From Agboola Fesobi
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It was a gathering of dignitaries, captains of industry, academia who have carved a niche in their various fields of endeavour from all walks of life, as the old students of Sacred Heart Seminary, Akure, met to celebrate the school’s 62nd anniversary of their alma mater.
This, according to them, was done in consideration of the many impacts the school have on whatever they have become in life.
The programme was organised by the old students association of the school led by their President, Mr Dominic Alade Dominic, at the school’s compound on July 26, 2023 in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The maiden annual lecture, first of its kind in the history of any secondary school in Nigeria, themed; “Working a new relationship among members-A Recipe For A Strong Alumni Association”, was delivered by the renowned human rights lawyer who was the Guest Speaker, Mr Femi Falana, SAN.
The legal icon appreciated the entire executives for the event which according to him, provided the platform with the rare opportunity to meet with many of its former colleagues after a long time.
“When the school was founded in 1961, there were only four indigenous priests in the then Ondo Catholic Diocese. They were; Rev Fathers; Anthony Oguntuyi, Charles Sanni, John Akinwale and Paul Omole.
“It was a case of ‘the harvest was plenty while the labourers were few’, but through the dedication and perseverance of the management and the commitment of the students, the school has succeeded in producing many priests.
The human rights activists urged members of the association to be worthy ambassadors of their alma mater, promote the interest of its members, protect the students and contribute to the development of the school.
The Rector of the school, Rev Fr. Leo Aregbesola, in his welcome address, said the event was iconic, basically because “they taught us how to appreciate the numerous gifts God has endowed us with, firstly the fund raising for the alumni project is your way of expressing an appreciation to the school.
“The stage where your future was formed and launched, this is you giving back to your alma mater and wanting to make it a better place for young ones who are there presently”, he said.
The President of the association, Mr Dominic Alade Dominic, in his opening speech, said “sixty- two years ago, a seed was sown in the city of Akure, the capital of Ondo state, to cater for the academic, moral and spiritual needs of the young children who later grew to become responsible adults in the society.
According to him, Sacred heart minor seminary is not just any secondary school, but a special school for a specific mission dedicated for the training of younger generation who their hope would become responsible adults in their different fields of endeavors.
He appealed to every member of the alumni, to give back to the institution that has laid a very solid foundation for whatever they are today, and that which they would become years later.
In his welcome address, the Proprietor and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Rev Jude Arogundade, appreciated the impact the old students association has made so far towards the development of the school.
He said the school has become a training ground in character and dignity for generation unborn.
