By Adedapo Adesanya
Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos is holding its 60th Anniversary Celebration from February 17-24, 2024.
According to the Old Girls’ Association of the school, the celebration is necessitated by the impact that the founder of the school, Mrs Evangeline Adelaja, has laid down in contributing to the growth and development of the education of the Nigerian girl child.
The President of Eva Adelaja Old Girls Association (OGA), Mrs Rhoda Ayinde, said, “We are beneficiaries of the sacrifice and great investments of Mama Evangeline Abebayo Adelaja, our proprietress and founder. We are grateful for the opportunity of being raised by this Godly, courageous, caring, and passionate mother in a million.”
She lauded the foundation of Godliness and upright values that the founder inculcated in the girls over the years that have made products of the institution stand out in respective fields and endeavours.
“It is also to encourage people, that if you can dare to dream, your dreams can come to reality. Mama dreamed and made education all-inclusive and gender-balanced. That’s why she decided despite all odds to start a girls’ all secondary school in a community where we didn’t have any secondary school for girls, where girls can be raised.”
“We have many of the old girls in different spheres of life. There are so many medical doctors, we even have Justice among us, we have renowned and seasoned administrators, we have businesswomen who are thriving in their fields. God has been good to us and He has made us a blessing to our generation and nation.”
She also added that the quality of education offered by the 60-year-old institution has not waned, instead has continued from the standards set by the founder.
“In the past few years, our girls’ performances have been very outstanding. They have won so many laurels and have done us proud. They’ve competed with top schools and came out on top, these are enough reasons to thank God. It is a fulfilment of the dreams of our proprietress.”
She added that the milestone will be an opportunity for the alma mater to feel the impact of its alumni.
“We are looking forward to a beautiful outing and to celebrate and reward those that have supported us,” adding that this includes the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.
To mark the diamond jubilee of the school, the events have been structured into a week-long affair which kicks off on Saturday, February 17 with the Praise Day and Community Hymn Singing at Chapel of Christ the Light in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. This is scheduled to start by 2 p.m.
This will be followed by a Fun Day scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, at the school compound located at 1, Adepeju Street, Bariga, Lagos from 8 a.m. onwards. This will feature a novelty match, charity visit, rally, health talk, and a raffle draw.
On Thursday, February 22, there will be an anniversary lecture and documentary from 10 a.m. at 10 Degrees Event Centre Plot A2, along Billings Way in Oregun.
The celebration will culminate with a dual event starting with a thanksgiving at Chapel of Christ the Light scheduled to start by 9 a.m. This is followed by a reception and awards ceremony by 12 noon.
Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School, Bariga was founded in 1964 by Mrs Eva Adebayo Adelaja. The school was formerly known as Girls Secondary School. It was privately owned until 1969 when it became grant-aided by the Lagos State Government. In 1974, it was completely taken over by the government.
Modupe Gbadeyanka