Lekan Alabi urges pupils to emulate Soyinka, other icons

A former Chief Press Secretary to four governors of old Oyo State and Agbaakin Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oloye Lekan Alabi, has urged pupils of Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Primary School and other young people to emulate Professor Wole Soyinka and other icons in order to be prominent in the future.

Alabi, an alumnus of the school, made the call during a visit, using the occasion to implore pupils to pick role models in the country and emulate them.

He said: “I attended the SDA, Oke Foko, Ibadan from 1958 to 1963. And what a solid foundation the great school afforded me and other alumni. From being the class captain in classes 2, 3, and 4, I was made the school mailboy in class 5 (in 1962) and the school head boy in my final year (Primary 6 in 1963).

“Besides academic training, SDA Oke Foko, also taught us endurance, leadership skills, etiquette, elocution and so on.

“You must choose role models. You must be disciplined. Don’t feel too relaxed and complacent, be studious and make your parents proud. You should emulate Nobel Laureate like Prof. Wole Soyinka and others.”

While urging teachers to guide the pupils to choose the right course in line with their traits and talents, Alabi called on parents not to impose any course of study on their wards.

He also gave the pupils vouchers to purchase books and stationery at a bookshop in Ibadan.