Genesis of the Idea

This great idea came in 2005, the aim was to recognise and induct great Alumni to special club(s), based on their financial commitments. From the Over N1 million - Platinum Club to Over N100,000.00 bronze medal contributors. The main event of the night will be the celebration of Christ's School, the Platinum Inductees & all contributors, with the reading of citations for them and the presentation of Medals. The names of all the contributors will be inscribed on a Marble Wall to be erected on the grounds of Christ's School Ado-Ekiti, based on their Clubs (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze).

This event is mainly to raise funds for our great school, and is about the best chance to upgrade our Alma Mater to the standard we all dream about. Can you all imagine a successful implementation of this event, where 100 or more great Alumni gave N1million & above each, maybe 300 Alumni plus Friends of Christ's School contributing N500,000.00 and above/per head, and another 300 with N250,000.00 and above, and maybe 300 or more with N100,000.00 each. Imagine the economic power that our great school will have. With God and good planning, we will definitely achieve this goal.

A finance committee will be set up to manage all the funds collected (Trust Account) with the help of a reputable financial/Accounting firm. All funds raised at the Platinum event will be kept in a reliable fixed deposit account until the school is taken back from the government. No Kobo will be spent out of the funds and there will be full accountability of all contributions.

* Planning Committees has been set up in three (3) zones, for the First Christ's School Platinum Club Induction Dinner that will take place in December 2006.

These zones are: Nigeria, United States of America/Canada, and United Kingdom/Europe/Asia.

There is an open invitation to all living Alumni, to be inducted to the Platinum Club and all the other clubs. Invitations are also extended to the families of some of our great Alumni who have passed on to rest with the Lord, whom their children will love to immortalize by having their names on the Marble Wall of Fame at Christ's School Ado-Ekiti.

The committees will also send out invitations to Alumni based on the committee's nominations. All Alumni are free to nominate anybody for the Platinum Club (self, classmates or parents). Nominations are equally welcome from class-sets, from 1936 to 2004. All nominations must be back with secured funds for all the club categories. The initial contacts for all the zones are:

Nigeria/Africa Zone:

• Chief O Ogunkua -
• Mr. Yinka Adeosun- yinka_lara@yahoo.com
• Mrs. Tayo Omotosho - omotayotosho@yahoo.com
• Chief E Akingbola
• Chief Yemi Akeju

USA Zone:

• Engr. Soji Tinubu 404-848-6626 sojitinubu@yahoo.com or tinubus@rtpatlanta.com
• Sinbad O. Olawole 770-912-2545 oolawole@amfeegroup.com or oolawole@yahoo.com
• Sam Iyapo - 301-675-9108 smvinursing@yahoo.com or siyapo123@comcast.net 
• Mrs. Wura Ajibade wurajibade@yahoo.com
• Dr. Kola Sonaike 281-498-3126 kolawole.o.sonaike@exxonmobil.com
• Mrs. Abiola Rotimi Ogunsola 214-693-7224 abiola929@yahoo.com

Canada Zone:

• Dr. Busola Onayemi 705-728-1697 bisbuzz@rogers.com
• Mr. Kayode Olafunmiloye kayode@mspstream.com

 UK/Europe/Asia Zone:

• Mr. Segun Aganga segun.aganga@hotmail.com segunaganga@hotmail.com
• Mr. Sanya Haastrup 0795-654-7127 sanya_haastrup@hotmail.com 
• Mr. Tokunbo Adeloye toks.adeloye@greenwich.gov.uk 

* These Alumni can be contacted for more information on invitations, nominations and all other enquiries.

The next stage is having a body that will manage the Funds and the rebuilding of Christ's School Ado-Ekiti, and this is where Project Christ's School Alumni World Council is needed.

(First Christ's School Alumni Platinum Club Induction Dinner )

Grant o Lord, that this School(Christ's School) may be a Christian School, Not in name only, but in deed and in truth, for the sake of Christ, whose name we bear, AMEN. 

The Christ's School Old Students Homecoming and Reunion is being planned for December 2006. The event is being coordinated by a Committee drawing its membership from Nigeria, Europe and the USA and Canada. In addition to the all important need of renewing acquaintanceship with seniors, classmates and juniors across generations, the most critical issue on the agenda of the Homecoming and Reunion is the renewal of the School.

The School (both boys and girls sections) is in a bad and dilapidated state. The Committee believes that it is the collective wish of all old students that the School be renewed for it to reach its full potentials. With other schools, who bear names which are nothing compared with the name of Christ which we bear now at the top of Secondary School quality ladder in Nigeria and our School near the bottom, our long term goal should be to make Christ's School the number 1 School in Nigeria and one of the best in world. The time to act is now.

