Gov. Babatunde Fashola’s Golden Jubilee Speech.

Golden Jubilee Anniversary Of Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos

Feb 6, 2010 – Let me start my remarks by making references to some quotations that set the tone for our event today. Someone says “Train everyone lavishly, you can’t overspend on training” and of course the holy book says “train up a child in the way he should go and when he grows up he will not depart from it”. Obviously, the founding fathers of this great school must have been motivated by some of those timeless truths. For those who have passed through Birch Freeman High School, the tradition of excellent training, and training in excellence has always been the core value of this great School. I will always trace the foundation for whatever successes or achievements I have recorded in life to my formative period as a student in Birch Freeman High School. It is, therefore, my pleasure to welcome you all to the golden jubilee celebration of our alma mater “Birch Freeman High School” where we were nurtured in the highest standards of social responsibility and dignity of labour according to the school’s valued motto “Trained for Duty and for Thee”.

I am very happy to see in our midst, many of our “Old Boys” who have contributed immensely to the development of our Country in diverse ways, in the Academia, Government, Business & Finance, Healthcare, Armed Forces, Law Enforcement, Agriculture and in other human endeavours. What gladdens my heart most is seeing the shining faces of our “Young Boys” who are being motivated by what we have been able to do for our community and for ourselves. I am sure that this is a challenge and a tradition that they have to uphold in the future.

Oh, how time flies; just a few years ago, we were all students in this same institution imbibing the tradition and culture that has nurtured us into who and what we are today. The call to reflect and look back on the journey so far has been captured in the theme for this celebration “Trained for Duty and for Thee. How well?”. This is another opportunity for us to look inwards and think of ways by which we can add value to our community and people.”

I am happy to observe that activities slated for the week-long celebration are anchored on community service and good neighbourliness which are hallmarks of tradition in” the Birch Freeman High School.

At this period in our lives, we should reach out to the less privileged and the needy in our community and put smiles on their faces. We should look beyond the events slated for the week-long celebration and adopt a personal commitment to the theme adopted for this occasion. Let us reach out to people in our neighbourhood and assist indigent families, by sponsoring their children through school or by donating much needed school furniture to schools in our locality. We have come a long way from when we were young and impressionable students moving from one classroom to the other under the watchful tutelage of our teachers then. And I am personally gratified with the smiles of happiness and contentment dancing on the faces of those of our “Old Principals and Teachers” who have come to celebrate with us. I am sure that they must be having that sense of fulfilment we have all turned out as good ambassadors of the “Birch Freeman High School”.

I will, therefore, urge the present crop of “Young Boys” to imbibe the tradition of service and excellence for which Birch Freeman High School is noted. In fact, I will not only challenge you to emulate them but also surpass, the “achievements of your predecessors. You are the future of our Nation and it is your responsibility to keep the flag aloft.

Today, also, marks the flag-off ceremony for the next fifty years of development in the history of Birch Freeman High School and I urge all “Old Boys” present at this occasion to contribute to the development of our Alma Mater by endowing academic and non-academic awards in various subjects. By that demonstration of good sense social responsibility we shall further motivate our young students to continue in the best tradition of our School.

At this juncture I will commend the efforts of the Executive Committee of the Birch Freeman High School Old Boys Association (BIFOBA), especially Members of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee for sacrificing their time to package a week-long ceremony with events that reflect the time-honoured tradition of Birch Freeman High School. Also, I am grateful to our former Principals, Teachers and Non-Academic Staff who are present to celebrate with us. I thank you for your efforts invested in us years ago and which has contributed into what we are today.

I thank all “Old Boys” and their Family Members for finding time to partake in the events slated for the 50th Anniversary celebration of our Alma Mater. And to the “Young Boys”, I urge you to stand firm and be good ambassadors of your families and Birch Freeman High School. 

I thank you all for your attention and God bless.

Eko o Ni Baje o!

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Executive Governor, Lagos state

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Gov. Fashola Building Hand-over News Story

Birch Freeman High School

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Tuesday returned to his alma mater, Birch Freeman High School, Surulere to hand over a new block of 21 classrooms, acknowledging that his character was formed at the school.

The Governor who spoke at the School premises in Akobi Crescent, Surulere before a gathering which included Old boys and present students, said, ‘This was where I was made. My character was formed here. I learnt leadership and punctuality here as a school prefect’.

Governor Fashola recalled with nostalgia that in the course of his schooling years at Birch Freeman High School, he met a lot of good people and made lifelong friends many of whom he still keeps today.

‘I was also privileged to have met great teachers; humanists, who were absolutely committed to the development of young people and enriching the human capital of this country.

‘The school blocks and buildings were largely made of concrete foundation and wooden walls except the dining hall, the Principal’s block which contained the science laboratories and the new block behind it that later became the seniors block’, the Governor recalled.

The Lagos State Governor however stated that nothing could prepare him for what he met, when he visited the site of his alma mater sometime in 2007 after assuming office as the Governor.

