PRINCIPAL'S PROGRESS REPORT
DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE
DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY (1943 - 2003) OF OFFA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
BEING COMMEMORATED BY THE OFFA GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION ON SATURDAY, 15TH FEBRUARY 2003.

The National President,
Members of the National Executive,
Members of the Board of Trustees,
Eminent Old Students,
Distinguished invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am highly excited, elated and indeed overwhelmed to have the special grace of God to witness this epoch making event of Offa Grammar school Diamond Anniversary. The muster seed sowed by the founding fathers of this Great institution on 13th February 1943 has metamophosised into this giant oak tree that now bestride the education of Offa, Kwara and indeed Nigeria like a giant. The school came into existence during the reign of Late Oba Wuraola Isioye and under the umbrella of the Offa Descendants Union.

Those major actors whom God made use of to translate the dream of the Offa Community into reality included Mr. J.A. Oyeleke, Mr J. O.S. Onawola, Mr. John oyediran, Alhaji Sanni Giwa Ilasanmi; Alhaji Gbadamosi Ijaya, Mr Samuel Adesiyun, Alhaji Bello Jatto, Mr. John Opaleke Alhaji Aliu Latinwo, Mr. David Ogunwumi, Pa J.M. Olafimihan and that Methodist Missionary, Rev. R. N. Ludlow. All of them are of blessed Memories. But their sacrifice, determination, vision and conviction of that day had paid off in transforming the lives of many children of Offa, her immediate surrounding towns and indeed the whole nation. God indeed is wonderful and marvelous and will always reward all people of good intentions. That is why many of the children, and grand children of these founding fathers had had the opportunity of sound education in Offa Grammar School. That was the occasion that the people of Offa manifested their love for community effort whereby each and everybody came together to volunteer their God given talents for the common noble cause. The educated ones contributed their knowledge, the rich donated generously regardless of religious leanings.

Offa people also demonstrated their ever readiness to accommodate people from other towns and tribes by the Liberal Admission Policies of the school. Offa Grammar School, being the Oldest Community Secondary School in the whole of the former Northern Region, had the opportunity of determining the student admission without interference from the them Northern Regional Government. The wisdom of our forefathers had paid off so that the Old Students Association is made up of men and women of substance from all the four comers of Nigeria who now see Offa as their second homes.

Indeed To God be the Glory!

When in December 1993 I was called upon to occupy the exalted seat of the Principal of this premier and famous Secondary School, I was filled with trepidation when I consider my inadequacies vis-à-vis the responsibilities I was called upon to shoulder. Reading the profile of eminent, dedicated, conscientious, devoted, committed and God fearing personalities that had had the opportunities of occupying this chair, such as Late Pa J.A. Osanyin, Pa I.A. Adelowo, Mr.W.O. Nasiru and Alhaji Kanmi Arowosaiye, I could not but tremble with apprehension considering my own capabilities. The challenge thrown at me by Oba Oladele Olashore the Ajagbusi Ekun of Iloko Ijesha and the then National President of OGSOSA during the Annual Conference of 1995 had always been haunting me. He said to me "Look young man, you have been appointed the Principal of our school by the community. I congratulate you. Go and read the Fifty Year Review of Offa Grammar School produced during the 50th Anniversary of the school. You will read our assessments of the past principals of this great school, choose whom you want to emulate and I wish you all the best. If we find out that you are the type we can do business with, you will get all our support."

You will agree with me that this statement coming from such a high quarter were words of encouragement fraught with unspoken threats. But we are all living witnesses to the Journey so far. To God be the Glory.

Each time I have the opportunity and honour of addressing the Eminent Old Students of our great institution, Offa Grammar School, I cannot but marvel at the caliber of people that have gone through the four walls of this school. That we have the cream of the society made up of people who have excelled in their chosen careers gathered here today is a testimony to the quality of education you had all acquired while in Offa Grammar School.

There is a feature that is peculiar and unique to the Offa Grammar School Old Students Association. Yours is not the only institution with Old Students Association, but yours stand out from the crowd. Your Association is not only interested in meeting, winning and dinning together as old friends and making connections for personal gains for contacts, contracts and job placements, you are, so keen about the welfare and well being of the present generation of students and those yet to enter the institution. You are concerned about the physical environment, the infrastructural facilities, and the teaching materials that will facilitate teaching/ learning processes in the school. This can be better appreciated when one realises that you don't just use your connections or positions to do these things but you tax each other from your hard earned personal monies regardless of the prevailing economic circumstances in the country. This type of voluntary donation with no strings attached is the most rewarding. We have no doubt in our minds that God will reward all of you abundantly for your kindness and the prayers of these innocent children who are beneficiaries of your donations will continue to be on you and your House holds. Amen.

