Anglican Grammar School Old Students make The DEFENDER publisher, Adefaka’s photo, group profile picture, celebrate him at 50
By KEMI KASUMU
The AGS 1991 Set, that is an Old Students Association of Anglican Grammar School Iju/Itaogbolu in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has changed its whatsApp group’s profile picture to photo of Publisher, The DEFENDER Newspaper Nigeria, Prince Bashir Adefaka, who clocks 50 today, Saturday September 3, 2022.
The changing of group’s profile picture to his photo signifies the show of love and appreciation as the Journalist is celebrated on the occasion of his golden jubilee celebration.
Anchoring the celebration on the association’s platform is a director in the Ondo State civil service, Olowojola Caleb.
He said “…happy 50th birthday. May you never know better yesterday and may your tomorrow be better than today in good health and prosperity.”
Another member, Olugbenga Clement said, “Happy birthday my brother. More wins in sound health and prosperity. Congratulations.”
One Jaiyeola Testimony prayed: “May God continue to bless ur new age with sufficient grace and mercy.Happy birthday my Prince.”
Prince Bashir Adefaka, like others, entered Anglican Grammar, Iju/Itaogbolu, a high boarding school claimed by two major autonomous communities, from St. Stephen’s Anglican Grammar School, Iju and others from various primary schools in Iju and Itaogbolu, in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State in 1984.
It was precisely as the military regime of President Muhammadu Buhari came to power. He, however, did not make it to writing his Junior WAEC of 1987 until 1988, which he passed well and became a member of the class that passed out in 1991.
Prince Bashir Adefaka, son of a defunct Trust Bank, Cooperative Bank and Ondo State cocoa marketing cooperative produce union’s officer, Alhaji Adefaka Yesufu, stayed up till 1989 as Art Class SS1 student of Anglican Grammar School Iju/Itaogbolu and, after passing his promotion examination, proceeded to Akure Muslim College, Akure, in 1990 where he became President Press Club and Social Prefect in 1990 as Art Class SS2 student until he finally passed out in 1991.
More interesting is Adefaka’s continued relevance with Anglican Grammar School, Iju/Itaogbolu’s Old Students Association just as it is the case with Akure Muslim College Old Students Association 1991 sets, concurrently.
This is as he continues to remember the discipline instilled in him and his mates during their Anglican Grammar School days by their disciplinary teachers namely; Mr. Abegunde, Vice President Academic, who had no other means of punishing erring students than flogging with pankere. There was also Mr. Mesida, who is now a professor, and Mr. Gbenga Ojo, both now dons of the University of Lagos.
In the junior classes was a couple, Mr and Mrs Abegunde, who were both agricultural science teachers and both had, at one time or another, taught Bashir Adefaka, Abayomi Asania, now Air Force personnel, Olowojola Caleb, the three Ofakunrins: Beatrice, Ebun and Comfort, among others.
At Akure Muslim College, he has continued to remember Mr. Fayan, History teacher, Mrs Owolo, who taught him and others namely Lukman Isa, others, English and supervised Adefaka as President, Press Club, as well as Mr Bello, who taught him biology.
More words of celebration have continued to pour in from Anglican Grammar School Old Students as they wish their own “a more resounding golden jubilee celebration”.
