The immediate-past National President of St. Bernadine Old Students Association, Mr. Nurudeen Adebayo Adelakun, who is popularly called Bayo Delak, has donated an 80-seater pavilion to the institution.
The edifice called ‘Bayo Delak Pavilion’ was donated to the now St. Bernadine’s Girls Grammar School, Oyo, in memory of his late father, Alhaji Kazeem Adelakun, who was a chairman of Oyo East local government area of Oyo State.
The pavilion, commissioned by the Oyo State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Akin-Williams Funmilayo, on Saturday amidst funfair, was to commemorate the end of tenure of the Adelakun-led executives from 2019.
Adelakun, a professional builder, described the gesture as one initiative to cap his four years of two consecutive terms of leadership as national president of the alumni association between 2019 and 2023.
The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife trained building expert said the self-funded project was conceived in appreciation to God and repaying the age-long institution for impacting him and others at the formative years.
“The pavilion was constructed and donated by me personally for the upliftment of the school and to climax my administration for the use of mankind.
“It wasn’t a government or political project, but my contribution to give back to humanity and the school that was part of our foundation in becoming who we are today.
“I thank God and my executive; the school and also the students for the opportunity to serve, and successes we recorded as executive of the alumni association,” Adelakun said.
The Abuja-based Quantity Surveyor said the now St. Bernadine’s Girls Grammar School, Oyo, is today one of the best schools in the state due to some developmental initiatives attracted to the school by the alumni association under his leadership.
“We really turned the school around during our four-year leadership. We are one of the best schools now in Oyo State.
“We have two major ICT Centers inside the school and we also have vocational centres while in the four years, we ensured that all our classrooms are renovated for conducive teaching and learning activities. I am glad that both the students and teachers are at peace and can engage under a very conducive environment,” he said.
Commissioning the edifice, Mr. Funmilayo congratulated the donor for the kind gesture to the institution, and lauded the past executive members for their cooperation, which led to the successes recorded under them.
“This is a practical example of how not to forget our roots. I salute the courage, support and dedication of Builder Adelakun and your team to what we are seeing today. I believe that if others can emulate this, most institutions with alumni associations would greatly partner with the government to have better education today.
“We are proud of you and urge others to emulate this in the interest of the educational development and progress of Oyo State. Government alone cannot do it. Thank you for your efforts,” the Commissioner said.
Dignitaries at the event included the Member representing Oyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Akeem Adeyemi, who was represented by Alh. Taofeek Lamid; former National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola; Rector, Federal School of Survey, Oyo, Professor Nihinlola Olayinka-Dosumu and Provost, College of Education, Lanlate, Mr. Michael Falade.
Others are notable Islamic cleric, Alh. Imam Daud Igi Ogun; Rev’d Fr. Oke; Arole Isiaka Kazeem Tunde; Tutor General of Teaching Service Commission, Ogbomoso Zone, Pastor Olatunde Suulola, among others.