DISCIPLINE:

We hold discipline so sacred in this institution because of our conviction that nothing can be achieved without self discipline. Discipline could be defined as the ability of the individual to adjust and comport himself in a manner acceptable to the norms in a given society. Maintaining discipline in the Secondary School system is of greatest importance because this is the stage when these pupils are at the most impressionable ages in their lives. This is the adolescent period when they are no longer children and could not be called adults.

This institution is well known for our uncompromising attitude in matter of discipline. Many of you are what you are today because of the type of culture of discipline that you imbibed while you were in the school. It is in the pursuance of this that we have been strict in maintaining discipline in the school. Man is a product of his environment and we shall be living in a fool's paradise if we hope that we will not have our own share of acts of indiscipline. The matter is further compounded by the porous nature of the school, it's location on the heart of Offa, the population explosion and peer influence on the students. However, with the determination of my highly dedicated staff, the co- operation of parents who were invited from time to time, we thank God that this institution has not had any disciplinary problems that could not be internally handled. In fact, we can raise our head high that our students are among the most disciplined in the state.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:

This citadel of knowledge is renowned for its academic excellence. We are striving hard at all times to maintain that enviable standard set by many of you when you were here. We shall be unfair to ourselves if we hope that the situations are healthy for brilliant academic performance in our institutions today. The school system cannot be insulated from the corrupting tendencies which had permeated every segment of our society. In Educational Psychology, there should be positive reinforcement for positive behaviors so that the child is highly motivated to put in his best for optimal performance. Today, students, parents and teachers alike engaged themselves in examination malpractices so that students can do well. Some institutions and principals have therefore become popular because those institutions are seen as miracle centers where all students obtain distinctions in their results. It is always a case of the end justifying the means. But as we always say, what these students think they gain at the stretch they would surely lose at the roundabout when they cannot continue with their education. The staffing situation is to say the least appalling.

Regardless of all the above we realize that the success of any teacher is determined by the success of his pupils. It is therefore our preoccupation at all times to give our students sound education that will not only enable then to gain admission into the universities but also equip them for functional living latter on in life. We are not ready to compromise standard. It is the present generation of students who will take over from you after you might have all retired.

Towards this end, the school organizes extra coaching hours for the present SS3 students from 3pm to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturdays. We are immensely indebted to the SS3 teachers for this extra sacrifice and we are thankful to God that this have been having positive effects on the performances of our students in the SSCE result.

The SSCE results for both WAEC and NECO were fair enough. The perspective of the result is better appreciated when we realize that this is the authentic performance of the students. This is further indicated by the number of our products who find themselves in the universities and are reading professional courses. Our students also do exceedingly well when they take part in externally organized competitions.

One is always able to raise his head for them. For instance one of our students, Folusho Akintola took part in the essay competition organized by the Nigeria Stock Exchange Commission and was the only person from public school in the country who won a prize. He was presented with a certificate and share certificate for Ten thousand Naira. The same student Folusho Akintola came 2nd in the N.N.P.C quiz competition in the state and would have represented Kwara State in the just concluded quiz competition but for some logistic reasons. Three other students Jimoh Imran, Adewusi John and Falokun Olatundun won the prizes in the essay competition organized by Megabase Club of Offa. 12 of our students won the scholarship award given out by the Offa Zenith club this year.

INFRACSTRUCTURAL FACILITIES:

We are thankful to God that since my assumption of office in this school, the school had witness a lot of physical developments which have made teaching and learning processes more meaningful, comfortable and conducive.

In 1995, the immediate past administration of the Old Students Association under the dynamic and result oriented Presidency of Oba Oladele Olashore and Secretariship of Engineer Kola Oladipo set up a Board of Trustees made up of Pa J. D. Soleye as chairman, and Alhaji Prince Abioye Oyeleke, Chief Femi Adekanye and Chief Jide Falokun as members. This Board was charged with the responsibilities of managing the central funds of the union. They were able to execute the following projects:

1. The building of six classrooms upon what used to be the laboratories in those days.
2. Provision of 12 long tables with partition on top for the library.
3. Provision of 52 benches for the library, Home-Econs and Fine Art Department.
4. Making of 45 staff tables with arm rest chairs and 10 chairs for administration.
5. Purchase of 800 plastic chairs for the LudLow Hall and joining them together.
6. Award of contract for renovation of the Moremi Girls Hostel which was not completed by the contractor.

   These were the jobs executed by the Board of Trustees and paid for by the National Body. We shall for ever be grateful to them.