The Homecoming and Reunion is planned as an all-inclusive event to raise funds for the renewal of the School and put in place a viable strategy to facilitate the release of the School by the Government to be run again by the Anglican Communion, the Old Students and other stakeholders. It is our hope that the event will provide the most vigorous, viable and sustainable plan in recent times for the renewal and subsequent running of the School. A Report on Project Christ's School Renewal 2003 commissioned by the Congress of the Old Students during the 70 th Anniversary Celebration which indicated critical paths of the renewal project needs to be updated and implemented.

The emerging consensus for the fund rising is that an all-inclusive Platinum Club (Corporate Christ's School Club) should be the vehicle. It will be a multi-tier club for the renewal of the School based on the financial contribution to the renewal project. There will be 5 tiers with an upward mobility mechanism that allows all the members of the four lower tiers to move up in subsequent years as their contributions increase. That means that an ordinary member with an initial contribution of N1 can subsequently move to the Platinum level after a once or a series of improvement on his/her initial contribution. There will be a marble memorial in the School in which names of Platinum members are struck as they reach the mark, for posterity to remember those who came to the rescue of the School in very trying and dark days.

Contributions

• Platinum Member - N1million and Above
• Diamond Member - N500, 000 and Above
• Gold Member - N250, 000 and Above
• Silver Member - N100, 000 and Above
• Ordinary Member less than N100, 000

Membership

• Alumnus/Alumna
  Contribution and Membership can also be made on behalf of:
•  Set; group of cooperating sets; or by cooperating individuals;
• Parents and Other Family members (including Testamentary or Estate of Deceased individuals and other legal persons);
• Role Models/Mentors;
• Corporate bodies, Companies, and other legal individuals (Local or Foreign);
• National, State and Local Governments, clubs, associations and communities;
• Any other person(s), the donation of which is in consonance and not repugnant to the goal of the Platinum Club and the larger goals of Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti

Timing of the Homecoming

A few individuals while agreeing that the last quarter of 2006 is good have suggested that a date near Christmas period (just about a week before the Christmas break of the School fixed in consultation with the Principal and Management) will be ideal to ensure that those outside the country can participate and also spend Christmas at home and avoid a situation where an earlier visit prevents attendance.

Good news

It is our belief that this project is doable. There is already indication from the USA and Canada Old Students Associations that 25 members have signed up for the Platinum membership of the Corporate Club.

The meeting was moderated by Dr. Kola Sonaike (President, Christ's School Alumni Association of North America)

The school hymn, "Christ is Our Cornerstone", was rendered followed by an opening prayer by Dr. (Rev.) Aina, then the school prayer.

The ceremony was declared open by Justice Olatawura, National President of Christ's School Alumni Association, who took the gathering on a historical tour of the school.  A journey which started with the founder, ArchDeacon Henry Dallimore, to the present. He specially gave commendation to the 1965-1969/71 set for a wonderful hosting of the 2007 event. The Chairman also remarked that throughout his tenure in office as a Justice of the Federation up to the Supreme Court, no old student of Christ's School, Ado Ekiti, was brought before him for any litigation or crime.  This, he said, was highly commendable.  He reiterated the honour and glory the school had bestowed on the students of the school, citing some important examples which portrayed the goodness of God on the products of the school.  He implored all old students to continue with this standard till we depart from this mother earth.  He urged the present students not to deviate from the standard past students had set.

The forum agreed that this kind of nostalgic gathering should be held annually.

Dr. Kayode Obembe (aka Ojo Lawrence), the president of Ibadan Alumni Association and a member of the hosting set was recognized and commended for his leadership in the South West. In support of this laudable reunion, he promised that the Ibadan Alumni Association would identify with the Platinum club's initiative by donating the sum of N200,000.00. He said the Ibadan group would want their donation to go towards the renovation of Christ's School's Post Office by the main gate to the boys' section.

Dr. Obembe also reported how the Ibadan Alumni suffered a set back before he took the leadership of the association.  The chapter was resuscitated in 2004.  Part of the measures he took was to organize lectures which were delivered by eminent and notable professors, who were mostly Christ's School products.

In his speech, the outgoing principal, Elder Matthew Fasanmade commended the organizers of the inaugural event in 2006 as well as the hosting set of 2007. He said emphatically, that as someone who has access to the records of old students of the school, it was clear from the past performances of the hosting set (academic and otherwise), that they were a set specially blessed by God. He wished them more grips to their elbows.