‘Not only had the classroom blocks made of wood walls disappeared, the dining room, the Principal’s block and the Seniors Block were shadows of themselves. My treasured memories were shattered. A shocking and painful reality had supplanted it’.

‘It seemed that everything that I could point to as references of who I was had evaporated. All of it almost, except for one thing, the Old Boys. Some were my classmates, some my juniors and some my seniors’.

He said even in that broken environment, the presence of the Old Boys was a huge comfort because there was stil a past made by boys who had become men, who refused to surrender their dream.

Governor Fashola stated that, the credit for the new building should go to them because they kept hope alive and lived the motto of the school, ‘they were trained for duty and for God. And in serving God they promote the fortunes of the present generation so that we can achieve the torch passing moment of today’.

‘So it comes to be that with the inspiration of dedicated Old Boys and a concertion of efforts, Government is driven to act in areas of compelling need such as infrastructure’.

The Governor noted that the work is not yet finished because there are still drainage issues to resolve which will require the recovery of every inch of land that belonged to the school.

He notified all squatters or occupiers of land that belong to Birch Freeman that their trespass has ended while directing they start relocating henceforth adding that he intends working with the Old Boys Association to reclaim and return back to the school every inch of land that used to belong to her.

The Governor who said no honour can be too much as a gesture of appreciation for the men and women who led the Old Boys while they were students and thereafter dedicated the block of classroom to the memory and honour of a former Principal, Reverend T.A. Ojo.

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye said the present administration remains committed to the provision of qualitative education to the people.

She said the new block of classrooms is one of the policies of the State Government to enhance teaching and learning in public schools and also address the issue of over population in classrooms.

Mrs Oladunjoye who stated that enrolment will increase with the new block of classrooms which has been facilitated by the Governor who has not forgotten his roots also appealed to the school authorities to take proper care of the facilities in the school.

She also appealed to parents and guardians of pupils to take more than a passing interest in the school activities of their children and wards to make them good children.

Also speaking the President of the Birch Freeman High School Old Boys Association, Mr Temi Diyan commended the Governor for fulfilling his promise to his school to do something about its present state.

He stated that Governor Babatunde Fashola is an inspiration to all the Old Boys whom they are all extremely proud of.

He gave a commitment that the Old Boys are committed to work with the State Government in developing the school, stating that the Old Boys will also build a school hall that everyone can point to.

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BFHS’ Land Encroachment News Stories

“Nobody encroached on Birch Freeman school land”

LAGOS — The Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu Family in conjunction with Ewe Agbigbo Community, Idi-Oro, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Lagos have denied any encroachment on Birch Freeman High School land/premises.

This was in reaction to Governor Babatunde Fashola’s statement last week while handing over a block of 21 classrooms to the authority of Birch Freeman High School that part of the school premises was being encroached upon.

Fashola had stated that drainage work for the school would require a recovery of every inch of land belonging to the school from squatters or occupiers.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, Secretary to Tinubu family, Mr. Tajudeen Tinubu, said there was no encroachment of any kind on the school, adding that it was the school that was encroaching on other people’s landed property and using government apparatus and officials to harass and intimidate the people without regard for equity and fairness.

He explained that it was the school that had exceeded its boundary by shifting its main gate from where it was originally constructed, thereby blocking road to Akobi Crescent and creating untold hardship for the residents in the area.

He said ordinarily, Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu became the titular customary owner under Native Law and Customs of Ewe Agbigbo Farmland within which the school land fell in 1834 by grant from Oloto Chieftaincy Family as represented by Oloto Baalo Oriagbaya who was the sixth Oloto of Oto, Lagos Mainland.

A portion of Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu Family land was acquired by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the purpose of building Birch Freeman High School in 1958 vide Government Notice No. 290 published in the Official Gazette No. 10 of 13th February 1958.

According to Tinubu family’s secretary, by the Federal Government acquisition notice No 290 dated 6th February 1958 and published in Gazette No 10 Vol 45 page 200 of February 13, 1958, the school’s land measured 4;841 acres but recently, the authority of the school put into circulation, an unsigned, undated and unregistered survey plan blowing the originally acquired size of 4.841 acres to 5.373 acres and made barefaced attempts to shift the pillars erected since 1958 in daylight from their original position in an adventurous and expansionist manner.

With Mr. Tajudeen Tinubu were the secretary of Ewe Agbigbo Community, Pastor Olatunji and other top officers. He told newsmen that the authority of the school, was deliberately misinforming Governor Raji Fashola on the situation of the school land. He added that all the structures being referred to as encroachments were all outside the demarcating boundaries of Birch Freeman High School as confirmed by a composite survey plan jointly prepared by Lagos State Survey Department as represented by one Mrs. Tejuosho and Tinubu Family’s surveyor, R.O.S Alabi in April 2009.

Mr. Tinubu added that the instrument of acquisition referred to in 1958 was registered at the lands registry Lagos as No 1 page 1 volume 7 by the Chief Land Officer on 30th day of July 958.