7. The 1973 Set then introduced another dimension to the renovation efforts of the Old Students by renovating the block of 12 classrooms.
8. The 1969 set also transformed the administration building that house the Principal's office and a member of the Set, Chief Olushola Haris donated a computer to the school.
9. The Abuja Branch renovated the Biology and Chemistry Laboratories, supplied 100 pieces of arm rest chairs for the laboratories and procured Biology and Chemistry equipments worth about N-875,000 Naira.
10. A friend of the Abuja Branch and indeed a philanthropist per excellency, Engineer (Chief) Adewumi, the proprietor of Thomas Adewumi college Oko renovated the Physics Laboratory and also donated Physics Equipment worth about N500,000.00.
11. The 1968 Set have renovated the Oyediran Library and also promised to build a replica of the library beside it. The foundation-laying of the library will be done today.
12. Chief E. 0. Adesoye, the Asiwaju of Offa and the National President of the Offa Descendants Union has transformed our Fine Art block which was invested by termites and really in very bad state into a glass house.
13. Through the connection of one of the Old Students who wishes to be anonymous, one of the Federal Government bore holes was located in the school. The bore hole has been so successful that it has affected the lives of all students especially the Boarders, the entire members of staff especially those resident on the compound and indeed all the citizens that live near the school.
14. One of the Old Students John Dara has also donated some Text Books to the school.
15. The Offa Branch of the Association apart from their constant visits to the school and giving pieces of advice to make us keep on our toes, had given the frontage of the school a face- lift. This is just by way of spurring the 1967 Set who had promised to build a befitting and modern entrance for the school into action.
16. The Ilorin Branch also promised to surprise the House with a donation. I do not wish to let the cat out of the bag.

It is therefore not an empty boast when the old students say that, "There are only two secoundary schools in Nigeria, Offa Grammar School and others".

We are promising solemnly that all these facilities will be put into maximum use for the benefit of the students and we shall maintain high sense of maintenance culture to ensure that the facilities are well kept.

To God be the Glory.

OUR OWN EFFORTS:

To whom much is given, much is expected. My personal conviction in life is not only to maintain the facilities I met on ground but to make conscious efforts to improve upon same within the available resources of the school.

It is in the realisation of this fact that we have been able to do the following:

• Replaced all the windows and doors in the Boys hostel, put burglar proof on the windows and also provided mosquito net for same.
• Provided adequate benches for the dinning Hall.
• Provided additional twenty arm rest chairs for the staff to complement the efforts of the Old Students.
• Extended water from the bore hole to the Moremi Girls hostel, completed the soak away and run the toilets so that water not only run in the hostel, the girls can now use the toilet facilities.
• Extended water from the bore hole to the Boys hostel, renovated the bathrooms and reactivated the abandoned water system latrine for the boys.
• Renovated the pavillion on the sport freld which had been blown away before my assumption of office. I was made to understand that it was donated by Mr. P. K. Kechafan ofOkin Biscuit Ltd, Offa.
• Made these beffitting tables and chairs for LudLow Hall.
• Through the mobilisation of the PTA purchased another set of computer with UPS to make it Internet ready for the scfiool. Two printers were also purchased.

We owe all these modest achievements to God and your encouragement and support at all times.

To God be the Glory.

PROBLEMS:

Reading through the break through in the provission of infracstructural facilities by the Old Students and the school authorities and PTA; we shall be deceiving ourselves if we think that we do not have our own share of problems and that all is perfectly well. Life itself is a process of problem solving. Success by it own nature is capable of creating more problems.

1. Staffing: The major problem of this school is inadequate staffing; both Teaching and non- teaching. We thank the Kwara State Teaching Service Commision for giving our school the special attention it deserves by way of staffing. We Also realise that no government, no matter how benevolent, can provide all the needs of the citizens. Education is also capital intensive. This statement will be corroborated by Oba Oladele Olashore who 'owns the Oladele Olashore International School, Chief E. 0. Adesoye who owns the internationally acclaimed Adesoye College, and Engineer (Chief) Thomas Adewumi who owns the up and coming Thomas Adewumi college Oko.

   But for the Local Government School Management Board that had posted 7 teachers to the school and the PTA that had employed 7 teachers, one for Physics, one for Chemistry, one for Agric. Science, one for Geography, Two for Economics and one for English Language the story would have been different. The PTA also employed a typist, a librarian and a day guard.

   I therefore wish to renew my appeal to well meaning individual Old Students, Sets, Branches and the National Body to reconsider the idea of employing staff for the school. Also, it will not be out of place but a means of motivating the serving teachers if they too are rewarded for their dedication to duty.

