OHSOSA President Salami Highlights Achievements, Challenges at 2025 End-of-Year Reunion

The President of the Oke Odo High School (Ebute-Metta) Old Students’ Association (OHSOSA), Alhaji Bello Olanrewaju Salami, has expressed deep appreciation to members of the association while outlining the year’s major achievements and challenges during the 2025 End-of-Year Reunion Celebration.

Addressing distinguished executives, members, and guests at the colourful gathering, Salami described the event as “a moment of reflection, appreciation, and renewed commitment,” noting that the association has made impressive strides despite encountering a number of setbacks.

The president highlighted several accomplishments recorded under his administration:

• Stronger Administrative Structure:
  The association improved its internal coordination through enhanced communication channels and a more efficient administrative process.
• Improved Financial Standing:
  Through the dedication of members, the association strengthened its finances, enabling it to embark on new projects and prioritise members’ welfare.
• Inauguration of a Medical Health Committee:
  A new health committee now provides members with free medical checkups, free drugs, health lectures, and interactive sessions with medical experts at every general meeting.
• Securing a Secretariat:
  OHSOSA successfully acquired a functional office space for the association and its alma mater.
• Educational Support for Students:
  In commemoration of the first anniversary of the current administration, branded exercise books and pens were distributed to students of Oke Odo Junior High School.
• Support for Annual Inter-House Sports:
  The association played a key moral and financial role in the school’s annual sports competition held two weeks earlier.
• Awards to School Benefactors:
  Outstanding philanthropists were honoured for their contributions to the continued growth and development of the school.
• Maiden Beach Party:
  A first-of-its-kind beach hangout was organised as a relaxation and bonding session for members.

While celebrating the wins of the year, Salami stated that the association also faced notable challenges:

• Poor attendance at the bi-monthly general meetings
• Limited financial participation by members in key programmes
• Unencouraging attitudes exhibited by some executive members

He appealed to all members, including members of the executive, to “turn a new leaf” for the collective progress of the association.

The president revealed that the executive team is working towards securing government approval for the upgrading of Oke Odo High School to a senior secondary school. He added that the association envisions improved welfare for members, students, and staff as part of this future plan.

As the year winds down, Salami urged all members to recommit themselves to unity, participation, and shared growth.

“Together, we can overcome every challenge and achieve even greater success,” he said.

He wished members a joyful Christmas celebration and a prosperous New Year.

Two of the awardees, Aare Ajibola Fagade and Hon. Tunji Adegbenro, said the recognition would further inspire them to give back to society, especially to Oke Odo High School, which played a significant role in shaping their early lives.

They also renewed the call for greater commitment from members of the Old Students’ Association, particularly in improving funding for projects in Oke Odo High School in the coming years.

On her part, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Folashade Moradeke Atiba, expressed deep appreciation for the consistent financial and material support from the Old Students’ Association, noting that their contributions have helped reposition the school for improved performance.

She stated that the last visit by the Old Students boosted the hopes and aspirations of the students, assuring that more pupils would win prizes during their next engagement.

Mrs. Atiba added that the end-of-year reunion provided a valuable platform for bonding and networking among members and wished them a memorable celebration.

While delivering a brief health talk at the event, Ajia Margret Adeola, daughter of one of the old students, cautioned against addiction, describing it as a path that often leads to a shorter and miserable life.

She identified one common form of addiction as the uncontrolled use of the widely consumed pain reliever, Paracetamol, to manage body aches. According to her, regular exercise is a healthier alternative to depending on drugs.

Ajia Margret Adeola, a final-year student of the University of Lagos, also recommended drinking water early in the morning to help stabilise the body system but warned against the consumption of local herbal mixtures.