ENGR. SOSANWO ADEOLA (SAS) APPLAUD GOV. DAPO ABIODUN FOR RENOVATING REMO SECONDARY SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS HOSTELS PRIOR AIONIANS GAME

ENGR. SOSANWO ADEOLA (SAS) APPLAUD GOV. DAPO ABIODUN FOR RENOVATING REMO SECONDARY SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS HOSTELS PRIOR AIONIANS GAME

The executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun in build-up for 2021 AIONIAN, responded to SAS message from the National President of Old Student Association of Remo Secondary School Sagamu request for renovation last week.

Engr. Adeola Sosanwo being the President of REMO SECONDARY SCHOOL OLD STUDENT ASSOCIATION (RSSOSA) called the attention of his excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR) in giving a new face to depleting buildings set to host a foremost secondary schools sport competition, the AIONIANS. 

In preparation for the competition which brings twelve (12) secondary schools in Nigeria for sports, the Old Students President said, “there are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect”.

In March 1930, the principals of four voluntary agency schools in the Western Region of Nigeria attended a meeting at St. Andrew’s College, Oyo. The Principals were those of Abeokuta Grammar School (the Late Rev. W.R.B. Kuye). Ibadan Grammar School (the Late Bishop A.B. Akinyele), Ondo Boys High School (the Late Canon M.C. Adeyemi) and Ijebu Ode Grammar School (the Late Rev. I.O. Ransome-Kuti),.

It was at this meeting that the founder and principal of Ondo Boys High School, Ondo suggested that the four schools should form a brotherhood and hold Annual Sport Competitions. The other principals gladly accepted the suggestion and the name AIONIAN was coined by putting together the initial of all the four schools A-Abeokuta, I-Ijebu-ode, O!Ondo and I-Ibadan, while AN was added to the coinage to make it adjectival. 

In 1942, Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife and Ilesa grammar Schools joined the group. 

Remo Secondary School, Sagamu became a member in 1949, Imade College, Owo and Victory College, Ikare, Akoko were given membership in 1951. Yewa (Egbado) College, Ilaro joined in 1954 which Manuwa Memorial Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode and Odeomu Anglican School became members in 1958, to bring the membership to 12schools.

These 12 Secondary Schools used to conduct Annual Common Entrance Examination while the Sports meeting served as the Annual Re-union Festival. The First Sports meeting served as the Annual Re-Union Festival. The First Sport Festival was held in 1931; it was through the AIONIAN festival that sporting competitions came to the limelight in Nigeria. 

The AIONIAN festival was the forerunner of all others. The Grier Cup, the Principal’s Cup etc. In 1991, quiz and essay competitions among the various AIONIAN schools were introduced. The best students in Science, Art, Commercial and Technical Subjects in the most recent Senior School Certificate Examinations among the AIONIAN schools usually wins an academic award of the Brotherhood for the particular year.

LIST OF AlONIAN SCHOOLS ARE AS BELOW

• ABEOKUTA GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ABEOKUTA (OGUN STATE)

• IJEBU-ODE GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1JEBU-ODE (OGUN STATE)

• IBADAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL MOLETE, IBADAN (OYO STATE)

• ONDO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL, ONDO (ONDO STATE) ODUDUWA COLLEGE, ILE-IFE (OSUN STATE)

• ILESA GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ILESA (OSUN STATE)

• REMO SECONDARY SCHOOL, SAGAMU (OGUN STATE)

• IMADE COLLEGE, OWO (ONDO STATE)

• VICTORY COLLEGE, IKARE (ONDO STATE)

• *YEWA (EGBADO COLLEGE, ILARO (OGUN STATE)

• MANUWA MEMORIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, IJU-OD0 (ONDO STATE)

• GBONGAN/ODE OMU ANGLICAN HIGH SCHOOL, GBOGAN (OSUN STATE)