Sacred Heart Catholic College, Abeokuta marks 20th anniversary in grand style
ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
The grand finale of the twenty years anniversary of the Sacred Heart Catholic College (SHCC), Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta came to a fanfare end on Friday at the college play ground.
The anniversary celebration themed ‘Celebrating God’s Goodness’ had in attendance Most Rev. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo, Proprietor of the school, as well as the Bishop Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta; Rev. Fr. Patrick Oke, Director of Education at the Abeokuta diocese; Chief Michael Odusola, representative of Olubara of Ibara, and many others.
Activities marking the anniversary started with opening mass, the Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus in June while novelty match one, lectures for students and staff, as well as valedictory service were held in July.
Also, the school visited royal father and charity homes in September, as the month of October was occupied with cultural day and exhibition, novelty match two, road walk, award and dinner night, just as the grand finale climaxed the anniversary.
The day event was charged with the cultural display, dancing and short playlet by the students to the admiration of the dignitaries, parents, guests and amongst.
In her welcome address, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Chinyere J. Ezeofor appreciated God for doing wonders in the lives of the students, staff and parents. She remarked that the school has over the years recorded tremendous achievements in the area of academic and sports.
“Our students have won academic laurels and other awards that are too numerous to list. These have corroborated what parents said at the beginning that Catholics are wonderful in the areas of health and education.
“At twenty, the school is almost losing count of the number of professionals that it has produced in various field of endeavour. Our alumni excel in their chosen careers within and outside the country. Two of them are priests of the holy Catholic church, they are Rev. Frs. Benedict Ashade, and Victor Adesanya,” she stated.
Similarly, the proprietor, Most Rev. Odetoyinbo in a chat with Daily Dispatch remarked that he assumed as the proprietor of the school five years ago, and God mercy has been the source of the school growth and development over the years.
He said: “I have only been in the school for five years and we can see the enormous progress that have been made in all ramifications. Is it in their intellectual activities or sporting activities, the staff, the students have always been at great level.
“And I am so grateful and satisfactory about it. And I give glory to God for all the successes recorded and look forward for more of blessings and favour from God.
“As circumstances and event arise, we will continue to meet up with the standard that we believe we want to take the school to all areas, and the children themselves have demonstrated that they are capable, and are filled with capacity to meet up with the standard anywhere in the country.”
In the same vein, director of education, Rev. Fr. Oke noted: “The last twenty years have been good and so wonderful to tutor children, also to impart knowledge into them. I must tell you that at the beginning it was not easy, most especially because of the funding, but we thank God.
“He has always been necessary grace and support through the instrumentality of the people of the Catholic diocese of Abeokuta, we truly appreciate them, especially all our parishioners who have contributed immensely to the growth of the facility we have witnessed today.
“There are lots of challenges we have been facing, obvious of them is the changes in the system, different curriculum from government and most time they do not go in line with our own Catholic education, what the church actually wants to impact in the children.
“In the face of all these challenges, the church continue to stand its feet and still remain focus to say that this is where we are going and I am sure that the state and country at large is learning from what the Catholic church is doing, because we are the first to impacting knowledge when it comes into education. Catholic education, there is nothing like it.”
However, the highlight of the celebration was the cutting of the anniversary cake, presentation of gifts to the proprietor and director of education by staff of the school in appreciation of their contributions towards the development of education in the school.
