By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
A community secondary school in Kwara State, Patigi Secondary School, has boasted of producing 10 professors among its other successful alumni in their various chosen careers in 50 years.
Patigi Secondary School Old Boys Association, PASSOBA, made this revelation in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while preparing for the Golden Jubilee celebration of their ‘alma mata.’
President of PASSOBA, Prof. Mohammed Gana; a former Nigerian Ambassador to Japan, during a chat with journalists, described their old school as the “best learning centre and not just an ordinary school.”
Gana averred that the institution has produced prominent personalities and nationalists who were making waves both at home and outside the shores of Nigeria.
He said, “At least, 10 professors have come out of this institution, and we are still counting. There are some who are also on the way to become professors. We have people of high calibre, who can also be traced back to this school.
“We are not just celebrating 50 years for nothing. We are celebrating 50 years of breakthrough and huge achievement.
“This school has produced medical doctors, ambassadors, political giants, commissioners, speakers, heads of service, and even royal fathers, to mention a few.”
Gana disclosed that Patigi Secondary School was established in 1970 and should have marked its 50 years anniversary last year, but the celebration was postponed due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Insisting that the idea of the 50 years celebration was to showcase the achievementsof the school, bring back old students and chart a way forward for the school, Gana said that the anniversary has been slated for between April 7 and 10, 2021.
Programme of activities for the Golden Jubilee celebration include: free medical outreach, entertainments, award presentation, way forward chats and prayer sessions for the school, students and the alumni.
He also commended the contributions of the three founding fathers of the school, who he named as the late Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Idris Gana; the late Alhaji Mahmoud Koro and the late Ahman Saba Pategi.
Personalities expected at the ceremony, according to Professor Gana, include: Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Etsu Tsaragi, Alhaji Aliyu Ndakpotwa Abdullahi; House of Representatives member representing Kwara North federal constituency, Ahman Pategi, among others.
Meanwhile, Gana has lamented the poor infrastructural facilities in the school and called on the Kwara State government to help build modern classrooms and science laboratories in the school.
He said, “We need furniture and books in the library. The alumni are trying their best, but we need the support of the government to improve standard of education in the school.”