The principal further said that the annual event was giving the school a face-lift as new projects are embarked upon every year. These projects can be seen in particular in the school fencing on Iyin Road , Harding House, Dallimore House, Mason House, and the new toilet facilities on the boys' and girls' sections.

The initiator of the platinum fundraising efforts and chairman of the committee that produced the comprehensive Christ's School Infrastructural Development Report, Chief Segun Ogunkua, gave a comprehensive report of the year 2006 reunion and home coming.  He reminded the house that the Platinum club  embraces all associations, small or big, and can also be on set by set or even individual basis.  The platinum club is a mechanism for raising funds to support the development of our school.  He urged members to address the issue of public encroachment of the school's landed properties on the side of FAJUYI Cenotaph.  He reported that the National Working Committee had visited both boys' and girls' sections to access the pressing needs of the two sections.

Chief Ogunkua circulated detailed report on the categorization of the contributions from Platinum to Diamond, Gold, Bronze and Silver.  He said that about N400 Million is expected to be realized in the first 6 years if things go the way they were planned.

Commenting on the handing over of mission schools by the state government, the outgoing principal, Elder Fasanmade, highlighted the policy framework on the modality involved in the handing over of secondary schools to the owners by the State Government.  He said that the policy allows the missions and old students of schools to run the affairs of the schools handed over to them. He added that the preparatory framework of handing over Christ's School was in progress.  He said that it is imminent that the school be taken over by old students very soon.

Chief Ogunkua was not optimistic over the handing over issue.  He said to run the school back to back for two years would cost about N20 Million, by his own calculation.  He said from what is on the ground, we are not ready financially to run the school if the school is handed over to the old students now.  Since the inauguration of the platinum club in 2006, only about N4 million had been collected and that was from a handful of old students. He said our first problem if the school were to be handed over to us at this time would be staff salary.  He advised that we should count the cost before embarking on such a mission.

On the contrary, Dr. (Mrs) Eniola Ajayi, president of 1975-80 set was very optimistic.  She urged old students to task themselves as well as use their influences and high positions in society and government to raise funds to kick-start the process.  She said it is a developmental project and we should not shy away from our responsibilities.

Commenting on the issue of handover of the school, Mr. Tunji Kolawole (1966-70/72 set) emphatically stated that we should stop deceiving ourselves or continue shamelessly expecting other people to donate money for the rebuilding of our alma mater. He expressed serious disappointment at the poor response of old students to the platinum fund raising initiative stating that the complaints about N1 million being too much is no longer tenable. A lot of explanation have already been given and is still being given that the funds are in categories and N1 million is just one of the several categories. The funds are in ranges and even a donation of N1 has a category. We only need to be more serious and start putting our money where our mouth is. 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF INFRASTRUCTURAL RENOVATION AND FACILITIES RENEWAL - DURATION: 6-YEAR PLAN OF 3 BI-ANNUAL PLANS

SUBMITTED BY: CHIEF OGUNKUA ON BEHALF OF HIS COMMITTEE  

1^st Bi-annual Plan - Academic Facilities

Girls' Section.

1.       Renovation JSS 1 Block -                                    N 2,000,000.00 

2.       Fine Art Room -                                                 N    250,000.00

3.       Renovation of JSS2 Block -                                 N 1,000,000.00

4.       Computer Laboratory -                                       N 7,000,000.00

5.       Furniture for JSS 1 & 2 -                                     N 4,000,000.00

6.       Library -                                                           N 7,500,000.00

7.       Technical Workshop -                                         N 1,500,000.00

8.       Home Economics Room -                                    N 2,500,000.00

9.       8 Toilets (Academic and Dormitory Areas)            N 3,500,000.00

10.   30KVA Solar Power System -                               N 4,997,000.00

11.   1 Borehole with overhead Tank -                         N 3,500,000.00

12.   School Bus -                                                      N 5,000,000.00

13.   School Chapel                                                    N 1,000,000.00

14.   Rehabilitation of Fence                                         N 2,000,000.00                                     

15.   TOTAL                                                           N 45,847,000.00

  2^nd Bi-annual Plan

1.       1. Renovation JSS 3 Block -                                    N 400,000.00

2.       2. Renovation SSS 1 Block -                                N 1,500,000.00

3.       3. Furniture for JSS 3 & SSS 1 -                           N 4,000,000.00

4.       4. Language Laboratory -                                    N 3,000,000.00

5.       5. Break Room for Students -                              N 1,000,000.00

6.       6. Staff Rooms / Offices -                                    N 1,800,000.00

7.       7. Break room for Teachers -                              N 1,000,000.00

8.       8. Administrative Block -                                     N 1,000,000.00

9.       9. Principal's Office -                                              N 500,000.00

10.   10. Gate House -                                                  N 1,500,000.00

11.   11. Dinning Room                                                 N 5,000,000.00

12.   12. Buttery -                                                            N 500,000.00

13.  TOTAL                                                            N 21,200,000.00

In his contribution, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, AC Party Gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State , encouraged the house not to be weary or fearful of the huge amount of money involved.  He said that if the money at hand is properly managed and if we task ourselves by allocating specific project to sets or individuals to execute, he was confident that appreciable progress would be made.

