•Details Of The Colourful Event
It’s a new dawn in the education system of the Ilaro community in particular and the entire Ogun State as a whole as new standardized school for children from crèche to the senior secondary school was launched on Friday, June 23, 2021.
Mrs Toyin Akinola an Ireland based educationist and the proprietress of Solid Rock Intercontinental School was full of joy for the fulfilment of her dreams. She revealed to City People that Solid Rock was one of her ways of contributing her quota to the development of education in Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole.
The Ilesa-born pretty mother of two also revealed that the modern boarding and day school is poised to bring development to Ilaro and a total transformation to the host community.
The classy event had dignitaries from Ilaro, Dublin in Ireland and as well as the United States of America all in attendance. City People’s DAMILARE SALAMI 08155134152 alongside the Head of Photography Unit, Femi Adeleke was present too and in this report, he brings you a full gist of all that went down there, enjoy.
DJ LIVING STONE OPENS FLOOR
The day started with songs of praise and thanksgiving oozing out of the public address system of DJ Living Stone, one of the biggest Disc Jockeys in Ilaro, Ogun State. He was the brain behind the maximum entertainment enjoyed at the grand opening of Solid Rock Intercontinental School on this fateful afternoon. He thrilled the audience from the beginning to the end of the party and at intervals, he would even play the role of a hypeman, hailing some of the celebrity guests at the event.
FAST-RISING COMPERE, DAYO ANCHORS EVENT
Oladayo Owodolu is his name, anchoring events is his profession. Does he do it well? Absolutely yes, Dayo is a wonderful compere who has the flair of a broadcaster as well as rib-cracking mature jokes of a stand-up comedian. These two attributes stood him out at the event. His ability to carry all his guests along despite their generational differences made him the perfect man for the job. Dayo flowed well in the English and Yoruba languages which was a plus to his beautiful performance.
OLU OF ILARO’S GRAND ENTRY
The Olu of Ilaro and the paramount ruler of Yewa Kingdom, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, was the former chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas. Since he ascended the throne in 2012, he has maintained a clear perspective on the improvement of the quality of lives of his subjects. He was a member of the constitutional confab where he made meaningful contributions. He was the royal father of the day and inspired Mrs Toyin Akinola to set up this school in Ilaro when they met in Dublin, Ireland. He was full of praises and prayers for the couple because they believe in the development of Ilaro and Ogun State in general.
PROPRIETRESS’ SPEECH
Mrs Toyin Akinola, the proprietress of Solid Rock Intercontinental Schools took her speech shortly after the arrival of the Olu of Itori, the Royal Father of the day. She revealed that her primary purpose of establishing the school was to open up Ilaro to other opportunities. She further revealed that as an educationist who grew up attending schools that couldn’t compete on the international scene, it has always being her dream to see that children do not go through that kind of education. She boasted that the school has employed the best academic and none academic staff to cater to the needs of the pupils. “This school is designed to accommodate children from every nation of the world, which is why it is an intercontinental school. We know that we cannot do it allow, that is why we implore everyone to corporate with us so that we can take the education of our children to a higher level; together we can”, she concluded.
HRM OBA KEHINDE OLUGBENLE UNVEILS SCHOOL NAME
The compere, Dayo went straight to business after the proprietress speech. He instructed everyone to head to the entrance of the school where HRM Oba Kehinde Olugbenle delivered his own speech before unveiling the school name. Oba Olugbenla revealed that he had held a conversation with Mr and Mrs Akinola about investing in Ilaro their homeland and he wasn’t expecting that their response was going to be this fast. He appreciated them and encouraged other Ilaro sons and daughters in the diaspora to remember that their investments at home will further raise a lot of families out of poverty and improve the standard of living in many homes.
After his speech and prayers, Oba Olugbenla cut the ribbon to unveil the school name and officially pronounced Solid Rock Intercontinental School opened.
ABOUT SOLID ROCK INTERCONTINENTAL SCHOOL, ILARO
One could arguably say that this is one of the best things that has ever happened to education in Ilaro and Ogun State in recent times. Solid Rock Intercontinental Schools is a nursery, primary and secondary school situated directly opposite Sayedero Market in Ilaro, Ogun State. It offers both boarding and day facilities. When City People toured the school, it discovered that the school has raised the bar in terms of what it has to offer its intending pupils. Admissions are already available for crèche, kindergarten, nursery, primary and secondary school. A further enquiry revealed that academic session will commence in September and pupils will start enjoying this world-class facility as soon as possible.
OBA OLUGBENLA LEADS OTHER DIGNITARIES IN THE FACILITY TOUR
Let’s be the first to tell you that Solid Rock Intercontinental School’s facilities can compete with any other school in the world. Of course, you already know that it was designed to cater to the education needs of children all over the world and that the location doesn’t determine the quality and efficiency of its service delivery.
HRM Oba Olugbenla led the dignitaries and guests at the event on a facility tour and everyone was wowed at what they saw. From the spacious classroom to the fully equipped laboratories, well-furnished hostel facilities and computer rooms, Solid Rock Intercontinental School is ready to fly indeed.
DID YOU SEE MRS AKINOLA’S DRESS?
One thing that stood Mrs Akinola out from among other people at the event was her dress. You needed to see how beautiful her flowing gown was. It was a well crafted yellow and burnt orange colour gown. The material looked like a damask but it wasn’t. Many women at the event were spotted taking pictures with her and most especially her style. She left tongues wagging from the beginning of the party very end.
PROPHETESS FUNMI OGUNTIMIRIN WAS EVERYWHERE
Prophetess Funmi Oguntimirin is the proprietress of the Deuteronomy Group of Schools in Ilaro, Ogun State. She is also the elder sister of Mrs Akinola, the proprietress of Solid Rock Intercontinental School. She was spotted showing support for her sister. Starting with prayers and other moral support, Prophetess Oguntimirin turned up for her sister in a big way.
PASTOR BANKOLE ADEBOWALE JOHN TAKES CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Pastor Bankole Adebowale John is a dynamic minister and a prayer champion. He rounded off the official flag-off of the school with a series of congregational prayers. His fire-filled session got everyone praying like it’s a revival hour.
MICHAEL AKINOLA TAKES CLOSING REMARKS
The handsome son of the proprietress, Michael Akinola took the closing remarks. He appreciated the royalty and every other person at the event. His speech was very brief, concise and straight to the point.
PASTOR MRS SUAREZ TAKES CLOSING PRAYER
The event came to a close after Pastor Mrs Suarez, one of the guests was invited to take the closing prayer. She did without wasting time and the event came to a close. However, the entertainment of guests continued afterwards.
ROLL CALL
Present at the event were HRM, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle the Olu of Itori, Chief Adeboye Fagboun, Baale of Fagbohun, Chief Ebenezer Babajide, Seriki of Afa, Dr T.A and Prophetess Funmi Oguntimirin, Pastor Bankole Adebowale John, Pa Gabriel Ademola Adeboyejo, Madam Dorcas Ogunloye, Pastor Mrs Suarez, Alhaji Dende Ibrahim, Pa Joel Folorunso Ogunloye, amongst several others.