– See more at: 

Fashola Orders Demolition Of Churches, Houses Inside Birch Freeman School


No fewer than three churches and some houses that are illegally erected inside Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos, have been marked for demolition by the state government, while occupants have been served with a quit notice.

The state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, gave the directive on Tuesday, while presenting a new block of 21 classrooms to the school.

Fashola, who was angry to see his alma mater disfigured with illegal structures, said that the development would see the demolition of the Peace of God Mission Church building, as well as houses which had sprung up within the  premises of the school.

He said: “Let me use this opportunity to notify all squatters or occupiers of the land that belongs to Birth Freeman High School that the trespass ends today and your relocation must start henceforth, as I intend working with the Old Boys Association to reclaim and return back to the school every inch of land that used to belong to her.”

He said he would stop at nothing to ensure that every inch of land belonging to the school and lost to encroachers would be recovered.

According to him, the drainage work required to solve the constant flood encroachment during rainy seasons would necessitate the need to recover the land initially owned by the school.

Speaking on the new classrooms, Fashola said it was borne out of the infrastructure decay that had hit the school, which formed his character as well as the leadership and punctuality values he exhibits today.

FROM THE DESK OF THE GLOBAL PRESIDENT

REPORT OF BIFOBA ACTIVITIES (YEAR 2012)

Gentlemen and fellow Old Boys

It gives me pleasure to update you on the activities of our Association in the last 12 months as I review occurrences/developments in our Association and School in Year 2012 while apprising you of the Association’s plans for 2013. 

Click the link to read the rest of the report: ReportofBIFOBAsactivitiesfor2012.docx%20%281%29.pdf

2013 and 2014 Homecomings: BIFOBA President’s Speeches on Both Occasions

2013 Homecoming: BIFOBA President’s Speech

The Special Guest of Honour, the Governor of Lagos State and member of BIFOBA Guild of Awardees MR. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA (SAN).  The Chairman of today’s Homecoming/Thanksgiving & Fund Raising Event, Chief Kessington Adebutu, the Chief Launcher for our Multipurpose Hall Fund Raising, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, (GCON), The Co-Launcher Mr. Femi Otedola (OON), members of BIFOBA’s Body of Past Presidents, Distinguished members of BIFOBA’s Guild of Awardees, members of BIFOBA’s Executive Council, all our Guests here present, Fellow Old Boys, Ladies and Gentlemen.

On this occasion of our Association’s Homecoming/Thanksgiving Celebrations & Fund Raising Dinner, I bid you all a warm welcome while extending all due Courtesies as appropriate.

 PREAMBLE

Our Homecoming Celebrations have over the years become an Event that all Old Boys of Birch Freeman worldwide look forward to.  The Homecomings have become an annual gathering where Old Boys (with our Spouses) come together once a year to enjoy each other’s company, re-live our old days at School and discuss opportunities to give back to the School that played a pivotal role in what we have become Individually and the achievements we have made.  I make bold to say that some of us have truly made remarkable achievements as will be seen by all later, in the course of this evening when some 4 Distinguished Old Boys will be conferred with Awards for their Professional achievements which has brought our Alma Mater in good light and some others who have shown Exceptional and extraordinary commitment to the cause and ideals of our Association and School.  The Awards to be given to these distinguished Old Boys and their subsequent Admittance into the Prestigious Guild of Awardees, will be one of the high points of this evening’s Event.

MULTI PURPOSE HALL FUNDS RAISING

While coming together in an atmosphere of conviviality during our Homecomings, we have always remembered our Source (Birch Freeman High School) which in turn informed our resolve to assist in re-developing our Alma Mater through various Projects that will restore the School’s glory while improving the learning conditions of the present crop of Students to be able to achieve Excellence in their undertakings.  Ladies & Gentlemen as part of the developmental Programme put together by Old Boys for our Alma Mater, a befitting Multi Purpose Hall Project has been planned to complement the modern 21-Classroom Block that His Excellency (himself an Old Boy of the School) through the State’s Ministry of Education has put in place.  One major item of this evening’s Event is the continuing Fund Raising towards the construction of this Multi Purpose Hall to be named after the School’s 1^st Principal, the late Ambassador M.J. Etuk.

We will therefore in the course of this evening be calling on our Guests, the Chairman our Chief and his Co-Launcher, known for their public spirited philanthropic activities, especially in the area of education to assist us in the realization of our dream and be part of this noble cause through your generous donations to this Hall Project, – trusting that God will bless and replenish you several folds as you help our cause.

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION

This is a new concept introduced by the Association’s Exco to add flavour to our Homecoming and get Old Boys all over the Globe to come home especially in years when their Class Sets must have graduated some “milestone” years from the School to celebrate and give Thanks to God for their achievements/ accomplishments thus far.  This Evening, (the Pioneers of Thanksgiving Celebrations), the 1988, 1983, 1978 and 1973 Class Sets will be celebrating 25, 30, 35 & 40 years of graduation from our great Institution and God’s faithfulness in their lives.

