The Class of 1975 of Atakumosa High School, Osu, Osun State, has commemorated its golden jubilee with a renewed pledge to uphold the welfare of its members globally.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The milestone celebration, which took place on the school grounds in Osu, drew members of the set, their families, and friends. As part of the activities, the group unveiled three commemorative projects: beautification of the school premises, the reconstruction of the school gate, and the fencing of the frontage—all fully funded and executed by members of the set.

In her address, Mrs. Kofoworola Ogunbiyi-Ajelabi, the Set Senior Girl and chairperson of the Class of ’75, reflected on the group’s journey toward reunion, which began nine years ago.

“Fifty years feel like yesterday. Time has flown,” she said. “It’s heartwarming to see how far we’ve come—many of us have reached the pinnacle of our careers, distinguished in various fields, both at home and abroad.”

She described the 1975 class as the final group to graduate under the leadership of the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati—who would later become Governor of Ondo State—and noted the uniqueness of the set.

“By God’s grace, we have produced distinguished professionals, academics, and thriving entrepreneurs. Our bond of love remains unmatched,” she said.

According to Ogunbiyi-Ajelabi, the reunion journey began in earnest in 2016, with the official launch of the group’s platforms on July 14, 2017. Their first virtual reunion was held on June 27, 2020, with 30 members in attendance. It was at this virtual meeting that members began contributing towards their legacy projects.

“Through God’s grace and our collective commitment, we handed over a newly constructed gate with a security house to the national body of AHSOSA on June 24, 2022,” she stated.

She also noted that the group hosted a Reunion Lecture and grand luncheon that year to mark their 47th graduation anniversary. In January 2023, the set actively participated in the school’s 60th Founder’s Day celebration, paying their N1.7 million levy and taking on two major projects: the fencing of the school frontage and overall beautification of the compound.

“These three landmark projects—worth an estimated N20 million—were fully conceptualised and executed by our set,” Ogunbiyi-Ajelabi declared.

She proudly described the 70/75 Set as trailblazers, citing three successful physical reunions held in Ilesa, Ibadan, and Epe over the past two years, with participation from both local and diaspora members.

Speaking on the group’s internal welfare efforts, she affirmed that the well-being of members remains a top priority. “We’ve consistently supported each other and will continue to do so,” she assured.

Ogunbiyi-Ajelabi also paid heartfelt tribute to their former teachers, acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping the lives of the students.

“We are immensely grateful to our teachers—especially our late principal, Chief Adebayo Adefarati—who guided us to academic success and continued to monitor our progress years after graduation. May his soul rest in peace,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to surviving teachers present at the celebration, commending their foundational impact on the students’ lives.

Earlier in the event, Mr. Lateef Bakare, National President of the Atakumosa High School Old Students’ Association and the Ajirowa Adimula of Ijesaland, used the occasion to celebrate his 70th birthday by donating a newly reconstructed two-flat building to accommodate youth corps members serving in the school.

Bakare called on the Osun State Government to reinstate the boarding system in secondary schools and urged a speedy conclusion to the ongoing teachers’ recruitment process to bolster staff capacity in schools like Atakumosa.