Governor  Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun on Tuesday opened a  newly built Ilesa Government High School. The new school, he said, was in furtherance of his government’s effort to ensure sound basic education in the state. It cost N1.3billion. Aregbesola, who is an indigene of the town,  said at the opening today that  the 3,000 capacity school, has 72 classrooms, which could accommodate 49 students each. He said other facilities in the school included 18 toilets  for girls and boys, bookshop, art and science library, 1,000 capacity examination hall, Principals’ and general offices, among others.
Ooni Of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has lauded Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Reuf Aregbesola for commissioning a building valued At N1.3billion for the Ilesa Government High School, Describing Aregbesola’s achievement in his almost Seven years as outstanding . He however, urged to sustain the tempo.  Oba Ogunwisi who spoke at the ceremony, however, asked whose toes the governor may have stepped upon in the course of discharging his duties to pardon him.
         The school we are commissioning today is state-of-the-art. many people when they see the picture, because it is so good, they argue it is so good, they argue it is computer generated graphic in 3D.  “Actually it is a 3,000 capacity three-in-one school. Each school has its principal with an overall senior principal.  “the complex has 72 classrooms of 49 square-meters each capable of sitting  49 student, 6 laboratories, 18 toilets for young ladies, 18 toilets for young men, 1 science library, 1 art library 1 facility manager’s office, 1bookshop, 1 sick bay, 1 bursar’s office, 3 general staff office, record store and 1 security shed/reception.
          “There are total of 1,000 square-meters of floor space hall capable of sitting 1,000 students for external examinations. This hall has storage, for equipment utility storage, a stage, for document, 4 female toilets and 4 male toilets. “For sporting activities, there is an Olympic sized football field, 7-lane sprinting tracks for 100 meters and 400 meters events, a pavilion and an outdoor basketball court that doubles as tennis court. The school has its own borehole, an electricity transformer and an ample parking space for at least 75 cars. “Welcome to the new world of educational infrastructure in Osun. The school cost N1.3billion which includes the cost of furnishing, landscape and electronic boards. “I am happy and  full filled that we have public schools that can  compete with the best in the world and indeed, our new schools are he ones to beat around here
The monarch of the town, Adekunle Aromolaran, performed the official commissioning, which was also attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. “I am happy and fulfilled that we have public schools that can compete with the best in the world and indeed, our new schools are the ones to beat around here”, Aregbesola said. “All these are in fulfilment of our promise to provide functional basic education. This stems from our conviction that every child is owed basic education.
“As a government, we have played our own part very well and we will do more if the need should arise. “It is now left for parents and teachers to do their own part.”Aregbesola said his administration would continue to give education a high priority. Oba  Ogunwusi said the achievements of the governor in the education and other sectors would continue to be a reference point in the state.
The question of the place and influence of alumni on Ilesa Government High School and politics is delicate. Fears are growing in some quarters that how can alumni expand to occupy more space as authority and wield undue influence in Ilesa Government High School? It does not have to be so, for rather than being a danger; alumni can serve as a stabilising force in this school.
Some alumni leaders insist they have the right, and even the duty, to engage in major decisions and even to get involved in the school politics, including giving instructions and standing for office. This is causing concern among some people in Osun State. For now, the perception that alumni leaders have an excessive influence over academic life in Ilesa High School is somewhat worrisome. Alumni groups undeniably have become powerful lobbyists, using their important role within society and capacity to mobilise to their advantage. Their motives are diverse, from promoting moral values to defending financial interests in a quest for power or influence. But so far, alumni leaders have taken Ilesa High School hostage, and the alumni’s political class shows little or no sign of ceding too much political space to academic excellence.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Modibbo Alfa Belgore are old boys of Ilesa Government High School built by the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Adeboye and Belgore are among prominent Nigerians that attended the school which had become dilapidated before Aregbesola rebuilt it as a mega school with state-of-the-art facilities. Also, the former governor of Lagos State who was also the former Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande was among the former students of the school.

The Ilesa Government High School is a replica of the Osogbo Government High School, which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on September ‎1st, 2016. In his speech titled “The Making of the Educated Person”, Aregbesola promised that the remaining six high schools would be commissioned before the end of the year. He hinted that Fakunle-Unity School, Osogbo and Oduduwa high school, Ile-Ife, have been completed and would soon be commissioned. Also, the governor promised that Ila-Orangun, Iwo, Ikirun and Ikire high schools that are under construction, would be completed before the end of the year. He stated that his administration has built 25 middle schools and 20 elementary schools in the state.
“The school we are commissioning today is state-of-the-art. Many people when they see the picture, because it is so good, they argue it is computer generated graphics in 3D. Actually, it is a 3,000 capacity three-in-one school. Each school has its principal with an overall senior principal.
“The school cost N1.3 billion which includes the cost of furnishing, landscape and electronic boards. I am happy and fulfilled that we have public schools that can compete with the best in the world and indeed, our new schools are the ones to beat around here. “All these are in fulfilment of our promise to provide functional basic education. This stems from our conviction that every child is owed basic education. It is a fundamental and inalienable right of every child. We have gone to this length and committed such huge amount on education because we are preparing for the future.
“These 11 high schools, by our projection, will each graduate 11,000 students every year.. In 10 years, they would have turned out 110,000 first rate students. In 50 years, that would be 550,000 world beaters, occupying strategic positions nationally and globally. This is our vision. “As a government, we have played our own part very well and we will do more if the need should arise. It is now left for parents and teachers to do their own part. “Parents should provide the right examples to their children at home. They should let them realise the importance of education and that there is no reliable future outside of it. They should therefore prepare their children for school at the right time, help them dress properly and acceptably and prevent them from truancy.
The alumni should allow academic excellence rather than creating imaginary conflicts in Ilesa Government High School.
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Inwalomhe Donald writes from Benin City ([email protected])