On behalf of the members of the Executive Council and Old Boys worldwide, I congratulate members of these Celebrating Sets, trusting that the celebrations will get bigger, better and more encompassing in the years to come.

CONFERMENT OF AWARD

I congratulate the 4 Old Boys to be conferred with BIFOBA’s highest Honours today and to assure them that they have been picked as Bests amongst equals as BFHS have a long list of Old Boys that have reached the top echelons of their Professions and others who have served this Country at very top levels to choose from.  After a rigorous and extremely competitive screening process, these Gentlemen have been found worthy and deserving of the Awards to be conferred today.  I must state clearly that these Awards should not be construed as a grand-standing show-off to be taken for granted, rather they must be seen as a serious and additional call to service towards the ideals of BIFOBA and the upliftment of our Alma Mater.  BIFOBA’s Executive Council will consequently continue to call on and make demands of the Awardees in the above respect for as long as you live, So help you God!

BIFOBA’S GROWTH

Our Association has grown in leaps and bounds over the years especially in the last one year of this Administration.  Our recruitment drive has yielded good results with membership strength across the Globe in Nigeria, North America & U.K Chapters increasing tremendously within the last one year.  Our Financial position as at today is unprecedented and remains strong and healthy.  It is my hope that by the end of this evening, through the generous donations of all present, so much more would have been raised to make our Multi Purpose Hall transcend from being a dream to reality.

APPRECIATION

Your Excellency, I wish to express on behalf of all members of BIFOBA, our gratitude for your continuing interest and championship of the Programmes to revamp our School.  You have by your action proved to be a good product and worthy Ambassador of our Alma Mater.  I urge you not to relent in your plan to make BFHS the small, compact and most sought after School as you promised Exco members and I some 3 years ago.  Please be reminded of the planned permanent deflooding of our School and your pronouncements regarding the recovery of every inch of our School land illegally taken by encroachers, not forgetting the urgent and dire need of fencing-off the School to shut out vandals and miscreants from the premises.  Your continuing involvement in the Funds Raising for our School Hall is acknowledged and appreciated.  You have thus far indeed shown that you are truly “Trained for Duty and for God in line with our School’s motto”.

To our Guests and Donors today, please accept our sincere thanks for your contributions/ donations to our noble cause.  As you give towards this cause, we pray for God’s abundant blessing to you and all that is yours.

For my Predecessors in office (members of the Body of Past Presidents), I thank you for your continuing support, trusting that you will continue to avail me and my team the benefits of your experience.

To the Prestigious Guild members (that I am privileged to be part of), I thank you for always heeding my call and standing up in my support as the occasions demand.  As you admit today’s new Awardees into the Guild, I ask that you commit and re-dedicate yourselves even more to the cause of BIFOBA for which you were made member of the Guild in the first place.  Thank you ever so much Gentlemen.

Kudos to the members of the Executive Committee of both the North America and U.K Chapters for the good job they are doing in the rallying together of our Old Boys in Diaspora.  We look forward to the North America Chapters Re-Union starting from 29^th July, 2013 in Texas.

My deep appreciation goes to my Colleagues, the Executive Council member of BIFOBA (Headquarters) in Nigeria for all the hard work put into the achievements of BIFOBA till date, not failing to acknowledge their tireless efforts put into the successful planning of this Event.  Gentlemen, I truly appreciate your commitment and Team spirited posterity will always remember you and your efforts for good.

My Fellow Old Boys, what more can I say?  You stood by me during the very recent turbulent period that rocked the Association almost to the roots.  Thank you all so much for standing by me and believing in my vision. I wish to place on record the high level of confidence reposed in my Colleagues in Exco and I for which we are truly grateful and to assure all and sundry that I will continue to bring all Old Boys (globally) together in satisfaction of my new role of Global Presidency of the Association and the increased (BIFOBA worldwide) jurisdiction given my office in line with your mandate.

Thank you all Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to BIFOBA’ s 2013 Homecoming/ Thanksgiving Celebration, I wish you all a relaxed and most enjoyable evening.

Welcome!!!

FEYI DINYO

GLOBAL PRESIDENT

BIFOBA

2014 BIFOBA: Homecoming President’s Speech

Our guest of honor, the executive governor of Lagos state , an old boy of birch freeman high school and member of BIFOBA’s  prestigious guild of awardees, MR BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA (SAN), the chairman of BIFOBA’s 2014homecoming dinner& fund raise, OTUNBA FUNSHO OWOYEMI, our various donors/guests for this year’s fund raise toward s completion of our ultra modern multipurpose auditorium, distinguished member s of BIFOBA ‘s executive council (national & Diaspora), fellow old boys ladies and gentlemen.

It is an honor to welcome you all to our homecoming & fund raising dinner for year 2014

This year’s homecoming aptly titled the” REAL HOMECOMING” is especially to us (the old boys of birch freeman high school) as the event in the true sense of the word homecoming is taking place for the very first time on our school soil, in our school premises and in this BIFOBA sponsored & build ultra modern auditorium.

