All distinguished members of the Wesley Old Girls’ Association will be celebrating their almanac 40th anniversary of the top-ranking educational institution in the country. Their alma mater, Wesley Girls’ Secondary School, was established on September 7, 1981 as one of the several landmark intervention projects executed by the First Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
Originally christened Methodist Girls High School II, the time-honoured school was later named after the founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley. The school has successfully maintained a culture of excellence and academic discipline, characteristically steeped in the virtues laid down by the first Principal of the school, Elder Olabisi Adebo.
Over the course of four decades of its existence, the school has remained true to these superlative educational standards. Occasioned by administrative modification by the Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu led-administration in Lagos, the Junior and Senior arms of Wesley Girls’ Secondary School were initiated to be headed by two different principals. The school is currently headed by Mrs. Fasuyi Olaitan and Mrs. Kehinde Meroyi are the Principals of the Wesley Girls’ Junior and Senior Secondary respectively.
To further carry on the torch of all-rounded philosophy of academic excellence and social discipline, the Old students of Wesley Girls came together to form Wesley Old Girls Association (WOGA). The aim is to provide necessary support to the administrators in order to raise diligent, hardworking, and dedicated students; to impart high moral standards to the students that will make the school a citadel for academic excellence.
At the unveiling ceremony the 40th founders’ day events, the President of the Association, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Benjamin Akindele acknowledged that members of WOGA worldwide have supported the association through donations and selfless service at different times in order to develop the school, especially in upgrading the school infrastructure and the quality of teaching and the learning environment.
According to Mrs. Oluwatoyin Benjamin Akindele, the associated has contributed significantly to the development of the school in different ways.
Some of the notable contributions of WOGA are as follows:
A Joint venture with Chevron Nig. Ltd in 2020 to leverage on NNPC JV/Chevron Employee Voluntary Project scheme for the renovation of the school classroom complex at the cost of N5,000,000 (Five million naira only).
Creating a support system for the physical and mental wellbeing of the students for a conducive learning experience. In addition, a well-equipped sickbay with health officers was set up by the association.
The Home Economics laboratory was also equipped and a teacher was employed for the subject by the association. The association believes that the girls will benefit more by having an all-round learning experience that the school is known for.
Recognising the importance of students to excel in WAEC and NECO, a Mathematics tutor was employed by WOGA to coach the students of Senior Secondary in preparation for their examinations. This resulted in improvement in the performance of the students.
Some of the students who dropped out of school due to social pressures were also reintegrated and supported to continue their education.
The association acquired a prosthetic leg worth $15000 for a student who lost her leg due to a fatal accident. She was also awarded a scholarship to a private school where she is about to graduate. She hopes to study accountancy in Yaba College of Technology.
The President added that the anniversary will serve as a medium to connect WOGA members worldwide together. According to her, the event will also offer opportunity to reflect on the past, evaluate the present and make projections for greater future for the students and the school. She also implored government, corporate bodies and philanthropists to invest more in Girl-Child education so as to break the cycles of poverty and the yoke of social inequality in our clime.
According to the Chairperson, Social and Planning Committee of the Anniversary, Mrs. Moriam Ajoke Oyeleye, the theme of the 40th Founders’ Day Anniversary is ‘Celebrating the past, Igniting the future’ which encourages all stakeholders to get involved in activities that would elevate the educational standard of the students and improve the infrastructure for a conducive learning environment of the school.
She also added that some of the activities planned for the anniversary on September 7, 2021, includes a wellness seminar organised by the pioneering set of 1986 at the school premises on August 28, refurbishment of the Science Laboratories and erection of a modern gate at the school entrance. As part of the event, a Founders’ day Thanksgiving service will be held at Hoares Memorial Methodist Church Sabo-Yaba, Lagos on the D-day by 12 noon. There will also be Launching of the Anniversary Magazine on the anniversary day.
In a goodwill message, the pioneer President of WOGA and the First Head Girl of Wesley Girls Secondary School, Mrs. Funsho Oyelohunnu, stressed the need for members of the association to stay connected with one another and create a vibrant supportive structure for the school and needy members of the association. She said that WOGA will continue to collaborate with private organisations to ensure a conducive learning environment for the students of Wesley Girls Junior and Senior Secondary School.
The president informed that old girls can join the association on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/53790554123/?ref=share,instagram https://instagram.com/woga_1981?utm_medium=copy_link and via phone +2349065048358.
For RSVP, members of the association can connect with the association’s social secretary on: +2348021050233.
The event will be streamed live by Lagos State University Online Television (www.lasutv.online).
