Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate every one of us for witnessing the third month of year 2024. No doubt, we are enjoying God’s mercy and unlimited grace. Permit me to quote from the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al Rahmon, The Beneficent) Chapter 55, Verse 13: “Which then of the bounties of your Lord will you deny?” The significance of this verse and this Chapter can only be appreciated if we take time to read from verses 1-12, wherein Allah (SWT) gave a list of what He has done starting from the creation of man, the teaching of mode of expression, provided the sun and the moon to run their courses for specific purposes etc.
This month is significant for companionship, cooperation, and steady progress, in the affairs of our school, given the slow level of engagement in February 2024. We need to rededicate ourselves to the tasks ahead.
Let me use this opportunity to say that the formal launching of the Digital project will be done this month by the grace of God. Interested members will be expected to come to Osu or join online. The issue of alternative power supply through the solar system has been on the front burner in our preparation. Once the project takes off, an intensive training programme will follow so that within a very short time many of the students will have a good idea of the CBT.
I am delighted to report that our periodic check on the school by members of the Education Committee and some other individuals are yielding positive results. Kudos to the school authority for maintaining the facilities provided by the Old Students’ Association. We shall encourage them to keep it up.
Furthermore, the issue of provision of toilet facilities for the school is receiving attention and we should get the facilities in place early enough for the resumption for the 2024/2025 academic session.
We must go all-out to take advantage of our business and global exposure in helping one another and our various families. We should try to be our brother’s keepers. This is one of the basic responsibilities of a dynamic Old Students’ Association.
Customarily, let me seize this opportunity to congratulate our members and families who marked their birthdays, celebrated marriages of their children and performed other joyous events in February. We look forward to more good things in future.
I also like to report the demise, during February, of Pa Olakolu, the erstwhile Chairman of AHSO Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and Deaconess Funmilola C. Obanla, nee Fagbamiye, a member of our 1978/83 set. We pray that God Almighty will forgive their sins, grant their soul a peaceful repose and give the family and indeed, all of us, the fortitude to bear the losses. We are indeed saddened by their demise, but, as believers, we must thank God for their lives.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me say it again that we should take care of our health, engage in regular exercise, rest at the appropriate time, and visit our Doctors when occasion demands. A healthy soul is a function of what we do to and for ourselves and crowned by God’s grace. They go together as the Bible teaches us that “Faith without Work is DEAD FAITH”.
The need for all of us to participate in the Group Life Insurance Scheme cannot be overemphasised. I can only appeal that we all key into this scheme as opportunities come up in a few months’ time. Discussions for expansion of scope to cover routine ailments will commence soon.
Finally, I say thank you all for the confidence you have in the Executive, and the unalloyed cooperation from everyone. I pray that the Association will continue to grow from strength to strength.
May Allah, the most Merciful, provide for our needs in this month.
THANK YOU ALL.
Lateef A. Bakare, FCA, FBR