BIFOBA News Stories

BFHS Wins LAWMA Trophy for Recycling Waste

Birch Freeman Boys Lift LAWMA Trophy for Recycling Waste

Students of Birch Freeman Senior High School, Surulere, Lagos,  proved their capacity to transform waste products into furniture. It was barely a week’s notice to the “Recycling: A Secured Future for Our Children” organized by the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA). The students guided by  Mrs. M.S. Babatunde (Principal) and Mrs. B.T. Adams (Economics teacher) were able to produce a Bedside Table from pieces of abandoned tyres, planks and aluminium materials at a mechanic workshop.

Over 20 schools from the state of Lagos gathered at News Agency of Nigeria, Iganmu (the venue of the program) to exhibit their innovations. The judges were awed at the display of talents and creativity by the various schools and, at the end of the exhibition, the judges concluded their assignment by announcing the top 3 performing schools. Federal Technical College, Yaba emerged first position while Birch Freeman High School, Surulere and Future Gold School, Otto emerged second and third positions respectively. FTC, Yaba produced Tyre chairs while Future Gold School produced Fabric Bag.

The school principal, Mrs. Babatunde, congratulated the students and charged them to improve on their creativity and aim for the first prize in future.  While commenting on the exercise, Mrs. Babatunde said, “Maximizing waste is an act that should be taken seriously”. She said that indeed nothing is a waste, any kind of furniture can be produced from the wastes the students used in producing the bedside table.

Some of the students have approached me for support in manufacturing Remote Controls gadgets for gates. I am proud of them because of their innovative spirit and I use this medium to seek encouragement from government and private organizations”.

BFHS 56th Anniversary

Photo: Multi-million Musical Instruments for BFHS’ Musical Orchestra launched

On Friday, February 5 through Saturday, February 6, 2016, Old Boys of Birch Freeman High School celebrated  a 2-day event of the 56th anniversary of their alma mater. 

For the anniversary, distinguished old boys of the school from all walks of life both at home and abroad converged at the 1,500 capacity (banquet setting) multipurpose school hall built by the Old Boys’ Association.

On Friday, the anniversary began with a public lecture on “Reforming Nigerian’s Educational System Towards Youth Employability” by two erudite guest speakers: Mr. Tope Toogun and Mrs. Abisola Longe. 

The highpoints of the Friday event was the unveiling of the N3.5 million Musical Instruments (donated by NA chapter) by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education (Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh), representing Lagos State Deputy Governor/Commissioner of Education, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti I. Adebule, and the dedication of the musical equipment by the clergy of the Methodist mission.

On Saturday (the prize-giving day), outstanding students of BFHS who performed excellently within the past one year were awarded prizes for academic excellence.

After the prize-giving ceremony, old boys’ association (BIFOBA) announced the cash-backed endowments for outstanding students, ranging from N 25,000 to N50,000 from the Association’s Guild Members.

Other highlights of the day: motivation talks to students by selected old boys; short sermon by clergy of the Methodist Mission; issuance of gifts/awards to teachers by BFHS’ parents forum; and the launching of musical equipment and entertainment by BFHS’ musical orchestra.

Mr. Feyisola Dinyo, BIFOBA president, thanked N.A. chapter for the project.  In his message to North America chapter, the president said, “Birch Freeman High School Students, the Methodist Mission (who dedicated the Instruments), and the Lagos State Government appreciate your kind donation which will create productive recreation for the students”.

It was another remarkable event at Birch Freeman High School.

Up BIFOBA

By Foluso Adeyemi

Rev. (Chief) Ronald Harry White Supports BIFOBA Project- Donates £500.00

Rev. Ronald Harry White, Former Principal 

Reverend (Chief) R. H. White, a retired and past Principal of Birch Freeman High School and strong supporter of BIFOBA as an Association, its Projects and Birch Freeman High School (BFHS), recently donated £500.00 (Sterling, Five Hundred Pounds) in support of BIFOBA’s Multi-Purpose Auditorium and other ongoing Projects

Reverend White, who is a member of the Prestigious BIFOBA Guild of Awardees, got admitted into the Guild as an “Honorary” member in year 2010 during the Schools 50th Founders’ Day Anniversary Celebrations and Homecoming Event.

