By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Alumni of St. Leo's Catholic Primary School, Ikoga-Zebbe |
BADAGRY, LAGOS STATE – The alumni of St. Leo's Catholic Primary School, Ikoga-Zebbe, have marked the school's 80th anniversary with a week-long extravaganza, culminating in a grand finale on September 26.
The event, held on the school's premises, served as a testament to the critical role of primary education and successfully bridged generations of past and present students.
According to the committee chairman, Dr. Tony Dansu, an alumnus, the week commenced with a thanksgiving service at St. Leo's Catholic Church. This was followed by a day dedicated to community service, where old and current students joined forces to clean the environment and conduct a comprehensive free healthcare outreach, offering treatment and counselling for eight different health issues.
A Walk Down Memory Lane: Uniforms and Unity
The week's festivities took a nostalgic turn on Wednesday, as former teachers and pupils donned the iconic school uniform for a special assembly with current students. This symbolic gesture visually connected the school's storied past with its vibrant present. The celebrations reached their peak on the final day with a special inter-house sports competition and a dazzling display of cultural activities, painting the school grounds in a kaleidoscope of colour and energy.
The Significance: Uniting Past, Present, and Future
For Tony Dansu, the significance of the anniversary extends far beyond the festivities. "It brings everyone together, uniting the past and the present," he explained. The core mission was for the accomplished alumni to inspire current students by showcasing the tangible impact of their education.
"This school has produced several PhD holders lecturing in various universities and directors in various government institutions. It has likewise produced great politicians," Dansu noted, adding a regal endorsement: "It is worth to note that the current king of this community, HRM Ovitotode Toyi the 1st, and the current king of Igbeji kingdom, finished from this school."
A Royal Endorsement and a Call to Focus
His Royal Majesty, Ovitotode Toyi the 1st, Aholu Sano of Ikoga Zebbe, graced the event and hailed it as a trailblazing initiative. "This is the first of its kind. In most schools, it's only the secondary school that's celebrated. What we've done has also prompted other people to now start thinking of how to celebrate their primary schools," the monarch stated. He urged current students to remain focused on their studies, issuing a powerful warning: "Even if you were to become the king and you're so entitled to it, if you're not educated, it may elude you."
A Legacy Forged in Faith and Community
The history of St. Leo's Catholic Primary School is a narrative of resilience and community spirit. Founded in 1945 by the Catholic Mission under Archbishop Leo Taylor, it was initially named the Roman Catholic Mission (R.C.M.) School. After a special visitation by the Archbishop, the school was renamed in his honour. Established with the approval of the then traditional ruler, Sano Akapo, who granted the land, the school's first Headteacher was the late Mr. J.E.S. Ogunji.
The school's inception was met with challenges, as many parents preferred to engage their children in farming rather than formal education. The pioneering teachers, including the first assistant Mr. Philip Tanimowo Hunsu, embarked on house-to-house campaigns to persuade families of education's value.
Their perseverance paid off, with enrolment swelling to 618 pupils. However, tragedy struck in 1948 when a fire gutted the original mud building, roofed with palm fronds, destroying many of the school's early records a loss that makes this 80th-year celebration all the more poignant.
"We have seen that around the world nobody celebrates the primary school which is the foundation... if the foundation is bad, any other attempts to build on it will be bad as well," Dansu added.