Mr. Muyiwa Awe, Vice President of 1975-1980 set, commented on the dilapidated condition of the staff houses within the school premises which he said were crying for urgent renovation.

The issue of land encroachment of the school was revisited by Mrs. Wura Ajibade, Vice President of Atlanta Chapter, USA .  She informed the house that part of the school boundary had been encroached by the public.

In his response, Elder Fasanmade, the Principal, Senior Secondary School , Boys, said that the shopping complex area within the boundary still belongs to Christ's School but was only leased out to traders for a period of 15 years.

Dr. Femi Mosuro requested that a written report on the encroached/leased land should be compiled by the Principal and forwarded to the national executive of the association.

The Principal thereafter informed attendees that all Christ's School land matters were in Chief Ogunkua's report which was placed on the internet.

On attendance, Mr. Tunji Kolawole expressed disappointment at the lack of interest of old students living in Ado Ekiti as evidenced by their very poor turnout at the reunion.

Mr. Sesan Ogunro reported that the 1965-69/71 set had renovated Mason block one and the renovation of Dallimore blocks 2 & 3 by the same set is in progress. 

Mrs. Wura Ajibade said that there are about 95 of her classmates (1973-1977 set) in the diaspora. She promised to produce their addresses and phone numbers.  She informed the house that the USA Alumni Association, had, among other things, embarked on the supply of books worth millions of Naira to the school. These books were donated by different American organizations and are en route to Ado-Ekiti. The books would be delivered to the school libraries (boys/girls) by the 1^st week of January 2008.

Chairman of the occasion, Justice Olatawura, then presented cheques worth thousands of Naira to outstanding students who excelled in Science and Art subjects.  The prizes are annual donations to both the boys' and girls' sections by the Texas Chapter, U.S.A.   The students who won the prizes on the boys' section were Paul Ibuola (best SS3 science student), Temitope Kolawole (best SS3  Arts student) and Bright Adekunle (best JSS3 Arts student).

At this juncture, the principal, Christ's School boys' section (senior secondary) explained that the girls' section principals have already given out the prizes to the deserving students on the girls' section, at an earlier date.

The day's activities were ended with an inspection tour of the girls' section and a social gathering at the quadrangle where the students on the boys' section entertained the attendees with a drama depicting the value of education and the essence of obedience and studiousness while in school. Old students also had the opportunity of sharing different Christ's School fables (FABU) many of which attracted rib-cracking laughter by the participants.

SATURDAY 22^ND DECEMBER, 2007  -  DAY 2

The first event on Dec. 22 was the inspection of the boys' section, particularly some of the staff quarters, dormitories, and the ongoing renovation projects. Thereafter, participants moved into Ghana House and commenced the business meeting and formal fundraising. Mr. Sesan Ogunro moderated the fundraising event.

Earlier that morning, a message had been sent to the organizers of the event by the president of the 1975-80 set, Dr (Mrs) Eniola Ajayi, through her sister, Mrs. Wura Ajibade, that rather than the emphasis on the platinum fundraising which seem to be scaring many people away, every Christ's School old student that is still alive should be made to pay a flat rate of N2,500.00. This issue was therefore brought to the floor of the house for debate.

Mr. Sesan Ogunro, in his contribution, suggested that with a total old students' population of about 10,000, if only every member would contribute just N2,000.00, a whooping N20 Million would be collected towards the development of the school.  What is needed is massive identification awareness campaign and networking.  He said this is do-able with the recent comprehensive students population (past & present) data put together by an old student and posted on the school's website.

After some comments by some of the participants, the sum of N2,000.00 flat rate rather than N2,500.00 was accepted but this contribution is to go on simultaneously with the platinum fund raising efforts. Those who have already paid toward the platinum fund may also participate in the N2,000.00 (flat rate) levy, if they so wish.  In the same token, those who pay the flat rate are also encouraged to still go ahead and pay toward the platinum fund. We are looking at hundreds of millions of naira and a one-time flat rate levy of N2,000.00 will be grossly insufficient for the task ahead. The hosting set of the 2008 reunion (1966-70/72 set) was delegated to go ahead and put the machinery in place to announce the N2,000.00 flat rate (possibly through the national dailies) and provide the account number at Intercontinental Bank into which the money should be paid and the names/phone numbers of coordinating alumni for each of the zones.