Reverend White flew in from far away Devon in the United Kingdom for the School’s 50th Founders’ Day Anniversary and spent about 10 days in Nigeria on the invitation of BIFOBA.  Reverend White was conferred with a Chieftaincy Title in 2010 at Okiti Pupa, Ondo State when he visited his then Vice Principal at BFHS, Chief Ademola Olayeye in his hometown in Okiti Pupa.

Reverend (Chief) White is a retired Clergy of the Methodist Mission and brought about a lot of positive changes during his tenor as Principal of Birch Freeman High School.  He left the School and Nigeria for the UK in 1971.

Chief R.H White may be retired from active work but even in his retirement, he remains a very active Supporter of BIFOBA and BFHS.

Thank you Reverend White for your Donation and regular advice to BIFOBA’s Executive Council (Exco), Old Boys in Nigeria and many Senior Old Boys in the United Kingdom.

UK Chapter and 1971 set Donated Laboratory Equipment to BFHS

BIFOBA President Presenting Laboratory Anatomy Skeleton to Science Teachers

On Friday, May 8, 2015, Mr. Feyisola Dinyo (BIFOBA president) and Mr. Dada Ajai-Ikhile (national general secretary) presented at BFHS a “Laboratory Anatomy Skeleton” donated by UK chapter – for use at the biology laboratory and “Electrical Resistors” donated by 1971 set – for use at the physics laboratory to Mrs. Ade (vice principal academics), Mrs. C.I. Bamgbose (vice principal administration), the science teachers, and the final year science students of BFHS.

Birch Freeman school’s management expressed its appreciation for the various donations made by old boys across the globe and praised the “Giving-back” programme of BIFOBA globally.

Up School!

Up BIFOBA!

By Foluso Adeyemi

Head of BFHS: Mr. Thomas Olayiwola Adeosun Retires

On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, Mr. Thomas Olayiwola Adeosun, BFHS senior school principal, retired from the Lagos State Government Ministry of Education and, of course, as the head of Birch Freeman High School.

The well-attended retirement/pen down ceremony took place at BIFOBA multi-purpose auditorium, still under construction.

During the tenure of Mr. Thomas Adeosun, a professional educator and a great mentor, as the principal and head of Birch Freeman High School, the WASC (educational) performance of the students of BFHS rose over 50% – a remarkable accomplishment.

From the very moment he took over the leadership of BFHS in 2013, Mr. Thomas Adeosun immediately showed commitment to the ideals of our alma mater and displayed willingness to work closely with BIFOBA Exco to improve the academic fortunes of our dear school for better.

Because of the remarkable services Mr. Adeosun rendered in improving the academic performance and image of our dear alma mater within the committee of good schools in Nigeria, we the old boys across the globe would like to thank Mr. Adeosun for his committed services to our school and wish him all the best and hope he enjoys his life to the fullest hereafter retirement.

Up School!

By Foluso Adeyemi

North America Chapter Donates 1000 Dictionaries /Gazetteers to BFHS Junior School

Mr. Feyi Dinyo presenting Donated Dictionaries/Gazetteers to Mrs. M.A. Ibrahim.

Recently, BIFOBA president Mr. Feyisola Dinyo, along with Barr. Kingsley Essien (vice president school affairs) and Mr. Dada Ajai-Ikhile (national general secretary),  handed-over 1000 dictionaries/gazetteers donated by North America chapter to the principal of BFHS junior school: Mrs. M.A. Ibrahim.

