By In 2001, a small boy came into the sacred ground of Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry to begin his Secondary School journey flanked only by his parents and not knowing what the future holds. His parents will leave after some hours leaving him alone all by himself for the first time in his life.
The boy will have to adjust to his new environment taking dressing from whatever life throws at him. Hence, for him to chart a positive course for his life he will need a good guardian. As luck shone on him, he came in contact with Mr. and Mrs. Ibikunle Olusegun Ibitoye through his mum’s Ijebu connection with Alhaja Kalejaiye.
A minute of silence for Mrs. Adesola Adedoja Ibitoye. She doubled as my mother for 6 years and made life in the boarding house seamless for the boy.
That boy will go on to become a Political Scientist, Journalist, Football Club Owner, and presently a senior Admin and HR Officer with the Lagos State Government. And of course, the boy’s story has not ended yet with a lot of chapters still unwritten.
That small boy is no longer a boy. That small boy put up this tribute that you are gazing at. That small boy is me.
My Ibitoye was not even my guardian when I heard of his exploits, he was the star boy of Lasmock when I got admitted in 2001. He has just led a group of science students to global triumph and represented Nigeria in about 4 international competitions that same year. This was no mean feat as he got a presidential handshake from President Olusegun Obasanjo. The pictures were pasted with pride on the notice board for all to see.
Having him as my guardian was a blessing. He contributed to everything I have become because, he engaged me in discussions that aroused my Political consciousness by engaging in political conversations, gave detailed reportage of Chelsea games played over the weekend in front of the Chemistry lab giving us juicy headlines of sports newspapers. Those headlines include “Ferguson said Mikel is raw gold, even Mourinho said he makes playing football very easy” among a few. Setting my gaze on journalism and football administration.
In 2007 the Waec result was not so tantalizing across the board during the time of Chief Mrs SOS Olley. However, the fact that Mr Ibikunle Ibitoye had prevailed on my dad that I attempted the GCE at Methodist Grammar School in Badagry in 2006 alongside, Tope Akinpelu, Lateefat Oludegun, Bisola Adedeji, Micheal Ola, Samuel Okwarhobo, Chukwunonso Patrick and Tofunmi Taiwo. They were all science students, so he taught them science subjects along with Mr Oduwole and Mr Carlos.
I made my result but again Mr Ibikunle Ibitoye advised my dad that he tell me my result so that I wouldn’t take SS3 for granted. When the WAEC disaster befell the 2007 set. They brought my results and I took Jamb and got admitted to Lasu to Study Political Science in 2008.
As an SS3 student, I had the privilege of even going to see Chelsea games in Badagry through the influence of Mr Ibitoye with a boarding exit pass.
That he will go on to win the best teacher in Lagos State was an achievement long overdue. Some of believe of it’s not important that the car go round, he could have won it more than 5 times over the course of his extraordinary career.
The enigmatic character and legendary feat of. Mr. Ibikunle Olusegun Ibitoye will not be matched anytime soon.
A legendary teacher, and Super Principal has just left the service of the Lagos State Government.
As the old saying goes, for he’s a very good fellow. And so says all of us.
Your Mentee,
Mustapha Azeez Adewale
Lagos State Model College Kankon, Badagry
2007 Set.
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