Prior to today’s epoch making event, we had always held our homecoming event in hired halls either in Victoria island or ikeja. History is therefore being made today as old boys’ dreams of holding our annual reunion in our school has become reality.

Today, through the inspiration from his Excellency who advised against relocation of our almost extinct school to lekki; on account of our school is very poor soil condition that could not ordinarily bear any planned meaningful infrastructural development in the past 50 of its 54 years existence

Today, our school is standing firm with new physical infrastructures springing up and our school’s practically lost glory is being restored since old boys have decided to take the future of our school in our hands. Sincere thank to his Excellency who promised and through the state’s ministry of education provided to the school, a 21 classroom block while encouraging old boys to partner with the state government under its public, private partnership programme to develop our school since government alone cannot totally develop all schools.

Our old boys took up the governor’s challenge and agreed to build a modern auditorium which house our association’s secretariat in replacement of our tiny hall built 54 year ago.

Tirelessly, old boys worked towards achievement of its goal with every single bit of work done to get the auditorium to its current stage achieved through self help by old starting from the main contractor, sub contractors, consulting architect’s engineers and others. The result of the hard work by old boys led by members of the association’s executive council and the generosity of public spirited donors is what we can see today and where we are this evening in this magnificent edifice that will be the first of its kind to be build by any old student association anywhere in this country.

The auditorium, when completed and fully operational will be used for our school’s special activities/events, founders day celebrations, students graduations, BIFOBA homecoming celebrations etc and for seminars conferences, symposia by the public.

Permit me to also thank his Excellency for his commitment and involvement in the inceptual fund raise for this auditorium which began 4 years agos. Our appreciations also go to our various past donors including MR WALE AJISEBUTU. Of 21st century technologies. MR OBAYUWANA polo & his group of friends’ chief (sir) KENSINGTON ADEBUTU (CON),MR FEMI OTEDOLA(CON) and others too numerous to mention, not forgetting our old boy’s contributions in our various capacities.

FUND RAISING

Our dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, you have this evening, seen how far we (the old boys) have come and how much we have put into this project. We are however beginning to loose steam and are in need of assistance from public spirited individuals to complete the project.

If our efforts and commitment to improving upon and restoring the practically lost glory of our alma mater means anything to you, if you appreciate our old boys’ spirit of giving back to a school where practically none of us have our children, if this classic case of commitment by old boys, the type that has never been seen before touch your heart this evening, we invite you to assist, and join hands with us to fulfill our dream of putting up this magnificent edifice which will put birch freeman high school’s name back in the list of the first 5 top schools in Lagos through your generous donations towards completion of this auditorium in service to God and for the benefit of our students and mankind in general.

It is our belief that as you do so, God will replenish you several fold.

AWARDS CONFERMENT

One strong motivation for the continuing and unprecedented commitment observed amongst our old boy’s is the pride we have in our school, in spite of its small size and its perceived not too appealing environment. The above notwithstanding, the birch freeman awards conferred on some of our boys is something the awardees cherish all through their lives while same remains an objective/goal that all old boys desire and work  very hard to achieve.

Today, two old boys will be conferred with the “freeman” award of excellence either

(i) In their chosen careers which has portrayed our alma mater in good light or

(ii) For extraordinary and consistent display of commitment to BIFOBA and our alma mater

I congratulate MR SAMI OMIA and ARC LADI LEWI who are to be honored today and as they get admitted into prestigious BIFOBA guild of awardees, may I remind them that they have been selected as first amongst equals and that after all of the celebrations and fanfare, they have moral responsibility to further the ideals of BIFOBA while doing even more than ever before for our alma mater.

I wish them well and urge the aspirant old boys who did not make the awards this year not to despair but remain resolute, no one can really tell what year 2015 holds in stock.

BIFOBA’S GROWTH

Our association remains very strong and continues to grow in leaps and bounds this auditorium, when finally completed and officially commissioned on 17th February 2015 during the commemoration of our s school’s 55th founder’s day anniversary, will support our statement to the world that BIFOBA has indeed become grown. Our subsidiaries, the north America chapter, the U.K chapter (and the Europe chapter in -formation)are growing at an impressive rate. Our website, the new but yet to be launched official bifobaglobal.org website are instruments used to portray our association and its activities to the public and variable tool for recruitment of our old boys world over. The BIFOBA. Com website which has played and will continue to play major roles in the interaction amongst our members was practically single handedly developed and managed by one of our very dedicated and committed old boy of the north America chapter and member of the BIFOBA guild of awardees, MR DAVID BABATUNDE low, MR LOWO passed on 3 week ago and has since been buried in Atlanta U.S.A.

We remember DAVID LOWO today and his memories will remain ever green in our minds. May his gentle soul find peace with his creator.