During the fund raising event,  N720,550.00 was raised towards the Platinum project. N118, 600.00 was raised from the registration of participants and sales of mementoes (T-Shirts, etc, donated by U.S. alumni) and N65,650.00 was raised at the Gala Nite. There were other cash payments totaling N29,465.00. Grand total of financial intake (cash and cheques) was N874,265.00.  Various pledges were also made, including N2 million by two members of the hosting set, to be redeemed during 2008. We were also informed by Mrs. Wura Ajibade that $4,000.00(US) amounting to about N500,000.00, being donation of two members, was in-transit from Atlanta, U.S.A. It is noteworthy to mention that some of the students who stayed back from the holidays to assist in the reunion also donated their 'widow's mites'. These students were so moved and overwhelmed that they donated their 50 kobos and one Nairas. A more comprehensive report of the donated funds is provided on a separate spreadsheet, an addendum to this report.

Chief (baba ijo) Ogunkua gave the Platinum account number of the school at INTERCONTINENTAL BANK as 006316587 for those who wish to pay in their pledges.  

2008 & 2009 Reunion & Homecoming:

The date for the next reunion was fixed for the third weekend of October 2008,

i.e. 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th October 2008.  The 1966-1970/72 set agreed to host the 2008 reunion while 1975-1980 set volunteered to host the 2009 reunion. No specific dates were set for the 2009 reunion.

The renovated block (One) in Mason House was commissioned by Mr. Aina, our old teacher, while the Harding house toilet built by the 1975-1980 set was commissioned by Chief (baba ijo) Ogunkua.

Gala Nite Event:

The Gala Nite was held from about 8:00 p.m. on Saturday December 22 to about 10:00 p.m. same night. The event was very colourful and reminded participants of the series of end-of-year parties that were held in those good old days. At the gala nite, some individuals paid for themselves as single participants while others paid in groups as members of the same set, families, or friends. All the monies collected went into the platinum fund. There was a band stand and high class catering. Some of the members took to the dancing floor and joyfully danced once again on Agidimo Hill. Thanks be to God!

The occasion provided an opportunity to formally send-forth the outgoing principal of the boys' senior secondary school, Elder Matthew Fasanmade, who attended the ceremony with his dear wife, Mrs. Fasanmade, who is the vice principal of the girls' junior secondary school. Some of the encomium poured on the outgoing principal brought old memories to those of us who were in school with him in those days. Dr. Kayode Fayemi was full of praise for the principal before he presented the cash gift donated by the hosting set. It was quite interesting to listen to Mrs. Fasanmade as she joyfully recited beautiful and sonorous Yoruba lyrics (ewi) in praise of Almighty God.    

SUNDAY 23^rd DECEMBER, 2007  -  DAY 3

The main event on the third day of the reunion was the thanksgiving service that was held at the school chapel (boys' section) by the Anglican Archbishop of Ekiti. With him to officiate at the service were Rev (Dr.) Aina, an old student, and the Chaplain of the chapel. The joint choir from both the boys' and girls' sections supported the service under the able leadership of one of the lady teachers on the boys' section.

Old students attended the service in large number and gave thanks to God for His mercies on everyone all through the years. Dr. Kola Sonaike read the only lesson of the day while Elder Fasanmade, principal of the senior secondary school, boys, gave the announcement. Elder Fasanmade thanked everyone, in particular the officiating clergymen and the hosting set, for a job well done. He thanked God for bringing us to the end of another successful reunion. He gave all honor and praise to the Lord.

Rev (Dr.) Aina prayed for continued blessings of God on the school and the present and old students. He thanked God for sustaining grace at all fronts. The chaplain of the chapel was happy about the grand event but reminded old students that it is good to remember clergymen who attend to the spiritual needs of the students, on occasions like this. The comment was well taken.

At the end of the service, all old students gathered in front of the chapel for the unity circle coordinated by one of the highly esteemed old students (a former principal of the school), Mr. Nathaniel Ojo. We sang the first verse of "Christ is Our Corner Stone" and said the School Prayer. The occasion was brought to an end with shouts of "Up School!!!!!!!" by all the old students.

Developed by: Adetunji Adebiyi (1968-72 set)

Edited by: Sesan Ogunro/Kola Sonaike (1965-69/71 set)

January 15, 2008