BIFOBA North America chapter donated the dictionaries/gazetteers to BFHS junior school for the 2014-2015 school year in honor of late Mr. David Tunde Lowo, a member of the “Guild of Awardees”.

After receiving the donations, Mrs. M.A. Ibrahim, on behalf of the staff and students of the junior school, thanked members of the North America chapter for the donations and for assisting the school in preparing students for successful productive lives.

After the donations’ ceremony, BIFOBA president Mr. Feyi Dinyo, with Mr. T.O. Adeosun (principal senior school) and Mrs. A.O. Bamgbose (vice principal senior school), led other national executive members in touring both BFHS senior and junior schools’ facilities.

It was another remarkable day at Birch Freeman High School.

By Foluso Adeyemi

Labors of Love Mission Visited Birch Freeman High School

Labors of Love Mission’s Official Attending to BFHS Student

Do you all know that – in May, “Labors of Love Mission” visited Birch Freeman High school. The event, organized by Mr. Theo Odunlami, (the interim president of the UK chapter) and supported by BIFOBA national headquarter, was a smashing success.

During the visitation of the Labors of Love Mission to BFHS, both junior and senior schools’ students, as well as the administrative staff, were screened for preventable health issues, such as:

• Cholesterol
• Blood pressure
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Malnutrition
• Self breast examination techniques
• And many more.

The Labors of Love Mission is a global organization, providing much needed medical treatments and supplies to the less privileged people around the world.

By Foluso Adeyemi

Construction of Multi-Purpose BFHS Auditorium

On February 6, 2015, BFHS will be celebrating its 55 Founder’s Day Anniversary. According to BIFOBA president, Mr. Feyi Dinyo, the national headquarter is planning to combine the 2015 Homecoming with the school’s 55th anniversary and using the occasion of the combine events to officially commission the Multi-purpose School Auditorium, currently under construction.

As a way of getting all Old Boys involved in this laudable project, BIFOBA president said that all Class sets are expected to reach their members both at home and abroad and get their individual commitments towards the realization of the dream Auditorium for BFHS. The president said, “I am certain that no true Old Boy of our Alma Mater will allow the opportunity to be part of this project passes him by”.

BIFOBA president also announced the new slogan for the association as well as for the school:  Birch Freeman is changing and BIFOBA is moving ahead

In addition, as Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, promised during 2014 Homecoming,  Lagos State government has begun at BFHS the constructions of the following projects:

1. The foundation for the construction of  a modern 19-classroom building for BFHS Junior School
2. The fencing of BFHS compound

By Foluso Adeyemi

New Building for BFHS Junior School

BFHS Junior School Will Soon Have A Building Like This

Students of BFHS Junior School will soon be smiling, as construction of a new 19-classroom building will soon start to replace their current dilapidated classrooms. According to the report from Mr. Feyisola Dinyo (BIFOBA President), during 2014 Annual Homecoming, (an event that took place for the very first time on the school’s premises and in the Ultra Modern Auditorium [under construction]), Gov. Babatunde Fashola, through his Commissioner of Education and other State dignitaries, expressed his appreciation for the complementing role of BIFOBA and efforts of Old Boys world wide in the development of BFHS. The Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, on behalf of Gov. Babatunde Fashola, announced the following:

The award of a contract of a new 19-classroom building for BFHS Junior School
The award of a contract to fence the undisputed portion of the school land
BIFOBA President also informed Old Boys that Birch Freeman High School now has a new principal: Mr. T.O. Adeosun.

By Foluso Adeyemi

North America Chapter shipped one thousand (1000) Dictionaries/Gazetteers to Birch Freeman High School Students for the 2014-2015 School Year in honor of Late Mr. David Tunde Lowo.

Also, Mr. Alli Oseni donated updated editions of complete books of Encyclopedia ( A to Z) to the school’s library for academic reference. The shipment of the books to BFHS is already on the way: Thanks to Mr. Francis Van-Lare.

By Foluso Adeyemi