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As part of the events to mark the 22nd year of graduating from secondary school, the representatives of Klub940, an alumni set of African Church Grammar School, Ita Iyalode, Ogun State, visited the school to make cash presentations to three individuals.
In a release made available to Freelanews and signed by the secretary of Afrograms OSA Club940, Comr. Kamorudeen Adegbokiki, two teachers and a pupil received the cash donations for their relentless efforts in putting the name of the school on world map.
The recipients included the Physics teacher, Peter Ajayi; ICT instructor, Olatunbosun Ganiu and a pupil, Gbolahan Ayinde.
According to the release, Ayinde was singled out for emerging first position at the just concluded JETS competition at Federal Government College, Keffi in Nasarawa State.
“Total cash donation of N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira Only) was presented to Mr. Peter Ajayi (The Physics Teacher), Mr. Olatunbosun Ganiu (The ICT Instructor) and Master. Gbolahan Azeem Ayinde (the pupil that emerged First at the just concluded JETS competition held in Nasarawa earlier this year.) The presentation took place in the Principal Office having the VP admin, the teachers and parents of Master Azeem,” Comrade Adegbokiki wrote.
Speaking on behalf of the president of Club 940, Rotn. Segun Showunmi, informed the school management that the anniversary was like 2years late because the members’ plan was to celebrate 20th of leaving the school.
“The clubset desired to have done something for the school to mark our 20th Anniversary, but for Covid19, we could not match up. We then want to use this moment to commemorate our over 20yrs of leaving the great school that have shaped us to become a better person in our individual chosen careers,” Rotn. Segun Showunmi said.
In his response, the principal of the school appreciated the old students for the gesture, while noting that this will go a long way in encouraging both the pupils and the teachers to strive for more success. He also used the opportunity to appeal to them to always remember the school leadership when showing appreciation such as this.
On their part, the beneficiaries took turn to appreciate the old students for the donations, while assuring the representatives that this will endeared them to their duties and focus more on making the school proud.
The event came to a close after cheques were presented to the recipients
You might not know much about Dr. Tunde Diya, the son of General Oladipo Diya, former Military Administration of Ogun State years back. He is currently in active politics. Though, he contested as a local government chairman, Odogbolu , Ogun State. But he didn’t win. He has started all over again looking at another position to contest for in 2023 general election.
In this interview, Dr. Tunde a medical doctor spoke about his journey in politics, life as a silver spoon son and how General Oladipo Diya waned him not to steal as a politician.
Excerpts :
Dr. Tunde Diya, it is my pleasure to have you?
You are welcome, Confirm News.
Our readers will want to know what kind of doctor are you?
I am a Medical doctor.
How long have you been practicing?
I have been practicing for about six years now.
I did clinical practice for 3 years but I decided to go into health care service provision and management. That is the space in the Medical field I am currently working in.
Is it private or public?
It is a private company. I set it up with a colleague of mine that we both did our Housemanship in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) together years back. We thank God, we are progressing.
As someone born with a silver spoon, being that your father was General Oladipo Diya, would you agree that this made you to achieve a lot?
I give Almighty God the glory for the fact that I have a pacesetter as a father and someone that worked hard through out his time in public service especially as Military Administration of Ogun State and even as the youngest platoon commander in Ikeja Military Cantonment. It was also reflective of his cabinet as an Administrator then as most of his appointees were based on merit. He got through his ranks in the prestigious Nigerian Army by merit. He sacrificed thirty-five years in active service for Nigeria. He served Nigeria very well. ‘Heaven helps those who helps themselves’ and God has been faithful, but I think the times have changed. In the South, there is a different mindset entirely. We believe in merit in the South. Someone like me who come from specific backgrounds, people expect us to do more. Even at that, whatever I wanted to do, I always put God first to guide and direct me.
Let us talk about your background, you are originally from Odogbolu, Ogun State but you were born and brought up in Lagos. Is your dad very strict on you while growing up?
Dr. Tunde Diya addressing audience at DTDF
Yes, I was born in Lagos. But everyone in Odogbolu knows that every Christmas, we are always at home , inside the family house, Agada area. I always travelled to Odogbolu for extended family events and etc. It has been a culture for me and all of us in the family. Of course since I started my Foundation work and politics, I have been more frequent in Odogbolu.
