Remarks made by Pastor Tunde Obasemola at the launch of Methodist High School Owo Old Students Association (METHSOOSA), Ibadan zone on Saturday, 4th November, 2023. Mr. President, Organizers of this function, Ladies and gentlemen, It is with profound pleasure and a sense of humility that I make the following remarks. Firstly, that God has counted us worthy to be pioneers of this worthy course and being opportuned to be here in persons, I offer, on behalf of all of us herein present, our appreciation to Him, the giver of life, and give him all the glory. We are here to further lay the foundation of cooperation, unity, bonding and friendship. Yes, building and rebuilding of our alma mater with the aim of restoring her lost glory is what first comes to mind but the interactive aspect to human coexistence is much more important. So we must first seek to know ourselves better for deeper understanding as friends. God has known what is required of a foundational work like this and I believe that He has put in us the wisdom, understanding, sacrifice in terms of time and finance, commitment, unity, cooperation and resilience in the pursuit of our goals and every attributes that make for success. I must appreciate the efforts of the organizers of this epoch making event, the inauguration of Ibadan Zone of METHSOOSA, for their commitment to selfless service and excellence. God bless you. Also to our National President, Mr. Osuporu for your doggedness and unwavering tenacity in the pursuit of success and for purposeful leadership. May the Lord continue to be your source in all that is required to take our association to the level of your dreams. The journey of the association commenced when some of our seniors in the diaspora, notably Prince Olanrewaju Ogunoye, Elder Sunday Ogunfeitimi both of 1969 set and a few others in the diaspora began to sensitize other members of the need for an umbrella body for old students of our Alma mater, the result of which we see today. I must give kudos to the first executive committee headed by Mr. Leye Fagbemi who laid an enduring foundation for our association. He later handed over to Surv. Ajayi Thomas who continued to build on the existing structure. Under Surv. Ajayi Thomas, the constitution of the body was drafted, approved and published and some renovation carried on some few buildings on our school compound after carrying out the assessment and classification of the work that needed to be done. The current executive of our association ably led by Mr. Dixon Osuporu is the third one. The child of yesterday is gradually becoming an adult. We now have, through his regime different developmental efforts through massive mobilization and creation of various zones of the association with Ibadan being the fourth apart from Owo Zone and the diaspora.
National President; Mr. Akinola Olagbende Osuporu
From the left: Pastor Bamidele Olagbende (1990 Set and our National Secretary, Mrs. Modupe Oyedero Akinrinbola (1979 Set) Mr. Olusanya Adedipe (1986 Set), Pastor Oluloro Olaolu (Principal of MHSO, Mr. Akinola Olagbemide Osuporu, National President, Mrs. R. Oladunni Ogunbodede, and Prince Lanre Ogunoye (1969 Set, and our Patron).
Today, history is being made in Ibadan and we are privileged to be part of it and by the grace of God, when we become history, history will have glowing tributes recorded in our favour as testimonies to our contributions to the foundation and development of Ibadan Zone and beyond that, the progress of the national body as a whole. So I envisage a viril, I mean vigorous and energetic branch that will be a cynosure of other zones and a yardstick for measurement of performance and influence. A branch that others would struggle to measure up to. So we all have a great work to do. All hands must be on deck right from today as the rubber hits the road. Please accept my congratulations. Welcome to this event once again. I wish us a fruitful deliberation. Thank you for listening.
