Members of the 1970 – 1974 set of Titcombe College Old Students Association (TCEOSA), have celebrated their 50 years of graduation from the school with the donation of a complete set of musical instrument with full accessories to their alma mata.
The set also donated 20 pairs of college choir attires and repainting of the school’s auditorium to mark the celebration.
Titcombe College Egbe is located in Yagba West Local Government, Kogi State.
In his welcome address at the event held on Saturday, March 31, 2025, the Class Set Chairman, Dr. Nathaniel Bankole expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for members to gather to celebrate the Golden Jubilee (50 years) of their graduation from Titcombe College SIM Egbe then (now ECWA).
“We also have a cause to celebrate God because it is not every one of us who started together as a class of 70/74 that is alive to be part of this ceremony,” he said.
Bankole described the donations to their alma mata as a token to mark the celebration and a form of appreciation for the good character infused in them while at the school.
He also gave an overview of the Class Set on how they began, their time in the school, the graduation, the reunion and the forging ahead to this day.
The Chairman also delved into the set’s impact on the College and how far God has helped them.
“On Monday, 5th of January, 1970, seventy-two (72) young students resumed at Titcombe College (SIM) Egbe, to begin a new life at the College.
“The 72 of us comprised of sixty boys (60) and twelve girls.
“We resumed Form One under Mr. P. Haney as the Principal and Late Justus O. Olu as the Vice Principal.
“We had many missionaries as Tutors such as Mr Philenson, Miss Marion, Miss Clarke, Miss Mosby, Revd. K. Sharpe, George Rideout, Ian Finlayson, Arthur Parke etc. just to mention a few.
“We also had Nigerian counterparts like Dr. J. A. Adewunmi, Dr. J. A. Dada, Mr. O. Oladipo, Mr. S.K. Moody and many others.
“Seventeen of our mates who started with us are no longer alive to be part of this celebration.
“We recognize and miss them. These are Kolawole Aje – (1106), Abiodun Ajifowobaje – (1107), David Ayinmodu –(1113), Akande Durodola – (1130), Limpus Enikankiselu – (1131), Gbadebo Eseyin – (1132), Paul Gaius (1136), Adekunle Igunnu – (1138), Madu Jiyah – (1139), Olabode Julius (1142), Abayomi Moody – (1144), Samson Olarewaju – (1150), Dr. Toyin Samuel – (1154), Abejide Ogun – (1159), Oluyomi Owoyele –(1161), Reuben Aina (1194) and Daniel Faleke – (1383).
“A few of us left the school after the unprecedented riot of 1970, which shook the college to its foundations.
“These include Kolawole Aje (1106), Labaran Aliyu (1110), Morufu Ibiyeye (1137) and Funmi Afolabi (1122).
“But it will interest you to know that all those who left then still participate in all the Class Set activities, including this 50th anniversary that we are celebrating today, except the Kolawole Aje of blessed Memory.
“Also, the College made sure they replaced the students who went on transfer with new students e.g. Elizabeth T. Rotimi (1385).
“That bond of unity amongst us is maintained and this again shows the peculiarity and uniqueness of the class.
“Our class reunion was started and consolidated through the indefatigable efforts of Engr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje (of blessed memory), Alh. Bashiru Abdul, Dr Nathaniel Bankole and AVM Babalola rtd in 2014.
“This was facilitated through the advent of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). Even after we started, we encouraged other sets to do same.
“Our first reunion meeting was held at Ilorin on the 13th of December 2014 at Alh. Bashiru Abdul’s house.
“That was where I was elected as the Class Chairman, Late Engr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje as the Financial Secretary/Treasurer and Abiodun Olawale as the Secretary.
“22 of us were physically in attendance at that inaugural meeting with 8 apologies.
“After that meeting, we lost Engr. Ajifowobaje, David Ayinmodu, Daniel Faleke, Gbadebo Eseyin Dr Toyin Samuel and Olabode Julius to the cold hands of death.
“Earlier, I mentioned the class as being UNIQUE. The uniqueness of the class was premised on a peculiarity.
“The School Authority was quite bemused, disturbed, and bothered by this and formed a major prayer point for them at their Teachers fellowship.
“Our class was said to be unlike all other sets before us in the history of the school.
“It was said that all the students were brainy and none was a pushover.
“They said that a student will come first in one term and will not be found among the first ten in the next term.
“And it was not that the student had not done very well.
“This kept on repeating itself in the set, whereas in the other sets before ours, the first ten students continuously maintained their status as such, but not or set.
“Therein lay our uniqueness,” he explained.
Bankole said the Golden Jubilee celebration was supposed to have been held last year but had to be moved to this year due to circumstances beyond the control of the committee in charge.
He thanked the committee for working assiduously to
make the celebration possible this year.
Bankole praised every member of the Class Set for being very supportive and cooperative in moving the class forward.
“The Lord will bless your labour of love in Jesus name.
“To all our fervent supporters, both old students and non-students, who have made awesome donations to us for this cause, I pray that God in His infinite mercies will never cease to surprise as well as befriend you with His love in Jesus name.
“To all our well-wishers who are also here with us, thanks for sparing the time to be here and for your support.
“To our Special Guests, Guest of Honor and Royal Father of the Day, we say thank you most profusely.
“The Lord will never cease to honor you as you have honored us.
“To the class Executives, you will never suffer shame, reproach or lack in Jesus name.
“Thanks for being there for us always. Once again, I say thank you mightily to every member of this unique class for your cooperation at all times and for making this day possible for us.
“I am proud of YOU all. God bless you all ceaselessly,” the Chairman prayed. (vitalnewsngr.com)
