Baptist Academy Old Students Meet 22 Years After Graduation

Kingsley Momoh - Lagos

It was indeed a day of joy for 1994 set old boys of Baptist Academy, one of the oldest educational institutions in Nigeria. Founded in 1855 the school located in Obanikoro Lagos has been the citadel of great talent. The old boys many of whom are in their early 40s couldn't hide their joy as many of them were seeing themselves for the first time in 22 years.

Old boys singing their school song

The reunion program started on Thursday 24th November at the school hall of Baptist Academy Obanikoro during the annual thanksgiving of the school. The 1994 set had donated notebooks to present students of the school as a preamble to future projects. At the presentation which took place in the school hall, the Principal, Rev Mrs. B.A. Ladoba noted that it was the first time she would be having contact with the set and it was really a thing of joy to be having the first contact in such an honourable way. She thanked the set and their gift to the school and prayed that GOD will continue to enrich the members in all their concerns.

Addressing teachers, present students, and other old students at the event, Mr. Iromini Babatunde a member of 1994 set in testimony said that GOD has been faithful in the lives of the members of the set and felt privileged to be sitting in the same hall he wrote his o'levels 22 years ago as a student.

Speaking to Guguru FM another old student who flew in from Italy for the program, Mr. Orunu Amurun, said he had no other option but to come over to Nigeria to be part of this great occasion because he owes his beginning to Baptist Academy. He said that the feeling of meeting his childhood friends was a burning desire he has nursed since the day the Whatsapp group was started by UK based old student, Pastor John Chukwuka.

The climax of the reunion held at the Bridge house GRA Ikeja Lagos on the 26th of November 2016. It was a gala of sorts with the old students all dressed in white symbolizing the legendary school uniform of Baptist Academy.

Chief Babatunde Banjoko, Elected President

They beamed with smiles in their white items of clothing as they hugged themselves and tried to remember their names, nicknames, and shared memories.

Shoes and clothing accessory mogul, CEO of Nextdour clothing, Badejo Gbolahan, and Pastor Timothy Osayamwem both old boys were some of the early callers at the Bridge house venue and they had their nerves relaxed in the swimming pool which was just right for the hot weather. As other members arrived, the DJ saturated the atmosphere with songs from the 80s & 90s depicting the moments the old boys met for the first time in their lives.

Award-winning journalist and actor, Kingsley Momoh who is a member of the set anchored the program. He revealed to Guguru FM that the set is made up of professionals in various spheres of society. He disclosed that the set has Pastors, top military officers, Architects, bankers, engineers, media practitioners, actors, Environmentalists, university lecturers, businessmen among others. While addressing the gathering, he said that the reunion was a foundation of greater things to come.

At the point where their school anthem and school song were sung, all the residents of the GRA must have felt the frenzy as the old boys' baritone voices rented the air with a strength that conjures envy to those who heard them sing.

Iromini Babatunde, Dorunsinmi-Etti, Kingsley Momoh, Gbolahan Badejo, Gafar Dare, Abass Akinbola, and Seyi Adekoya presenting exercise books to the principal Rev Mrs. Ladoba.

They observed a minute of silence in honour of their late classmates who passed on within the 22 years of separation and also an election was held to an executive team that would lead the group in its quest to further make them never experience the distance they have had in 22 years and also, find various ways by which they can contribute their quota to making their alma mata a better place.

Some of the highlights of the event was the presence of two ex-teachers of the school, Mr. Shode, and Mr. Patrick Oyetola who is presently the principal of a secondary school in Lagos. The former Baptist Academy teachers expressed their happiness in being part of the event and thanked GOD for the opportunity of seeing their ex-students doing well and pledged to support the set in any way they can in the future.

BAOSA 1994 Reps In The School Hall

The chairman of the planning committee of the event, Adeoye Akingbola praised his team and was grateful that despite the many challenges that came up prior to the event, the days eventually came successfully and prayed that the set will be exemplary in the school and globally. The Baptacad 1994 set has a global presence with members living across the globe in Europe, America and Asia.

Pastor John Chukwuka of the Redeemed Christian Church of GOD who started the Whatsapp group that translated into the event expressed his gratitude to the planning committee and hoped for better integration of the members of the set. Another member of the set, APC stalwart, Barrister Ade Ayeni noted that there was nothing better than being among those who GOD decided to be your childhood friend.

The new executive team is made up of Chief Babatunde Banjoko as the President, Adeoye Akingbola as Vice President and Tokunbo Gidado as the Vice president in the diaspora. Others are Kingsley Momoh as the secretary, Orehin Ahmed as the treasurer, Gbolahan Badejo as the social secretary.

Elected Executives, Kingsley Momoh,Orehin Ahmed, Babatunde Banjoko, Former Teacher Mr. Shode (Father P), Adeoye Akingbola, and Badejo Gbolahan.

In his acceptance speech, Banjoko Babatunde who is a telecom engineer and consultant expressed his desire to set a platform for great networking of members of the set and development of the school.

The old boys later took to the dance floor with their wives to old and new tunes.