Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Wife of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday laid the foundation of the N440 million Science Laboratory of the International School, Ibadan (ISI).
Osinbajo, an alumnus of the school, was accompanied by Wife of Ogun Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, who is also an alumnus.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony held at the ISI premises, University of Ibadan, was organised by ISI Alumni Association (ISIAA).
Osinbajo recalled with nostalgia, the good memories that shaped their lives and made them to become worthy ambassadors of the school.
She appreciated the ISI alumni for making the school proud and making their marks in Nigeria and beyond.
According to her, education goes beyond the academic, education is hard work, learning about integrity, loyalty, honour, faithfulness, kindness and everything that underpins a good society.
“The project by the alumni revealed that the lessons taught were indeed learnt for education is indeed knowledge for arts and science and indeed more, but that is not all.
“I trust that this science centre; the Biology, Physics and Chemistry laboratories would provide an enabling environment for young and intuitive minds.
“I imagined students with potential for innovation who would think outside the box, the gifted in science would thrive there and launch into the world, giving the right atmosphere.
“They would create and break barriers, becoming stars and making ISI proud,” she said.
Commenting, Abiodun noted the great contributions of the school, adding “this institution gave us our start in life. We learnt lifelong skills and cultivated morals.
“ISI has raised leaders and captains of industry and has remained the bastion of educational excellence since it was founded,” she said.
In a keynote address, the Chairman, ISIAA, Board of Trustees, Mr Wole Oshin, said ISI shaped their future.
Oshin said: “Our alumni can be found in global 500 companies in leadership space doing amazing things.
“We once had over 500 alumni of ISI at both state and national levels, shaping and directing policies.”
Presenting the ISI science centre, the President ISIAA, Mr Tive Ekpere, said that the centre was designed by alumni with competencies relating to Design and Construction Industry.
Ekpere sought for the contributions of all the alumni so that the N440 million edifice could be completed by the time the school would mark its 60th anniversary in October 2023.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, represented at the event by Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, commended the contributions of the alumni, urging them to continue in giving back to their alma mata.
Also, Prof. Aderonke Baiyeroju, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics of the university, who oversees ISI, lauding the contributions of the alumni, urged them to do more as many things were still needed in the school.
Expressing his appreciation, the Principal of ISI, Mr Yinka Akintunde, appreciated the alumni and sought for continued interventions in the school.
(NAN)
