As the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Ilamoye Grammar School Pioneer Class of 1985 gather momentum, the alumni today hosted a vibrant Students’ Party, Awards, and Prize-Giving Day—an event that blended celebration with purpose.
What began as a simple milestone reunion has transformed into something far more profound: a rediscovery of home and heritage.
Their return—warm, emotional, and deeply intentional—signalled a new chapter in the year-long commemoration of their four decades of shared history. It also underscored a powerful truth often missed in discussions about public education: schools endure not merely through government funding, but through the people who carry their stories, who return with gratitude, and who choose to rebuild the foundations that once shaped them.
A Reunion Rooted in Purpose
The Class of ’85 had already set a high bar with their recent medical outreach, conducted in partnership with the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo on Saturday 22nd November 2025. But on this visit, they came not with stethoscopes or medical kits, but with stories, nostalgia, and a mission to inspire.
Rear Admiral Joseph Daniel Akpan, who chairs the anniversary committee, set the tone. His remarks were less about ceremony and more about reflection. He spoke of the inter-faith services held earlier—Christian and Muslim alumni praying separately yet bonded by shared memories. He described the 40th anniversary as a moment to “reaffirm values,” but for many in the crowd, it felt like a moment to reconnect with their younger selves.
For the students watching, the sight of accomplished men and women returning with humility and affection made a quiet but powerful statement: greatness has simple beginnings.
“Your Legacy Is Still Here,” Principal Tells Alumni
The Principal of Ilamoye Junior Grammar School, Mrs. Oyenike Oyelade, welcomed the alumni with the warmth of someone who understands the weight of their gesture. She praised their culture of discipline and excellence—qualities she said have become part of the school’s identity.
Her words held a subtle challenge for today’s students:
Look at what your seniors have become. Let their journey inspire yours.
The encouragement landed gently, but firmly.
A President, A People, A Promise
For the Alumni Association President, Aileru Abiodun Ganiu, the day was a reminder of how far the 1985 Set has come—across continents, industries, and leadership spheres. He acknowledged those joining virtually from the diaspora, highlighting that distance has never weakened their commitment.
His recognition of traditional rulers within the cohort—such as the Baale of Mowe, Baale Osohunbi, and Oba Moshood Lawal—offered a moving portrait of the diverse paths taken by classmates who once wore the same uniform. Their presence reflected the alumni’s collective story: one of transformation, leadership, and community.
A Teacher’s Return, a Moment of Tears
But the day’s most emotional moment arrived quietly.
When retired teacher, Mr. Peter Chikwe—now living in Port Harcourt—was ushered in by surprise, the hall erupted. Students formed a guard of honour. Alumni who had not seen him in decades embraced him with the reverence reserved for life-shaping mentors.
For a moment, the years fell away.
Students saw grown men and women tear up before the teacher who once taught them discipline, English language, mathematics, or perhaps simply how to believe in themselves.
It was the kind of moment that makes a school more than a building.
It makes it a family.
Investing in Tomorrow’s Students
The celebration closed with an awards segment—cash prizes and recognition for academic excellence and outstanding conduct. For the alumni, it was not charity. It was seed-planting
Best students in forst Category were: ARO JEGEDE SAMUEL from JSS 1A, ESAGBODJE REBECCA FAVOUR from JSS 2B and OSASONA AYOMIDE from JSS 3A
In the Second Category as best students were OGUNSOLA DEBORAH SEUNFUNMI from JSS 1A , ABDULQUADRI KEHINDE ROKEEB from JSS 2A and REUBEN DAVID EKPE from JSS 3A
While in Best Students in the third category were JINADU OPEYEMI TAUFEEK from JSS 1B, ABDULQUADRI TAIWO ROKEEBAT from JSS 2A and AJIBODE PRINCESS from JSS 3B
A quiet investment in the next generation—one that might one day return with their own stories and their own desire to give back.
A Legacy That Lives Forward
As they continue their anniversary activities, the Class of ’85 has made one thing clear: this celebration is not about nostalgia alone. It is about sustaining a cycle—of mentorship, support, growth, and gratitude.
In a time when many alumni associations are awakening to their role in rebuilding Nigeria’s educational sector, Ilamoye’s Class of ’85 stands out not just for their generosity, but for their heart.
They returned as a group of adults with careers, titles, and achievements. But beneath all of that, they returned as the teenagers who once dreamed in the classrooms of Ilamoye Grammar School.
And in choosing to give back, they have ensured that the dreams born there will continue to thrive—one student, one classroom, one act of service at a time.