APPRECIATION

I wish to thank your Excellency on behalf of all old boys for your continuing interest in the development of our school. You are indeed a good ambassador of our school and a worthy member of the guild of awardees. We are proud of your achievements as governor and you have truly shown, in line with our school’s matter that you are “Trained for duty and for God”

Thank you your Excellency for the support given to my administration over the past years. Please remember our discussions about the fencing of the school to keep away the miscreants who have turned the school to hide-out and constantly creating distractions for the students. It has become extremely necessary now more than ever before to put a step a stop finally to the Mushin and surulere gangs wars that have found a ready battle ground in our school, the most recent of which left several of our students wounded.

The birch freeman land issue still remains unresolved. We urged that you take all necessary steps to resolve the matter before your exist as governor. Acquiring the land under for public use by exercising power of eminent domain for birch freemen’s benefit and paying some little compensation to the alleged property owners will make a lot of difference to the new master plan designed for our school and allow the 4million gate donated by old boys (currently lying rusty in the school premises to be installed).

To our guests and donors this evening, we offer our sincere thanks and appreciation for your generous donations within a firm belief that god will bless you as you assist towards completion of this auditorium project. We are looking at a total sum of 75 million to complete the project with state of the art finish and will install all necessary equipment and air conditioning etc. Whatever God places in your heart to give towards this project will be appreciated. We thank you as you donate towards this noble cause.

To my predecessors in office, the body of the past presidents, I welcome and thank you for your continuing advise offerings and guidance

Gentlemen of the prestigious BIFOBA guild, its remains a deep privilelege for me to be a member and part of this group. Thank you for your unending support of my programme and vision and I trust that I can continue to count on this source of support even in the future.

My colleagues in the executive council, I am certain you know my deep rooted appreciation for your commitment generally and the amount of work we have put in based on our collective vision to build this auditorium and to make today’s event the success that it is.

Thank you gentlemen from the bottom of my heart and I implore  you not to relent as we need to put in just a little bit more of our time and effort to get to the completion of this project which will truly crown our effort with joy unspeakable. Thank you so much.

Fellow old boys, (whether national or in Diaspora ) thank you for believing in me and the trust you have in my leadership. Together we will restore our school’s glory while I remain committed to our set goals.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, welcomes to birch freeman high school as I wish you a relaxed evening in this magnificent edifice even in its work in progress stage.

God bless you all.

FEYI DINYO

GLOBAL PRESIDENT

BIFOBA

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BIRCH FREEMAN HIGH SCHOOL SURULERE

56TH FOUNDERS DAY ANNIVERSARY

Fellow Old Boys

BIFOBA’s Executive Council (Exco) wishes to inform members of the Association’s plans to celebrate our School’s 56th Founders’ Day Anniversary always held on 6th February, annually.

6th February this year falls on a Saturday however, based on recent developments in the School, BIFOBA and the Nation at large and given the need to continuously showcase our School and make same relevant amongst the comity of respectable Schools (considered to be in our League), Exco has scheduled a 2-Day Event to commemorate the 56th Anniversary.

Details of the 2-Day Events are as follows:-

Friday, 5th February, 2016

Event: Public Lecture to be delivered by 2 erudite Guest Speakers

Topic: Reforming Nigeria’s Educational System Towards Youth Employability

Guest of Honour: Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (Deputy Governor/Commissioner of Education), Lagos State

Other Highlights:       

-Unveiling of the Multi-million Naira Musical Equipment to form a BFHS Orchestra, donated to BFHS by BIFOBA North-America Chapter as part of their “Giving-Back” to the school Programme.

-Dedication of the Musical Equipment by the Clergy from the Methodist Mission.

 Venue: BFHS Multi-Purpose Auditorium

 Time: 9:30 am till 1:00 pm

Attendees: 

All Old Boys, Select members of the Public, Lagos State Education Ministry Officials, members of BFHS Teaching Staff, members of BFHS’s Parent Forum, Members of Electronic and Print Media

Saturday, 6th February, 2016

Event:                        

-Short Motivational Talks to Students by select Old Boys.

-Prize-Giving/Awards for outstanding/deserving Students

-Short Sermon by Clergy of the Methodist Mission

-Teachers’Appreciation through issuance of Gifts/Awards by members of BFHS’ Parents Forum

-Announcement of Lifetime Endowment (for Prizes) by some Old   Boys

-Launching of Equipment and Entertainment by BFHS’ Musical Orchestra

Venue: BFHS Multi-Purpose Auditorium

Attendees:  

All Old Boys, BFHS, 5Students each of 18 invited Guest Secondary Schools, in our League (accompanied by their Teachers), members of Staff, BHFS, members of BFHS’ Parents Forum, members of the Electronic& Print Media

For the Prize-Giving/Awards, Exco is appealing to Old Boys to sponsor Prizes for different Subjects or Good behavioural patterns e.g. Cleanliness, Punctuality at School, Exceptional Good Behaviour, Outstanding Innovation etc. Prizes will bear the names of Sponsors which will be announced during the Awards.

Sponsors can have their Donations converted into Endowments if they sponsor a minimum amount of Prizes worth N20,000.00 and are willing to do same annually for the rest of their lives.

