OBIRI SONS AND DAUGHTERS DONATE LAPTOPS TO ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN HIGH SCHOOL OKITIPUPA AS THE CHURCH ALSO RECEIVES CASH
Ecomiums as the Obiri Sons and Daughters donated laptops to St Paul’s Anglican High School, Lebi Street, Okitipupa in honour of their late grand father, Chief Joseph Ajibowa Obiri, the first Oyegbata of Ikale land.
According to him, the representative of Obiri family, Prince Sanya Adegbenro said the donation of the laptops to the school ought to have come up since April but due to some circumstances beyond their control led to the postponement of the activities.
The donation of the laptops was carried out on Friday 15th December, 2023 at the school premises, Lebi Street, Okitipupa in area of Ondo State.
Adegbenro said some people tried to hijack it when they heard about the scenario that Obiri family was planning to donate laptops to a particular school for the benefit of the respective students of the school saying after he had engaged some people to search for the school, he said the response he got from them was that truly, St Paul’s Anglican Church was at lebi street, Okitipupa but they were not sure if there is a secondary school as well.
“It took the family some months to locate St Paul’s Anglican High School where we are today through the assistance of one of the family members, Pastor Oyewole Lanre who insisted that the elder brother of his own mother Reverend Joistrel Esimoje Obiri who happened to be the son of Chief Joseph Ajibowa Obiri was buried at St Paul’s Anglican Church Lebi Street, Okitipupa on 2nd April, 1987 at age of 82 years”, he affirmed.
The representative said the information he received from Pastor Lanre Oyewole gave him confidence that if any school might want to benefit this, it should be the school of the church, because, the church that owned the school is where one of Obiri sons was buried.
He however delivered a short message sent by the head of Obiri family, Dr. Nicholas I. Obiri. In his short remark, “The sons and daughters of Chief Joseph Ajibowa Obiri (my father’s father) are proud members of the community and wish to see good things happen in the community. We hope that these laptops will be helpful in generating good citizens of the community”, Dr. Nichols I. Obiri said.
The School Principal, Mr Fashakin Timothy who was presented with one of the laptops, said the students of the school are now better equipped to write this year’s SSCE Examination.
“Now seeing these things as an educational instruments to help the young ones”, he said
Mr Fashakin who appreciated the donours of the laptops said the school had been logging for something like that but in appropriate time, it came during his own time when they needed it mostly.
“Now seeing these things as an educational instruments to help the young ones”, he added.
Earlier, the Vical of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Lebi Street, Okitipupa, Venerable Oluitan Joshua had stated that the school is grateful for this donation which will significantly assist the students performance in the senior school certificate exterminations (SSCE) and as well as the cash given to the church.
The Venerable however appreciated the Baale of Isale – Ebute His Highness (Baale) Vincent E. Atamu for deeming it feet to witness the event despite his busy schedule.
Oluitan said the Baale owned him a visit before the year runs out, he explained how the St Paul’s Anglican Church was moved from Isale – Ebute in 1977 to Lebi, that in 2009/2010, the church had to go back there that the church in Isale – Ebute must not die which they later revived but is no longer called St Paul’s Anglican Church but Holy Trinity Anglican Church while berating the people who claimed that there is no secondary school called St Paul’s Anglican High School.
“I think they are just being wicked, this school is one of pioneer schools in this town and one of few government approved schools in Okitipupa. I think is a good thing to see this kind of thing given back to the community”, he affirmed.
He appreciated God for using the family for the kind of gesture and assured the family that the school will make use of the laptops very well.
“Someone from the school came to me that they needed Laptop, they needed printer, I said this will come in it’s own time, he said okay, that they will want to save money and I said, go ahead, but I knowing fully well, in the next 3 years from the source.
“Even, if they want to raise the money, they can’t buy it and we want to buy just only one laptop and printer. See how God has blessed us with 7 Laptops without paying any dime, that’s God. You see when God chose to do a thing, he doesn’t need our efforts, all he needs, is our prayers, cooperation and faith”, he said.
He therefore appreciated the donors for their gestures saying the God Almighty will always be with them and enriched their pockets in miraculous way.
The traditional ruler of Isale – Ebute in Okitipupa, His Highness (BAALE) Vincent E. Atamu, said he had known Obiri family for a decade and that since he had known the family, they have never one day disappointed him.
“I think it’s first of its kind, this family is a wonderful family in my community, this family is unforgettable whether they were born and bread in that community saying never stopped from doing one project or the other in the community.
“I used to say it that if all families that were rear, they born and bread in that community will go and come back and give to the community, the community would have been so developed, if all we go and come back and and give back to the church where their parents, their fore father began, even the church would have developed more than this.
The traditional ruler said he was so privileged and happy to be part of that community where these people come from, he said none of them residing there except the one representing the family now used to come there for visiting and come to me and say Kabiesi I have been sent to give you kola (Gift).
“The venerable have prayed that this Obiri family, God will continue to lead them arise, God will continue to bless them abundantly, your health will not fade, God will continue to take care of them, both female and male, those that are in Nigeria, those that are outside the country, God will continue to look and take care of them “, he prayed.
The event was well attended by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Staff, Teachers, Students of the school and members of St Paul’s Anglican Church.
