Sir: One Yoruba proverb says ai rin po ejo lo n se Iku pa won. Literally translated it means it is the refusal of snakes to flock together that makes it easier for people to kill them. This is one of the ways Yoruba emphasise unity. An English proverb says united we stand divided we fall. The lesson of 19th century colonial conquest of Africans by Western Europeans is that the disunity of Africans made it easier for the continent to suffer the ugly experience of slave trade which depopulated Africa for almost 400 years and colonial rule which lasted for not less than 100 years. Wherever and whenever a people are united they can do great things.

Unity of purpose displayed by all old students of Ladigbolu Grammar School Oyo has yielded great dividends as they successfully completed their reunion on Saturday, November 25, 2023  in joy and happiness. The reunion kicked off with Jumat prayers on the school premises and ended with a thanksgiving church service. Other activities that followed included novelty football match and gala night. The reunion lecture was delivered by Professor Tajudeen Opoola of the Federal University of Oye, Ekiti himself an old student of Ladigramms.

Thereafter the spirit of unity was again glaringly demonstrated as contestants for various posts put their manifestos on display at various levels for delegates to the reunion on ground at the school premises as well as other old students to see on the old students Whatsapp platform.

There was an outpouring of excitement as the contestants did all they needed to do to get elected. The seriousness attached to the election of the new executives is understandable. It is because Ladigbolu Grammar School Old Students Association is no more one of the run of the mill. Ladigbolu Grammar School old students Association has moved to a higher level among all old students associations of secondary schools in Oyo State, as the association was recently awarded a prize among the three leading old students associations that have rendered very commendable assistance to their Alma Mata.

And the root of this glorious attainment is traceable to the eight fruitful years of leadership of the Association by outgoing President of the Association, Dr Bisi Oke, who assumed office in August 2015 and worked tirelessly to move the association to its present enviable level.

The beauty of unity also came out in the way new officers emerged during the reunion. Everyone complied with the rules put in place by the electoral committee, which did not have cause to penalise any candidate. And there was no controversy about the modality of the electoral process, as BVAS was not used.

More interested display of unity is the emergence of a woman as the new president of the association. Deaconess Olufunmilayo  Ojoawo of the 1975 set was elected unopposed signifying the mutual respect already in place among all the sets and in particular showing the pedigree of the woman who is the first female old student of the school to become Principal of the school. And by her election, she is also the first female to be elected president of the Association.

The Proprietor of the school, Chief Moses Oyedele Ogunmola, a nonagenarian, was in attendance as he prayed fervently for all the old students and present students and staff of the school.

Wale Ajao.