2. Offa Grammar School is now in the heart of the town and Offa has grown into an urban city with all the advantages and problems. Offa is no longer a closely knitted family and serene community where the only two sources of detractions and attractions were the Oja Oba Market and the Railway Station as vividly described by Oba Oladele Olashore in his autobiography. Therefore, there is the need to do something about the old and collapsing fences. This will go along way in enhancing discipline in the school.
3. While we shall ever continue to be grateful to the Old Students like Oliver Twist, we are still asking for more. Offa Grammar School is blessed with endowed Old Students who have the love of their alma mater burning in their hearts. "Ask and Yee shall be given, knock and the gate shall be opened," so say the Scriptures. We are still asking that the following be done for the school:
1. The project of the Moremi Girls Hostel should be carried to its logical conclusion.
2. The Quadrangle housing the first set of classes should be given a face lift.
3. The Old Girls hostel which we now use for our JSS One and Two classes needs to be visited.
4. The Home Economic block is in urgent need of renovation..
5. The School would be glad to have a small bus if not an official car for the Principal to ease the administration of the school. The current School Nissan bus was a present from Governor Muhammed Saaba Lafiagi on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the School, exactly ten years ago.
6. The School is also in need of generating plants for electricity back-up.
7. New duplicating machine, photocopying machine, electric typewriters are required to ease the administration of the school.
8. Donation of additional Computer sets would be appreciated.
9. On staffing, it would be of immense assistance and gladden our heart if volunteer teachers could be arranged or if teachers could be recruited and funded for us particularly in the hard areas. .
10. While we are doing our best to maintain the quarters, we want to appeal for assistance for renovation of the staff quarters and the completion of the abandoned ones.
11. We wish to remind the 1967 Set that this school needs an imposing frontage. They should translate their promise into reality and get it off the drawing board.
12. There is need for improved toilet facilities for the students.
13. The Principal's office needs a set of beffitting funiture and other modem facilities to ease administration.

We believe in the power of positive thinking and when there is the will, there is always a way.

Appreciation:

• Our first appreciation go to God the creator of all things for making it possible for us to be alive to witness the events of .today and be part of history. To God be the Glory.
• The Kwara State Government for regular payment of staff salaries.
• The Kwara State Teaching Service Commission for being ever ready to post qualified staff to us.
• The Proprietor of the school for the confidence they reposed in me by resisting my transfer to the Headquarters sometimes ago. The matured and diplomatic manner in which the issue was amicably resolved is commendable.
• The members of Board of Governors made up of seasoned, experienced and committed personlities such as Alhaji Azeez Oloruko-oba, Alhaji T.A.Olatinwo, Engineer H. 0. Ijaiya, Chief G.G. Jaiyeola and Mrs. ift. Ogundele. They had really assisted in the administration of the school.
• The Parents Teachers Association under the Chairmanship of Alhaji R.S. Popoola for ensuring that there is cordial relationship betweenthe staff and the parents and assisting us to recruit staff and to provide much needed infrastaictural facilies in the school.
• The Offa Grammar School Old Students Association for embarking on so many projects in the school.
• The N.Y.S.C. for posting corpers to us.
• The Offa Local Government Education Authority under the able Chairperson of retired and seasoned educationist Mrs M. Ogunniran for seconding teachers to us. In fact these teachers have so integrated themselves into the school system that their level of dedicated to duty is highly commendable.
• The members of Teaching Staff, starting from my Vice Principals, the Heads of Departments and indeed all of them who have made it possible for us to record whatever measure of success the school had achieved.
• The Non- Teaching Staff who are always working relentlessly to ensure the smooth administration in the school.
• The Ministry of Education for keeping us well informed about educational policies in the state.
• The Zonal Inspectors of Education for being the effective link between us and the Ministry of Education.
• My School Prefects for assisting in organising and supervising the other students.
• The Principals in Offa Local Government Area, serving and retired for their co-operation and professional advice from time to time.
• The entire student body for co-operating with me and accepting my leadership so that we are able to work as a family.
• Last but by no means the least, my wife for looking after me and giving me moral support to enable me carry out my official duties without domestic hindrances.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 60years in the life of any individual, establishment and even a Nation is a landmark. We are thankful to God that 60 years of Offa Grammar School had been those of achievements, break throughs , fulfillments and indeed self-actualisations.

To God be the Glory.

In conclusion, I thank you all for the confidence reposed in me, your moral and financial support for the school. No human being is perfect. If in the course of performing our official duties we stepped on your toes please forgive and forget. We cannot but be overzealous atimes in our desire to see things move. The past ten years or so have been years of challenges, battle, fought won and lost, target set .hit and missed, disappointments and achievements. But by and large we thank God thank we had weathered the storm and are at the crest of the waves.

To God be the Glory.

There are still challenges ahead of us all. As we look into the next 10 years, the sky will be our limit.

Once more, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for listening to my report with rapt attention. I wish you journey mercies to your various destinations.

Thank you all and God bless.

Long Live Offa Grammar School,

Long Live OGSOSA

Long Live Offa

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Alhaji R.O. Ajala
Principal, Offa Grammar School, Offa.