For the Love of the Alma Mater

It was their widow’s mite to reward academic excellence but borne out of love for their alma mater. The wave of excitement that swept through them was unimaginable, coming back to the institution they graduated from thirty-seven years ago was real home coming and a reunion with their school mates. Most definitely, a lot has changed. They left it as a College of Education, they met it a full-fledged University. To a great extent, a note of fulfillment and pride was written all over them. No greater thing can one wished for his alma mater than to see it grow in leaps and bounds. They reminisced on the good old days as students, relishing the serene environment and recalling beautiful memories. Their alma mater is ever their pride.

As a way of giving back to their alma mater, the institution that moulded their minds and gave them a solid background,  the 1984 set of the Alumni Association of the then College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti (now Bamidele Olumilua organised the maiden edition of its annual scholarship award for outstanding students in academics in the institution.

Speaking on the motive behind the noble initiative, the Group Captain of the set, Barr. Emma Alade, represented by his deputy, Dr. Remi Olatunde, said the gesture was to reward excellence and encourage scholastic industry among the students. He remarked that the school contributed in no small measure to what they had achieved in their chosen careers, hence, the need to look back and assist the institution and the students.

The two beneficiaries who had the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in the NCE Programme during the 2019/2020 academic session, Miss Deborah Adewole (Economics//Social Studies) and Miss Rhoda Ajayi (Biology/Integrated Science), were presented with a cheque of N100,000.00 each to support them on school fees, books and accommodation for one academic session.

The set disclosed that the scholarship award would be a yearly event to help beneficiaries meet up with their financial obligations in the institution.

Aside the scholarship award, the set had also sunk a borehole in the halls of residence to provide portable water for students. The group assured of its continued support for the University as more projects and intervention schemes were underway.

Also speaking, the National President of the Alumni Association, Prof. Remi Famiwole commended the 1984 set for the scheme adding that the scholarship would go a long way in assisting the beneficiaries.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olufemi Adeoluwa commended the 1984 set of the Alumni Association for the wonderful gesture and their vision for the institution. He remarked that the set had made an indelible presence on the campus through its laudable projects. Adeoluwa, who disclosed that the institution had initiated a programme aimed at supporting indigent students so that they do not drop out of school due to lack of financial resources, solicited more synergistic relationships as he urged other sets to emulate the 1984 set by assisting the institution because Alumni has a vital role to play in the success of the institution.

The VC advised the beneficiaries of the scholarship award to see the gesture as an impetus for them to do more in their studies and that in the future they would replicate the same gesture to the coming generation.

The beneficiaries of the scholarship award, who could not hide their excitement and delight, said the gesture would motivate them in their studies.