The Anwar Ul Islam College Agege Old Students Association (ACAOSA) 1984 set will be celebrating 40 years since their graduation with a two-day event themed “Celebrating Four Decades of Unity and Progress.” The celebration kicks off on Friday, November 22, 2024, and runs through Saturday, November 23, at their alma mater in Agege, Lagos.
The reunion opens on Friday with a Jumat service at 2 p.m. at the school’s mosque on Oniwaya Road.
This will be followed by a project handover ceremony, where members of the ACAOSA ’84 set will present their contributions to the school’s development.
Wrapping up the first day will be a novelty match, pitting ACAOSA ’84 members against current school staff in a friendly game to foster camaraderie.
The main events take place on Saturday, November 23, beginning at 2 p.m. with a “Meet and Greet” session that will allow classmates to reconnect. Later in the day, the festivities will feature awards presentation to honor distinguished alumni and supporters, culminating in a Gala Night celebration.
According to Shakiru Bello, President of ACAOSA ’84, the reunion is a unique opportunity for classmates to reconnect after four decades, reflect on their shared journey, give back to the institution that shaped them, and celebrate their lasting bonds.
Anwar Ul Islam College, Agege, originally founded as Ahmadiyya College in 1948, has a rich history of producing graduates who have gone on to impact various sectors in Nigeria and beyond.
The story of the College began on Monday, 5th April, 1948, when a government approved Muslim secondary school was established at Nos 4, 6 and 8 Olushi Street, Lagos.
Nos 4 and 6 were owned by late Alhaji Jubril Martins and late Alhaji Nurudeen Bakare Kenku respectively but donated them to the Movement while No 8 was owned by the Movement.
The buildings at Olushi were constructed with self help by direct labour and served as the school premises until the eventual movement to Agege.
The founding fathers of the College were: Late Alhaji Jubril Martin, late Alhaji B. D. Oshodi, late Alhaji N. B. Kenku, Late Alhaji K. D. Oshodi, Late Alhaji B. A. Fanimokun, Late Alhaji A. S. E. Agbabiaka, Late Chief Imam Ashafa Tijani, Late Imam Ismail (Epetedo) and Late Alhaji R. A. Allison.
The late S. A. Ahmed, founder of Ahmed Memorial Primary School, Agege having known how Christians acquired large acres of land at Agege contacted late Alhaji Jubril Martin and told him of how to go about acquiring land for the Movement.
The Movement went to Agege and discussed with late Chief Jinadu Ogunji, then Olu of Agege, and a total of 87 acres of land was acquired from the family of Chief Jinadu Ogunji.
The College is presently on a very minor part of the acquired land because majority of the land has been lost to land speculators.
It was the first government approved Muslim Secondary School solely funded by Muslims in Nigeria and indeed West Africa.
The main objective of the founding fathers was the education of Muslim children who were being deprived of education and in the alternative being forcefully converted to Christianity.
The admission into the school was open and competitive unlike Christian schools such that students were admitted regardless of faith or ethnic origin.
Late Mr. J. J. Thompson-Hagan, a Ghanaian was appointed as the first Principal.
In January 1956, there was a name change to Ahmadiyya College.
