St. Thomas Aquinas College old students give succour to Alma Mater

The National President of St. Thomas Aquinas College Akure Old Students’ Association (ACAOSA), Mr. Smart Fadayomi has blamed the government for the fallen standard in education.

He said this while speaking on his achievements and contributions to the college.

“When the missions were handling the schools, supervision was very thorough. Teachers were being paid regularly. There was discipline. It seems the government is biting more than it can chew. If you pay one kobo for education, you will get one kobo education.

“Our own mission as old students is to strike a balance. We want very high standards. We want quality education to be affordable because our parents were not rich when they sent us to school.”

Fadayomi said school management is very happy about alumni’s commitment to the college.

“We have we handed over three well-equipped laboratories: – Physics, Chemistry and Biology to the school. We also provided a modern toilet facility for the hostels. We donated computers to the school, but unfortunately, they were stolen and we have since replaced them. We have also provided white marker boards in classrooms. Our next project is to refurbish some classrooms and other decayed facilities,” he said.

He mentioned other branches of the association to include Akure headed by Dr. Ade Abitoye; Lagos, headed by Pastor David Ajao; Ekiti is headed by Surveyor Abiodun.

We have in Europe, in London and the Chairman is Ben Ogedengbe. We also have in Port Harcourt. Abuja is headed by Pastor Femi Ogunmola.

He added that: “it is the only school in Nigeria with three Nigerian National Order of Merit awardees. The Nigerian National Order of Merit is for scientists, who have reached their peak by making discoveries and outstanding achievements.

They include: Prof. O.S. Adegoke. He got the award for Geology.

Another one is Prof. Adewusi Gureje , who got the Nigerian National Merit award in Sciences. Another is Abiodun Oluwole, who just celebrated his 80th birthday a few weeks ago.

He is a Nuclear Physicist. He established the nuclear facility at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.

The immediate past principal of Kings College, Seyi Thomas is also an alumnus as well as Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

He regretted that the college that was a science oriented – school at its inception is not the same today.

“Emphasis was laid on physics, chemistry and biology. Laboratories were well stocked. Many people studied sciences, so art inclination was limited until after we left in 1966. We excelled in academics and sports. We also won many laurels.”

On the standard of education in the college now, he said: Our mission as old students is to reenact what we enjoyed what over 50 years ago.

“The standards have generally fallen. Despite that, in Akure, the college is still the best. We don’t want to be local champions, we want to be nationally and internationally-recognised as a model school.

He confirmed that the old students had contributed money to refurbish the dilapidated classrooms.

“We have restored the laboratories. Last week, we handed over three well-equipped laboratories: – Physics, Chemistry and Biology to the school. We also provided a modern toilet facility toilet for the hostels. .

We provided computers to the school, but unfortunately, they were stolen and we have since replaced them. We have also done white marker boards in classrooms. Our next project is to refurbish classrooms and other decayed facilities

On where he wants to see the college in the next 10 years, he said:

“In the next years, we want to restore its past glory. We want St Thomas Aquinas College to be the best. The laboratories must be up to date. We also want Aquinas to take its place in the pride of place in sports. We also think we would intervene, but these things should be done gradually. The college must return tops in academics and also morals. ”