Endowments can be in the names of the Old Boys, their Parents (whether alive or late or other loved ones which could also include a Teacher or anybody who has made an impact on the Old Boys’ lives).

Sponsors should pay the necessary Amount(s) to BIFOBA’s Account with details below and call  our Welfare Officer, Olise Nwachukwu on 0809 660 3333 to specify which Prize(s) is/are being sponsored and whether same be converted into an Endowment or not.

Birch Freeman Old Boys Association

Zenith Bank Plc

Account No. 1010228516

Old Boys are reminded that the 5th February Event is an “Official” BIFOBA Event where members of the Public are invited as Guests consequently, members who have the old BIFOBA Blazer are expected to attend the Event putting on the Blazers while those others who are yet to receive the new set of Blazers paid for, to please attend in formal Corporate/Business attires.

Saturday, 6th February’s Event is internal and Dress Code is “Business Casual”.

Exco looks forward to welcoming and receiving Old Boys on both days.

Yours faithfully

PAUL ADAMS                                                                              FEYI DINYO

PUBLICITY SECRETARY                                                             GLOBAL PRESIDENT

BIFOBA                                                                                        BIFOBA

2015 Homecoming Celebration Invitation

Dear Old Boys:

This is an Invitation Card/Admittance Ticket to 2015 BIFOBA Homecoming & Awards Dinner event for April 25, 2015

The card features the Graduating Sets that will perform Thanksgiving Ceremonies during the event – aside of 4 notable and deserving old boys that will be conferred with awards and subsequently admitted into the prestigious BIFOBA Guild of Awardees.

BIFOBA urges old boys to pay N10,000.00 dinner fee per old boy/spouse to Birch Freeman Old Boys Association’s Account No. 1010228516 with any Zenith Bank Plc Branch in Nigeria.

Up School!

2015 BIFOBA Homecoming Event

Fellow Old Boys:

The Executive Council (“Exco”) of Birch Freeman High School Old Boys Association (BIFOBA) rose from its series of meetings recently and having received a ratification of its Plans from the General House in the meeting of Sunday, 8th March, 2015, officially announce as follows:

(1)   YEAR 2015 HOMECOMING EVENT

Date:                Saturday, 25th April, 2015

Venue:              BFHS’s New Auditorium

Time:                3.00 pm Prompt

Dress Code:     Formal Dinner/Complete National Dressing

Fee:                  N10,000.00 per Couple

(2)   NOMINATION FOR AWARDS/ADMITTANCE TO GUILD OF AWARDEES

–         Nominations are formally declared open and will close by 12.00 midnight on Tuesday, 31st March, 2015.

–         Nominations and Awards are open to all Old Boys worldwide who must be financial members of BIFOBA Headquarters in Nigeria or any of BIFOBA’s Chapters in diaspora.

–         Awards are as usual categorized into:-

(a)    Award of Excellence based on Careers/Achievements that have portrayed Birch Freeman High School and BIFOBA in good light.

(b)   Award of Excellence based on Extraordinary Commitment to BFHS and BIFOBA’s Ideals.

Please visit our Websites; www.bifobaglobal.org and www.bifoba.com for more details on registration/submission of Nominations Forms for the Awards.

(3)   CELEBRATING SETS

The underlisted Class Sets will be celebrating “Special” years of leaving BFHS and performing their Thanksgiving Ceremonies during the 2015 Homecoming Event.

–         1975 Set    –           40 years of leaving BFHS

–         1985   “      –           30    “      “      “          “

–         1990   “      –           25    “      “      “          “

–         1995   “      –           20    “      “      “          “

These Celebrating Class Sets are all gearing up for their Celebrations. The Sets’ Chairmen and/or Secretaries to please contact The “Global President” BIFOBA, MR. FEYI DINYO on 08034029800 immediately upon receipt of this e-mail to get briefings on and get acquainted with the Procedures for the Ceremonies while also receiving all materials/information concerning their Thanksgiving Celebrations.

BIFOBA Exco will also specially celebrate the 1965 set, being the pioneer set, to mark 50 years of their leaving BFHS.

(4)   PROCUREMENT OF NEW BIFOBA BLAZERS

Giving the constant request for BIFOBA’s Blazers, a new set of light-weather fabric BIFOBA Blazers are currently being ordered from the United Kingdom, to arrive Nigeria a few days before the Homecoming 2015 Event.

Price per Blazer is N30,000.00 per unit.  Interested Old Boys should contact Mr. Olise Nwachukwu; BIFOBA’s Welfare Officer (08023469613, 08096603333) to place their orders stating their Blazer size in the UK size denomination.

(5)   AUDITORIUM COMPLETION (FLOOR SCREEDING STAGE)

Exco requests assistance from all Old Boys towards, screeding of the Floor of the Auditorium such that our Dinner (and our Spouses’) attires are not messed up by the sand on the floor of the Auditorium.

No amount of contribution by Old Boys towards this laudable Auditorium Project completion is too small.All Old Boys are enjoined to be part of the Auditorium’s completion Programme through Donations that will be thankfully received and listed on the Auditorium’s Donors List.

