By Bode Akinbod
It was a homecoming filled with nostalgia, gratitude and renewed commitment as members of the St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, 1996 Set Alumni Association, popularly known as SACODIANS ’96, returned to their alma mater to celebrate 30 years after graduation.
The anniversary celebration, held on Saturday , September 12, 2026 at the 500-seater lecture theatre of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education (EAUED), Oyo, attracted members of the set from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
The institution, founded in 1896 as the oldest teacher training institution in Nigeria, was known as St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo (SACOED) when the set graduated in 1996. It has since evolved into Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo.
The celebration was themed: “Honouring Our Roots: Inspiring The Future.”
Delivering the anniversary lecture, the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, Professor Olalekan Ojedokun, said the theme was a philosophy of life and a statement of maturity.
“When I first saw this theme, I paused. It is not just a slogan for an anniversary banner. It is a philosophy of life. It is a statement of maturity,” Prof. Ojedokun said.
He described the root of the set as historic and noble saying “You are not just products of any school. You are products of St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo founded in 1896. The oldest teacher training institution in Nigeria. For over a century, this institution has been the womb that birthed teachers for this nation.”
“In 1996, when you were here, it was a College of Education. Today, it stands as Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo. That transition is not a loss of identity; it is the enlargement of your root. A seed you left as a College has become a University. That should make every member of the 1996 Set proud. It means your root was viable, it was deep, it was genuine.” He said
Quoting the scriptures, he added: “The Bible says, ‘If the root is holy, so are the branches.’ Your root is holy. Your root is noble.” He added
According to Prof. Ojedokun , alumni must honour their roots for three reasons which are ; to show gratitude, preserve identity, and to secure continuity.
“We honour our roots for three reasons: First, to show gratitude. No one becomes something from nothing. Some lecturers woke up to teach you, some non-academic staff made the environment conducive, some classmates sharpened you. Honour is gratitude made public.”
“Second, to preserve identity. In life, when the wind of success blows, it is easy to be uprooted. A man who forgets his root will soon lose his identity. Honouring your root keeps you grounded.”
“Third, to secure continuity. An institution lives because old students return to sustain it. If all who passed through St. Andrew’s forget her, she will die,” he said.
He challenged the set to move beyond celebration to legacy and to make positive impact in the institution
“I challenge you, Class of 1996: Let this anniversary leave a footprint on this campus. Let a classroom be renovated and named after your Set. Let an indigent student be able to pay school fees because 1996 Set paid. Let there be an annual 1996 Prize for the Best Student Teacher. Let your names be in the archives of this University not just as leavers, but as builders. That is how we honour a root , we water it.” He stressed
On inspiring the future, he noted:“If you only honour your root, you become people who live in yesterday always talking about ‘our days in St. Andrew’s.’ And if you only talk about inspiring the future without a root, you become balloons without string floating without foundation.”
“The greatest honour you can give to St. Andrew’s is to succeed. And the greatest success is to raise successors. You were Rooted in 1896, Formed in 1996, and you must be Fruitful until 2056 and beyond,” he concluded.
In his address, Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Sikiru Raimi , described the gathering as symbolic and historic.
He noted that some alumni sets before and after 1996 are in disarray because of lack of cooperation.
“Some sets before you and even after you are in disarray because of lack of cooperation. The only way you can interact and contribute meaningfully to give back to the institution that trained you is to collaborate,” he said.
He urged members to remain united despite differences in status and achievements
“If you stretch your fingers, you will see that they are not equal. Some members will be flying while some will be running, some will be walking while some will be crawling. The most important thing is for members to continue to move.
“When others are flying and you know you don’t have the strength and means, begin to run, if you cannot run, walk and if your strength cannot make you walk, begin to crawl. Just make sure you are not static at any point in time,” he added.
Dr Raimi , who is himself a product of St. Andrew’s College of Education, also decried the dichotomy existing within Alumni Associations due to the different nomenclatures of the institution at various stages of its evolution.
