Former governors of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande and Bola Tinubu, have been rewarded for initiating reforms in the state’s education sector. They were among awardees at the 40th anniversary of Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School (BHMGS), Bariga, Lagos State.
At a colourful ceremony recently, Jakande, the first executive governor, was bestowed with a sterling leadership award for his vision in the formulation of policies that gave birth to the school, while Tinubu got the same award for his government’s role in returning missionary schools to original owners.
Former Super Eagles player, Godwin Okpara, was given an eminent member honour as an old student of the school, while the principal, Tunde Oduwole, got the meritorious gold service laurel in the category of the current and former principals of the school.
The late Revd. Adelakun Williamson Howells was honoured with a post-humous sterling leadership award.
Highlights of the occasion include the planting of 40 trees by dignitaries and donation of air-conditioners, public address system for the multi-purpose hall, steel doors, automatic project display screen, complete with a next-gen laptop for electronic projection and presentations in Mercy Demben Hall. The ICT suite was upgraded by the various sets of the school’s alumni.
In his address, Oduwole described the 40 years as a significant figure indicating maturity, victory and huge success.
“I am grateful to God, who has granted us maturity since the school was founded on October 3, 1980 by the Jakande’s administration. HMGS was School Four of CMS Grammar School, the oldest secondary school in Nigeria. The founding principal of the school, Mr. B.A. Niwo, was an old student of CMS Grammar School.
“Past governors of Lagos were awarded because it was during the administration of Jakande that the school was founded and under Tinubu that schools were returned to the missionaries, against all odds.
“The awards are just to salute the two of them and the governors in their successive generations. That is why we also gave an award to the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, on behalf of the state government.
Secretary of HNGS ’95 set and Chairman, organising committee, 40th Founders’ Day, Sodiq Afinah, said the set deemed it fit to give back to their alma mater, while the set’s governor, Adejoke Ajayi, lauded the school’s impact on students.
