The outgoing Principal of Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, Mr. Ogunleye Okeowo has charged the teachers in both primary and secondary schools to see their profession as a noble one, which they should be proud of at all times.
He made the statement in Akure at a press conference to kick start the activities marking his Sixtieth birthday and retirement from the Ondo State Civil Service.
Having served over 32years as a teacher, Ogunleye said he has never regretted taking up the profession, which he believed gave him all round peace of mind. “I am proud to be a teacher and I never saw myself as a second class fiddle to other professions, ” he said.
Ogunleye, recalled that his teaching career began at Ifo High School, Ifo in Ogun State as a Youth Corps in 1990, where he was also responsible for the teaching and coaching of the school team that later won Principal Cup for the First time.
He joined the Teaching Service of Ondo State in 1992 and was posted to Eka Marun Secondary School, Ifon, and later Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure in 1993, where he was until 2011, before he was transferred to St. Louis Akure and thereafter CAC Grammar School, Akure.
Ogunleye in his remark said he has served as a Vice Principal, Uso Grammar School, Uso and as Principal of Amoye Grammar School in Owo, before he was appointed Principal of Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure on November 23, 2020.
Highlighting his achievements at Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, he ascribed the success to the support and collaboration of the Alumni Association under the leadership of the Global President, Dr. Niyi Ijogun, the PTA and the members of staff and the students as a whole.
According to him, since his returned to Oyemekun Grammar School as the Principal, there have been significant improvements in the moral standards, academic performances, and sporting activities of the students. He said in the last four years, the students performance at the West African Examination Council, WAEC and National Examination Council, NECO have been one hundred percent. Also in the game of sports, they are champions in the game of basketball and volleyball, both at the state and national levels.
According to him, some of the students, Chukwu Ebenezer performed excellently in athletics and represented Nigeria in Turkey at an international competition, also the duo of Solomon Philip and Dubem also broke the Guinness World of Records in Rope skipping.
On infrastructure, Ogunleye said Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure is wearing a new look with the construction of more buildings and renovations of the existing structures towards making the teaching and learning activities more conducive. Most importantly the newly constructed administrative block that was built by the Global President of OGSA Alumni Association, Dr. Niyi Ijogun is the first of its kind in Ondo State, which the school is so proud of.
He said in the last three and half years, they have been able to renovate more than 36 classrooms, renovations of sporting facilities, construction of an ultra modern canteen and fully equipped the science and other laboratories. Also, the one storey building classroom has been completed. All these he attributed to the support of the OGSA Alumni Association, PTA and different Sets of the Old Boys.
Ogunleye, a multi award winning principal also reeled out some of his meritorious awards in the course of his stewardship as the principal, the awards which include, Best Principal in Southwest, National Best Principal Award by the Nigeria Military, Outstanding Leadership Award, Excellent Administrator, Pillar of Education in Nigeria and the Presidency Award as the Best Principal in the Public School in Nigeria.
As he takes a bow from the Ondo State Civil Service, Ogunleye also called on the teaching, non teaching staff and the students of the school to give their unalloyed support and cooperation to his successor as they have done for him. He enjoined them not to relent in their good deeds which they have been exhibiting towards the sustainability of the top position of Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, the only school.
The Global President of the OGSA Alumni Association, Dr. Niyi Ijogun in his remarks said he salutes the courage and dedication of the outgoing Principal, whom he said is an embodiment of strength, talent and creativity. According to him, having served 23 years in Oyemekun, Mr. Ogunleye has impacted many lives positively with evidence to proof.
While commending his contribution to humanities, he prayed for more of God’s grace upon him as he takes a bow from the civil service.
