St Anthony School, Ilorin, old students celebrate former principal at graduation anniversary

By Ola Taiwo

Importance of being kind, encouraging and dutiful and professional was witnessed recently in Ilorin as aged retired school principal, Pa Emmanuel Alade, was celebrated by his old students at the St. Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin.

The 94-year-old Pa Alade who was described as a disciplanarian, and and a superb school administrator and who is the first  Nigerian Principal of St Anthony School was celebrated by  the 1984 set of graduating students of the school who were admitted into the school in 1979 when the elderly man was the principal.  

The old students who were celebrating their 42nd year of graduating from their Alma Mater on August 22, 2026 made as part of their activities for the celebration the honouring of the retired principal and this they did as a delegate of them visited the aged man at his residence in Ilorin.

At the residence,  members of  the delegate was first received by the first daughter of the man, Mrs Oluwatoyin Abayomi, who led them to her father.

‎The President of the 1984 set of the old students,  Mrs. Victoria Kehinde Afolayan (née Oyeyipo), led the delegate on the visit while other members of the delegate ‎were Mr. Benjamin Oluwole Oyinbo, a Businessman and Hotelier; Mrs. Julianah Iyabo Agunnana (née Akoja) and Ms. Grace Motunrayo Adebayo.

Mrs Afolayan while speaking on behalf of the delegate said: “We are glad to celebrate you sir. We thank God for giving you the grace of longevity with good health.”

‎Afolayan, a Chief Lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, used the occasion to notify the former Principal that St. Anthony’s Secondary School will clock 60 on 1st of February 2028, and said that it will be pleasing to see him register his attendance at the occasion.

‎The old students presented their former principal with a cash gift of N100,000:00, a giant portrait of his picture even and a wine-colour complete native dress which he later wore. They sang, joked, wined and dined together with their former Principal before leaving the residence

‎The aged Principal was elated by the visit expressed his gratitude, saying “I’m grateful and I feel great. Your good intention towards me is well appreciated.”

‎He then prayed for them saying, “God will bless you. He will make you greater and protect you. God will bless your families, keep you safe and enrich you with peace of mind.”

‎The former Principal had a demonstration of how he used to coordinate the students on the Assembly Ground, how he normally inspects the classroom in session and recalled some old teachers who served with him before he was transfered to Fatima Community College, Ekan Meje.

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‎Born 6th May, 1932 in Babanla, Ifelodun L   ocal Government Area of Kwara State, Pa Emmanuel Aliyu Alade started his Primary School education at Komenda Basic School, Ghana and attended Achimota School, Ghana for his Secondary education. 

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‎He had Sixth form course between 1954 and 1958 leading to his award of Cambridge School Certificate. In 1960, he was awarded the Cambridge Overseas Certificate. He then proceeded to Winnabba College of Advanced Training in Teaching between 1959 and 1964 where he was awarded Teacher’s Certificate. He furthered his Studies at the University of Ghana (Legion) where he graduated with B.A (Hons.) English (1969).

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‎Pa Alade is a Professional Teacher and excellent school Administrator. He had his working experience cutting across many levels of teaching, educational administration and transformation. He taught in three Secondary School schools in Ghana before returning to Nigeria in 1973. He was ported at Titcombe College Egbe, now Kogi State (1973 – 1974) as classroom teacher; he was made Vice-Principal, Ochanja Secondary School in Kogi State (974 – 1975)

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‎He was Vice-Principal, St. Clare’s Grammar School, Offa, Kwara State (1975 – 1976) before he was elevated to the status of Principal at St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State (1977 – 1981). He was the School’s third Principal after Rev. Sr. M. K. Margaret (ND) and Rev. Fr. Martin Comboy (SMA), making him the first Nigerian to be made the School Principal.

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‎He was in 1981 moved to Fatima Community College, Ekan-Meje, Kwara State as Principal, where he spent seven years before retiring after 15 years of meritorious, sacrificial, selfless and impactful career in the public service (education sector) of Nigeria.

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‎A man not given to laziness, after retirement, rather than sitting idle, he was still engaged in active teaching service in private educational establishments for about 19 years before he finally called it quit at the age of 75 years.

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‎Pa Alade had a brief stint in politics as he served as Supervisory Councillor for Works & Housing in Ifelodun Local

‎Government, Kwara State from 1999 to 2000. 

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‎Pa Alade is a Disciplinarian and a focused Professional Teacher whose pivotal roles in moulding the young generation into giants of the society remained outstanding. The manifestation of such a description is reflected in what 1984 Set of St. Anthony’s Secondary School had become today.

Th old students rounded off their celebration with a reunion dinner which was graced by Global President of St Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin Old Students Association (SASSIOSA),  Hon. Ben Duntoye, a former Commissioner for Information in Kwara State. 

The Global President, whose appearance at the Reunion Dinner was a surprise to the 1984 Set, praised them for their exemplary conduct as Alumni and for their consistent and unwavering support for their Alma Mater.