day celebration in terms of sponsorship, the golden jubilee concept does not seem to support our purpose in view of our recent experiences. We may have to revisit this soonest.

 

At this forum today, I implore all year sets present to indicate a representative for each set who can relate frequently with the central executive for proper coordination of our activities.

 

I commend our re-union planning committee under the coordination of a worthy alumnus, former senior prefect and former principal of the school, Mr. Maurice Ebun Ogundana who has meritoriously discharged this responsibility for many consecutive years. I commend the efforts of the coordinator of the host set of 66/70, Prof Faluyi, he had a taste of what it takes to drive people for this purpose, your personal efforts are appreciated sir.

To our young ones, the current students of this school, the sky is lower than your limits, you will be high flyers if you key into the opportunities provided by this school which I understand is rated the best in Ido Osi local government and no doubt one of Ekiti’s best. If with less opportunities the school produced the great men and women assembled here today, your generation with so much opportunities does not have any reason to fail. I wish you very great heights in future.

To all our friends and well wishers rejoicing with us here today, I welcome you and I wish you enjoy yourselves while the event lasts.