PAYMENT

All payments for each and all of the above items should be paid into BIFOBA’s Account detailed below:

            BIRCH FREEMAN OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION

            ACCOUNT NO: 1010228516

            ZENITH BANK PLC

Old Boys are requested to please pay their Dinner Fees early to choose/secure vantage Seating Tables.  Exco may not be able to guarantee Old Boys sitting with their Friends/Colleagues if payments are not made early enough.

Group Tables seating Ten (10) Old Boys per table can be booked early upon receipt of payments.  Payments at the Venue Entrance will be rejected as Exco has no capacity for collecting Cash on Homecoming Events day.

The Executive Council (Exco) on behalf of BIFOBA members Globally wish all its members a successful and enjoyable Year 2015 Homecoming Events/Ceremonies.

Yours faithfully

PAUL ADAMS

PUBLICITY SECRETARY

BFHS Marks 55

BFHS MARKS 55, HONOURS ALUMNI 

The Alumni of Birch Freeman High School, (BFHS) Surulere, Lagos, honoured some of their own, including His Excellency, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), the Executive Governor of Lagos State, at their 2015 Annual BIFOBA Homecoming event, recently.

The event tagged ‘Home-Coming/Fundraising and Thanksgiving Dinner’ featured a special “Award for Service Distinction” given to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at the School’s new multipurpose Auditorium. 

Four other distinguished Old Boys also received the prestigious BIFOBA Awards, including Mr. Gus Wiggle, MD/CEO Linkage Assurance Plc and President, Nigerian Insurers Association NIA, who received an award for Excellence in the field of Business Management (Insurance); Mr. Ladi Sole, MD/CEO Unik Sites Limited, he received an award for Extraordinary Commitment to BIFOBA’s Ideals; Professor Johnie Ben-Edigbe, a Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, who received an award for Excellence in the Field of Academics (Civil Engineering) as well Engr. Dipo Olokun, the Pioneer President of BIFOBA, who also received an award for Extraordinary Commitment to BIFOBA’s Ideals. This constituted the high point of this year’s Homecoming /Fund Raising and Thanksgiving Dinner, which also marked the school’s 55th anniversary.

The Award, which maiden edition took place in 2003 was instituted to honour Old Boys of the school who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and in the process projected positively, the image of the school as well as other Old Boys who have shown Exceptional Commitment to BIFOBA’s Ideals and contributed immensely to the development of their Alma Mater.

Stating the importance of the event and reason why  Governor Babatunde Fashola was so honored, Mr Feyi Dinyo, BIFOBA’s  Global President, said  “given his pioneering role and support in respect of the new Auditorium and more importantly, his pivotal role in retrieving our Alma Mater from doldrums it receded into after several years of neglect by successive Governments and bringing same back into reckoning among the Committee of top rated Schools, his Excellency was considered worthy and deserving of the special honour  “

Mr. Feyi Dinyo further thanked His Excellency, Governor Babatunde Fashola for the construction of a 29+1 classroom block for the senior school; on-going construction of 19 classroom block for the junior school and fencing of the school to prevent further encroachment into the school’s land .

Mr. Dinyo also described Governor Fashola as a good Ambassador.  According to him, “His Excellency has rendered unparalleled service to the people of Lagos State (for which he has been well acclaimed), this has pleased his fellow Old Boys and has made us proud. Several projects carried out have shown him as a good “Ambassador” of our Alma Mater and he has by his activities in the past 8 years demonstrated, in line with our school’s motto, that he is truly” Trained for duty and for Thee” 

The event also included a Fund Raising to complete the N200 million multipurpose Auditorium being built by BIFOBA for the school, to be named in memory of the first principal, Late Ambassador M.J. Etuk.

Another highlight of the event had some sets- 1975 and 1965-1968 (the pioneer set) celebrating key anniversaries of their graduation from BFHS. This development afforded members to unite with their mates in their respective classes and sets.

Dada Ajai-Ikhile
General Secretary, BIFOBA

BIFOBA Blazers For Sale

Due to popular demands among Old Boys, BIFOBA national headquarter has ordered for a set of new light-weight “BIFOBA Blazers”, which is MUST have for all Old Boys across the globe.

Prices

1. Nigeria: N30,000:00

2. Unites States: $150:00, plus $30:00 shipping = $180:00 (Total)

3. United Kingdom/Europe: : £200:00

(Cost includes shipping & handling)

To place an order: Contact Mr. Olise-Emeka Nwachukwu at +234-809-660-3333

                                    or  Mr. Feyi Dinyo (President) at +234-803-402-9800

                                    or Email:  bifoba@gmail.com

Size:  Please size must be given in UK denomination.

Special Payment Arrangement

Payments can be arranged in Naira at the prevailing Exchange Rate on the date of payment or a private arrangement can be made where a personal Dollar Account is funded in the U.S and the Naira equivalent paid to BIFOBA’s Account in Nigeria.

BIFOBA Headquarter