More so, In the military, they teach you how to be very disciplined. So in every aspect of one’s life, they teach you how to be very focused, determined and disciplined. Yes, my father was very strict. He doesn’t only have ten of us as his children but also had extended family from his older and younger brothers, friends, he chose to be responsible. My Grandfather was the Olugbon of Odogbon in Agada and a railway worker with the Railway Corporation. He wasn’t rich, neither was he poor, but he had many children also. General had to be extremely disciplined and prudent from an early age. He believed without discipline, one will not be able to achieve lots in life. His plan was to educate his entire family and beyond and to God be the glory, he achieved that. Initially, I myself wanted to be a military officer. I admired him a lot. seeing him dressing in military outfit, especially while we were in Abuja, it excited me. But along the line, I had this Aunt, who had a lot of influence on my dad. Her husband was a doctor in the military also; she was equally a nurse. She influenced me towards leaning to medicine. I was in Kings College then. I did JSS 1- 3 there. From there, I moved to Ibadan to finish my secondary school in a private school. My primary to secondary school weren’t all public schools till my move to Ibadan. So suddenly, Medicine just go planted on my mind. Of course, it is a prestigious profession and my dad and mum supported me. I am also working hard to achieve a lot. Coming into politics, you contested for Odogbolu Local Government Chairmanship position, unfortunately you didn’t win, did you have your dad’s support. Lots of people reacted that you should have won being the son of former military governor of Ogun State?
Dr. Tunde Diya attending to old women health care in Odogbolu
Before I started politics, I went to him for his blessings. He asked me why I was going into politics, if it was for going sake or if I had a passion for doing things differently in politics? He also asked that are you sure you are not going into politics to embezzle money? I wasn’t shocked as I had heard him on numerous occasions speak about the need for people to want to serve without ‘ojukokoro’ like they say. He is completely against corruption and laziness in public office holders. A lot of people who know him will tell you he has always been very blunt about this. To God be the glory, while he was the Military Administrator of Ogun State, or Vice President and after, there has not been any case or issue as to this regard. He was and is still a very contented man.
What was your reaction when you contested for Odogbolu Local Government Chairman but it didn’t go your way?
The truth is when I ventured into Politics, I looked around me, there was something about APC that inspired me. APC is a party that provided the platform for Nigerian youth to showcase themselves. APC gives the youth that opportunity to effect the desired change into Nigerian politics. The Electoral Act ( Amendment ) bill just passed by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is exciting the youth right now, more confidence has been built amongst the electorates, voter registration may increase, the technology world is booming with Hundreds of Millions of US Dollars pouring into our economy which is a very youth friendly sector, attractive to the generation Z we may need to handle with a lot of care , unlike the health care sector where that’s a sector more appealing to the older generation. All this happening in an APC-led government. So I came in with that passion to make a difference. I set up the Doctor Tunde Diya Foundation (DTDF) with The Yellow initiative (TYI ). The Yellow Initiative particularly was set up to support His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR and the people of Ogun State which is a continuous process. If people collectively support a government, things will move forward for all of us. So for my people and I, the main focus of seeking public office is to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people which is engraved in my heart permanently with a mindset of the need to implement policies that will benefit people. I decided to focus on starting at the Local Government level. A leader in the APC once told me “Politics is from bottom to the top”, I took it as a good advice and it stuck, that’s why I started from the Local Government Level. A lot of my friends, colleagues, supporters were shocked and felt Local Government was low for me. I thanked them for holding me in high regard but I disagreed with them. To me it has never been about high or low. It has always been about treating the fundamental issues which stem majorly from the grassroots. Tackling it at that point will alleviate a lot from the socio-economic issues and etc. So not winning that election will never stop me from pursuing my goals and agenda to improve the lives of the people of Odogbolu or Ogun State as a whole. The foundation is still on going, the Yellow Initiative is still 100% active with the Environmental Upkeep and Upgrade Work, Health Care Project and the Free Education Work with a lot still planned even after the Elections. It is simply not my work or within my power but Gods work and I am just his servant and messenger.
