Oke-Are Old Boys Honour Members, Catholic Faithful, Others
In recognition of the efforts of its members’ efforts in giving bank to its alma-mater, the Oke-Are Seminary Old Boys Association, Nigeria otherwise known as OSOBAN has included the installation of a Roll of Honours plague in the school St. Theresa’s Catholic Minor Seminary, Oke-Are, Ibadan during its forth coming Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for October 2025.
A statement issued by the Secretary of the Planning Committee of the Lagos branch of the Old Boys Association Mr. Patrick Oyewumi, the Lagos branch intends to recognize as well as honor a lot of olds students for various reasons.
These according to Oyewumi include members who have used their positions and achievements to impact positively on the alma-mater like, Archbishops Alfred Adewale Martins and Felix Alaba Job of Lagos and Ibadan Dioceses respectively who not only rose to the top of Priesthood, but became members of the Seminary Board of Governors both as President and Rectors of the catholic Seminary.
Oyewumi stated further that other Old Boys who became Rectors of the seminary will also be honored and recognized by the association. They include posthumous recognitions for departed Rectors like late Bishop Anthony Sanusi of ijebu-ode Diocese, Msgr. Kehinde Silva, and Very Rev. Patrick Olayinka Obayomi.
Other old boys who rose to become the school’s Rectors and would be honored with recognitions include Very Rev, Msgr. Jerome Oduntan, and Very Rev Fr. Lawrence Nwachukwu, Rev Fr. Peter Onabamiro.
Other categories of old boys to be honored and recognized include those who have served OSOBAN at both the Lagos Branch and National levels either as chairman or Presidents. They include Rev. Very Msgr. John Aniagwu, Sir Gabriel Adenigba, Barr. Callistus Alabi, Rev Msgr. Gabriel Amolegbe, Mr. Barr Anthony Okesola, Mr. Francis Odugbesan, Mr. Ladi Taiwo, Mr. Segun Ogunade and Mr. Vincent Eko all past Presidents of the Association. Also the current president of the association will be honored for his ongoing projects in the seminary.
The honors and Recognition of the Lagos branch’s past chairmen are to serve as incentives for better performance for the current chairman Mr. Fidelis Otasowie to see the need for sterling achievements while in office.
The Lagos branch has had the privileged of the followings as past Chairmen Msgr Gabriel Amolegbe, Prof. Francis Wale Olajide, Mr. Francis Ladi Taiwo, Very Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Aina, Mr. Alexander Davies, and Mr. Muyiwa Matuluko among others.
According to the statement, the chairman of the Lagos Branch Summit Planning Committee, Mr. Segun Ogunade, believes that this year 2025 edition of the branch’s Annual Summit presents not only the opportunity to raise the Two Hundred Million Naira (N200M) to support the constructions of modern and befitting conveniences for the over twelve decade old seminary, but equally offers a unique moment to honour and recognize the contributions and achievements both of the old students of the Oke-Are Seminary as well as of catholic faithful who have been supportive of the training of catholic priests for the church.
Segun Ogunade was particularly grateful to Catholic faithful who have taken it upon themselves to attend to the welfare of Priests everywhere, especially that of Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, himself an old boys of the Oke-Are Seminary. Many of these benefactors will be honoured and recognized at the branch’s summit.
The summit according to Ogunade is scheduled for Thursday September 4, 2025 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, lagos with the Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins as the chief celebrant and will be supported by Archbishop Alaba Job, Bishops. Peter Odetoyingbo and Felix Ajakaiye.
Mr. Fidelis Otasowie, the branch chairman added that several Catholic Priests in the Lagos Archdiocese have been penciled down for honours and recognitions because of their wonderful support each time the Lagos branch calls on them for support towards the development and projects in the Seminary.
According to Otasowie this is the time to show appreciation in order to encourage others while Otasowie stated further that members of the association in the Diaspora who have extended hands of support are also billed for honours and recognitions mentioning names like, Sir Michael Akiboh, Mr Anthony Omomia, Mr Martins Gbolagun, Prof Jide Olagunju among several others.
Mr. Patrick Oyewunmi concluded that the list of members for Honours and Recognitions seems endless as names keep propping up as the planning of the summit reaches advance stages.
