Sports and Socials in Adelowo's Era
Drama
In sports and drama, the school recorded huge successes and was in the limelight during
this time. Ahmed Olaoye revived the school drama group which later on brought glory
and honour to the school. The play his group staged during the installation ceremony of
the current Oloffa of Offa in 1971 so fascinated the then Kwara State Governor, Colonel
David Bamigboye that he awarded automatic scholarship to Olaoye to enable him study
in any Nigerian University of his choice. Among his popular plays were
- Ilé l’àbò sinmi oko
- Ìjàkadì l’orò Offa, etc, etc.
The plays were staged in many towns, and they received ovations everywhere.
Sports
The period between 1968 and 1973 was one of the finest for the school in sports. It was
during this time that names of boys and girls such as Ahmed Yahaya (Atinga Woma),
Ahmed Adio (Adique), Kareem Adeyemi (Kadoka), Margaret Ajiboye (Miler), Saliu
Ojibara (Stanley), Olomoda Ibrahim (High Jump), Raimi Omotosho (Volley Ball) ruled
the waves in Kwara State and other parts of Nigeria.
Mr SO Akande (who later became the Deputy Governor of Kogi State) was the Games
master during the period. The school participated in many Open atheletics Competitions
at Ilorin including inter-secondary schools Urling Smith's/Lady Amina’s Athletics
Competition.
Indeed some of the school athletes were presented by the Kwara State
Amateur Athletics Association for the all-Nigerian Open Athletics Competition in Lagos.
In particular the School 100 yards relay quartet (aka The Four Jets) including Kareem
Adeyemi, Ahmed Yahaya, Adisa Adio and Kareem Babatunde being the best in the state
represented Kwara State in the Lagos races. As individuals Adeyemi and Yahaya
represented the state at the Hussey Shield National Competition in Port Harcourt. Also
Biodun Omoniyi became a state athelete and took part in All-Nigerian Secondary Schools
Hussey Shield/Lady Manuwa Cup Athletics Competitions.
Ahmed Yahaya and Saliu
Ojibara were 2 outstanding football players that the school contributed to the highly
successful Kwara State team in the Adebajo Cup Competition in 1971.
Socials
In those days, no where else in the town apart from the Railway Station and its club, and the General
Hospital, could compete with the elegance, beauty and serenity of Offa Grammar School. Even till date, the
public continued to take advantage of the facilities on the School grounds and the good atmosphere for
social ceremonies.
For instance, it was at the Offa Grammar School that the installation ceremony of the current Oloffa of Offa
took place. Independent day celebrations and anniversary and other national programmes are held there.
Many football matches and a host of other activities took place there. The yearly inter-house cornpetitions
were crowd-pullers.
Mr Adelowo conso1idated and improved on the landscape of the school by the planting more flowers and
by ensuring the maintenance of the lawns and gardens.
Back to Adelowo Era
|