“That doesn’t mean we should not operate as a group but let’s see ourselves as operating within a bigger umbrella. This is the only way we can forge a common front,” he said, calling for synergy between the 1996 set and the national body.
He noted that the institution is in need of infrastructure, research and other developments, and called on alumni to pay back.
“History, posterity and the university community will not forget the class of ’96 set,” he said, while congratulating the set.
In his goodwill message, the National President, EAUED Alumni Association, Mr. Kola Amole, said reunion is important because it reminds alumni of where they came from.
“Reunion such as this is important as it gives us opportunity of where we came from and we connect with old friends and give something back to the institution that helped shape our lives,” Amole said.
“He said the reunion should not be for merriment alone but to also ask ourselves what legacy has the set left behind? and what to do to support our alma mater? Whose lives have we influenced? What young children have we mentored? And what building project can we undertake?”
“Ultimately, the greatest evidence that we passed through this institution should not be the certificate we received but the positive blueprints we leave behind,” he stressed.
Amole disclosed that the National body intends to put up an Alumni Centre which will serve as a lasting legacy, adding that it requires collective support through individual and collective donations and CSR interventions from well-meaning individuals, political office holders and NGOs.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of SACODIANS ’96 Set Alumni Association, Mr. Babatunde Ojebode, whose address was delivered by the Vice Chairman, Dr. Tolulope Gbadamosi, said the anniversary was a moment to look back with gratitude and forward with hope.
“It is an opportunity to look back with gratitude and forward with hope and to celebrate how far we have come, the milestones we have achieved, the families we have built and the impact many of us have made in our various fields of endeavours,” he said.
Ojebode appreciated the anniversary committee for their dedication and sacrifice as well as members of the association who donated towards ensuring the success of the anniversary
“Your dedication, sacrifice, careful planning, coordination, and commitment have made this celebration possible. It is no small achievement.” He said
Described the day as more than an anniversary, Ojebode said “Today Is more than just an anniversary. It is a celebration of friendship, shared memories, enduring relationship, and the journey of thirty remarkable years. Thirty years ago, we walked through the gates of St. Andrew’s College of Education as young men and women with dreams, aspirations, and hopes for the future.
“Let us continue to cherish this bond. Let us continue to check on one another, support one another, celebrate one another’s successes, and stand by one another in times of difficulty. Let our set remain as family beyond the walls of this institution, he urged
“Our Alma Mater has also travelled a remarkable journey. The institution we proudly knew as St Andrew’s College of Education has evolved into Emmanuel Alayande University of Education. We are delighted to return and witness its transformation and continued growth.
“As a set, our purpose has always been clear: to care for one another, to socialise together, and to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of our Alma Mater,” he added, while urging members to renew their commitment to friendship, service and giving back.
He also called for prayers for departed members, as a minute silence was observed in their honour.
The Director, Directorate of Inter-Community Relations and University Advancement Centre, Dr. Rotimi Akande, also commended the leadership of the set, urging members to continue to be their brother’s keeper and leave a lasting legacy on the sands of time.
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In her appreciation remarks, the Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Wahab, thanked God for the success of the anniversary and expressed gratitude to the University Management, the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Olalekan Ojedokun, the National Alumni President, Mr. Kola Amole, invited guests and all members of the SACODIANS ’96 Set at home and in the diaspora, as well as generous donors and sponsors who contributed financially and materially towards the celebration and the Legacy Projects, noting that their unity, sacrifice and commitment made the 30th anniversary a resounding success.
Highlights of the occasion were the commissioning of three sign posts tagged “Legacy Projects” at three locations within the institution and the decoration of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor ( Academics)
Dr. Sikiru Olaniyan, the National President of EAUED Alumni Association, Mr. Kola Amole, and a former Student Union President of the then St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, Mr. Emmanuel Gbenga Osoba, as Life Patrons of the SACODIANS ’96 Set Alumni Association.
