LAGOS – The Old Girls Association of Methodist Girls’ High School (MGHS), Yaba, on Sunday said it had embarked on projects that would maintain the high standard and legacy of the school.
Prof. Senapon Bakre, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Lagos State University (LASU), made the disclosure during the 135 years Founders Day’s Anniversary Commemoration Service of praise and thanksgiving of the school.
The deputy vice-chancellor is ex-student of the school’s 1970/1975 set.
The school was founded on Oct. 27, 1879 and began operation at Marina before moving to Yaba.
Bakre said that the school had achieved a lot in its 135 years of existence.
“The school has produced great women of accomplishment whose landmark cannot be ignored in the history of Nigeria such as Chief Mrs Folake Solanke, the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria. (SAN).
“Among such women is also Seyi Williams, Head of Civil Service, Lagos State,” Bakre said.
She said the mission of the founders of the school was to instill discipline in the students and place on them a legacy of “must make it’’.
“While the name of the school is Methodist Girls High School (MGHS), the motto is Must Gain High Standard,’’ she said.
The professor said the school’s structures had not changed as it were; noting that it was difficult to compare the standard of education in the early time to the nowadays.
“During our days, the maximum number of students in a class was 23, so there was one-on-one interaction between the teacher and students and proper monitoring.
“But now, it’s a group of students in a class to a teacher, which makes it difficult for the teacher to properly monitor them because of their large population,” she said.
Bakre urged the students to maintain the legacy of the school and be focused to achieve what they desire in life.
The secretary of the association, Mrs Yomi Afolabi, said the group would also focus on programmes that would help the school with infrastructure development and mentoring of the younger generation.
“Our aim is to give back to the school that had made us what we are,” she said.
Mrs Funsho Egunleti, an old student and former principal of the school, said the 135 years anniversary was historic and would enable the old students to give back to the school.
“The missionary made us what we are. They are trainers and role models as the watchword was transparency, contentment and discipline. That is why most of us are happy home makers now,” she said.
Among the oldest girls present, were Mrs Edith Dawudu, Magistrate Bose Fatunla, Mrs Olugbo Hollist and Prof. Taofeeqat Odutola.
Mrs Hollist, however, said the celebration was a thanksgiving for a school still waxing stronger after 135 years of existence.
“I urge the present students to go on attempting to reach the sky as their eyes have seen the vision,’’ she said.
The members of the old girls association, dressed in the school uniforms with hand bags, socks and sandals to match with the extant one, while the school anthem was recited to commemorate the event. (NAN)