BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: PROF. OLADIMEJI CHARGES GCI STUDENTS TO EMBRACE RESILIENCE, DISCIPLINE AND THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE
For every Government College Ibadan (GCI) old boy, the journey from the classroom to the wider world is a familiar one. It is a journey shaped by discipline, determination, friendships, enduring values and the lessons acquired within the walls of our beloved institution. It is also a journey that reminds us that success is not merely about how far we go, but how much we contribute to the generations coming behind us.
This enduring message was brought to the fore at the 2026 GCIOBA Career Day and University Admission Seminar held at Government College Ibadan on Thursday, October 15, 2026, where Professor Abdulkabir O. Oladimeji of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Ondo State, challenged the school's Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) students to approach their academic pursuits and future ambitions with perseverance, dedication and resilience.
Addressing the students, Prof. Oladimeji emphasised that success in their forthcoming examinations and the transition to higher institutions would require more than mere wishes or expectations. He urged them to remain focused and committed, particularly as they prepared for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations.
Acknowledging that the road to higher education might not be equally smooth for everyone, he noted that while some students would secure admission immediately after graduation, others might have to wait another year or two. He, however, encouraged the students to strive to be among those who would make an immediate transition, stressing that such an achievement would be the product of sustained effort, determination and the ability to overcome challenges.
Beyond academic excellence, the professor's message carried a deeper significance for the GCI community. Drawing attention to the second stanza of the College song, particularly the memorable words, "Service to others, not to self," he reminded the students that their eventual success should never disconnect them from their roots.
He urged them to remember Government College Ibadan wherever their individual journeys might lead and to embrace the responsibility of giving back to the institution that helped shape their beginnings.
In a heartfelt appeal, he encouraged them to return in the future and contribute to the continued growth and development of the College, just as generations of old boys have continued to invest in the institution and its students.
Prof. Oladimeji also underscored the important role parents must play in the educational and personal development of their children. He urged parents to provide encouragement, guidance and positive examples, particularly during the demanding period of external examinations and university admission preparations. According to him, the discipline children observe at home often influences the discipline they demonstrate in their own lives.
His message was therefore a call for a shared commitment between students and parents, with both parties playing complementary roles in securing a successful future.
For GCIOBA, the Career Day represents more than an academic engagement. It is a practical expression of the Association's enduring commitment to mentorship, career guidance and the development of the next generation of GCI boys.
It also reinforces a fundamental truth that every old boy understands: Government College Ibadan is not merely a place where one receives an education; it is an institution that shapes character, builds relationships and instils values that endure long after graduation.
As today's students prepare to take their place in the wider world, the message remains clear: remain resilient, uphold the values of the College, and never forget the institution that helped set you on your journey.
The GCI legacy is not sustained by achievements alone, but by the willingness of each generation to prepare, support and uplift the next.
