All is now set for the 50th anniversary of Ijumu Anglican Science Secondary School Iyara, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State and launching of #50 million for infrastructure development of the School.
The epoch making event is scheduled to hold on Saturday 29th May, 2021 at the school premises, Iyara headquarters of Ijumu Local Government Area beginning from 10am prompt.
The anniversary is to be Chaired by the member representing Yagba Federal Constituency, Hon. Leke Abejide while, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is the Special Guest of Honour with Barr. Babatunde Irukera, Chief Excecutive Officer, Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission FCCPC as Chief Launcher.
Others expected at the occasion include; the Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi who is an Alumni of the School, Chief Olufumilayo Bodunde as Chairperson/Mother of the Day, with Obaro of Kabba and Chairman Okun Traditional Council, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi as distinguished Royal Father of the Day.
The rest are; the Executive Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Alhaji Taofiq Isa as Guest of Honour, Olujumu of Ijumu, Oba Williams Olusegun Ayeni JP and Right Reverend Dr. Paul Ojo as Royal and Spiritual Fathers of the Day.
The event which will have a conglomerates of Alumni of the School in attendance will also feature a Lecture by Right Reverend Professor Dapo F. Asaju, Bishop Theologian, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.
Ijumu Anglican Secondary School (IASS), now Ijumu Anglican Science Secondary School IASS Iyara, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State was established fifty years ago to among others build a godly Generation that families and the society at large will be proud of.
We should not forget the fact that the School was also established to primarily provide quality education for its students, inculcate virtues of discipline, hardwork, selflessness, honesty, humility, transparency and accountability, and other moral values in its students.
This burden was thoughtful and aimed at producing an all-round baked students, many of whom are proud ambassadors of the School, contributing meaningfully to the development of Nigeria and the world in their chosen careers.
The history of the School can be traced to December 23rd, 1966, when Iyara Dispensary was being commissioned. The community leaders met and proposed that Iyara should have a college under the Anglican Mission.
One Pa John Ale, the then Baba Ijo of The Anglican Church conveyed the message to his church, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Iyara which upon receiving the message did not hesitate in summoning Iyara Parish meeting which came up on 19th January, 1967.
At this inaugural meeting, the Parochial Church Council (P.C.C) joyful gave a nod to the establishment of Ijumu Anglican Secondary School in Iyara.
Similarly, the meeting led to the delegation of Pa John Ale and S.I. Ibidun of Iyara and Aiyetoro Gbedde respectively to Ogidi to keep the Anglican community there informed of the proposed Secondary School.
Members of Saint John’s Anglican Church, Ogidi, gave their blessings to the proposal and also assured Pa Ale and Ibidun that they would attend the meeting when summoned. Series of meetings were held all over Ijumu land to consult and mobilize the people of Ijumu Anglican Communion to join hands in ensuring that their dream came into reality.
In one of these meetings, a committee was constituted to look into the establishment of the college in Iyara with Rev. C.A. Akanyan as Chairman, Ven. M.O. Ogbonnewo – Secretary, Chief E.A. Badaki – Treasurer, Chief M.A. Olupeka – Publicity Secretary and Hon. J.A. Olowoniyi – Assistant Publicity Secretary.
Also in these meetings, the committee and delegates collected contributions as well as donations and wrote to inform the Iyara indigenes at home and afar off while the money was kept in a savings account in Lokoja.
Luckily the tenth in the series of these meetings held in Iyara on 14th October 1970 gave birth to the School. At that meeting of Ijumu Representatives, the cheering News came in that the Kwara State Government had approved the establishment of “Ijumu Anglican Secondary School, Iyara” and this was substantiated with the New Nigerian Newspapers publication of 11th of October 1970 where the approval was published.
The first set of forty (40) students resumed at the temporary site beside St. Paul’s Primary School, Iyara on 8th February, 1971. The first assembly in the College was conducted by the Principal, Mr. Alexander Ojo Aladuge. The Principal sang from the Songs of Praise (a.k.a S.O.P) numbers 29 and 100. Hence, the motto of the College – “CHRIST OUR GUIDE” – was coined from the songs.
The Principal, Mr. Aladuge and the two pioneer staff, late Ven. P.O. Osapegun and Mr. I.O. Obanishe commenced classes with the forty pioneer students after an impressive open air dedication service conducted by the late Venerable C.A. Akanyan.
The first West African School Certificate Examination was written in June 1975, with thirty students only with Sixteen of them having 68% pass.
In February, 1995, 24 years after its establishment, the Kogi State Government approved the College as one of the “Science Schools” in the State. This is why the School is now Ijumu Anglican Science Secondary School, Iyara.
Presently, the school has produced great men in the last fifty years who are doing very well in their chosen careers both within and outside Nigeria.
Some of them are; the Obaro of Kabba and Chairman, Okun Traditional Council, His Majesty, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Retired Major General Funsho Owonibi, Alhaji Ganiyu Musa- Group Managing Director, Cornerstone Insurance, Chief Olufumilayo Bodunde and Professor Mike Ikupolati, Mrs. Hannah Ohize, Retired Permanent Secretary, Professor Oluwasesan A. Falaiye, HOD, Physics University of Ilorin, Dr. Ezekiel Falana, Dr. Edward Audu, Mr. Peter Adekanmi an Educationist, Mr. Sylvester Imhanobe, Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Projects Mrs. Victoria Adeyanju, former Chairman, SUBEB, Kogi State just to mention a few from an array of Galaxy of Stars the School has been blessed with.
The one time enviable IASS Iyara has now become a shadow of itself as the school is presently in a dilapidated state.
The classrooms, laboratories, Assembly Hall, Hostels and Library as at today are not conducive for teaching and learning as the present State of the School can simply be described as gory and unfortunate.
This was why the Alumni of the School came together and gather resources with the aim of making the once enviable school a beauty to behold and a toast to many.
With the little resources gathered, a block of 6 Classrooms have been renovated by the Alumni of the School while proceeds of the Anniversary will be channeled towards fixing the dilapidated state of the school.
Though a little has been done by the Alumni, much can be achieved if public spirited individuals and corporate bodies come to the side of IASS Iyara to restore the lost glory of the school.