Lagos Deputy Governor Calls for Total Reform of Secondary Education at Olivet Baptist High School’s 80th Anniversary
Lagos Deputy Governor Calls for Total Reform of Secondary Education at Olivet Baptist High School’s 80th Anniversary
From left, Chairman Central Planning Committee, Dr Olusegun Ahmadu; Lagos State deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; National President, NOSA, Dr Wale Okediran and Pastor Philip Akinola, representative of the Chief Launcher, Mr Femi Otedola, during the event organised by National Old Students Association of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, to celebrate the School's 80th anniversary.
OYO – Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s secondary education system, describing it as the foundation for national transformation and leadership development.
Speaking at the 80th anniversary fundraising and awards ceremony of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, Dr. Hamzat, an alumnus of the school, urged all stakeholders to collaborate in overhauling the secondary school framework to equip students with relevant skills for modern-day challenges.
“Our current education system is lagging behind in solving the evolving societal problems it was designed to address,” he said. “Secondary education must become the chamber of leadership formation and an innovation hub to foster entrepreneurial and environmental consciousness.”
Dr. Hamzat stressed the critical need to review outdated curricula, address infrastructure decay, and revive the core values that once defined Nigeria’s great schools — including discipline, civic consciousness, resilience, and accountability.
“No nation can rise beyond the quality of its education,” he said. “This phase of learning is where responsibility is introduced and character is built. We must reinvest in it if we are serious about charting a path to national rebirth.”
Reflecting on Olivet’s eight-decade legacy, Dr. Hamzat said the school’s greatest impact lies in the transformational contributions of its alumni across sectors including public service, diplomacy, academia, and private enterprise.
“Let this milestone not just be a celebration, but a clarion call to reignite the Olivet spirit and shape the next 80 years with even more distinguished leaders,” he said.
NOSA National President, Dr Wale Okediran (left) presenting award of excellence to Lagos State deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat during the event organised by National Old Students Association of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, to celebrate the School's 80th anniversary
Also speaking at the event, President of the Olivet Baptist High School National Old Students Association (OBHSNOSA), Dr. Wale Okediran, described the school as an emblem of academic, athletic, and moral excellence.
“For 80 years, Olivet has set the pace in inter-school academic competitions, sports, and holistic education,” he noted. “Its legacy is evident in the quality of its alumni and the school's continued evolution to meet present-day realities.”
Chairman of the Anniversary Central Planning Committee, Dr. Olusegun Ahmadu, made a passionate appeal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to reinstate the boarding house system in secondary schools across the state.
“The absence of boarding schools has weakened standards. Restoring this vital pillar will not only benefit Olivet but revive the golden era of secondary education in Oyo State,” he stated.
He called on all alumni to actively support efforts to restore the school's former glory, noting that the school’s readiness and commitment are evident in the quality of its alumni and ongoing revitalization initiatives.
The event drew a distinguished crowd of alumni, dignitaries, and well-wishers including Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman, Bi-Courtney Limited; Prof. Wande Abimbola, former Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University; Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, former Oyo Speaker and Senator for Oyo Central; His Eminence, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Oyebola Adeyeri III, Ajirotutu I.
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