Saint Joseph’s College Ondo marked its 60years’ anniversary with series of events as the Old boys of the school converged from far and wide in Ondo City to celebrate their prestigious college.
Borne out of the cheer passion of the catholic missionaries who embarked on the creation of schools in the outstation of Old Western Region, the school was established in 1956 by Bishop Thomas Hughes and commenced operation with just two staff and twenty four students. The college was given the name “St Joseph” because it was founded in the month of March which is the month of “St Joseph”.
Various activities were held in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee anniversary. On Wednesday 16th March, there was an inter-house sport competition which was followed by the anniversary lecture on Thursday 17th March. On Friday 18th March, there was a diamond walk, health screening as well as a bonfire night. The Old Boys Association of the school had its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 19th March and capped the day with a dinner at the Ondo City Civic Centre.
In celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, the Old Boys of the school contributed immensely to the development of the school by embarking on various renovations as well as the building of some new structures for the school.
The president of the Old Boys Association of the school, Mr Abiodun Akinkoye, a graduating member of the 1975 set of the school stated that the school is and has always been the school to beat and it was a rare privilege to have attended the school as the admissions then were quite competitive and the school is renowned for admitting strictly on the merits. He noted that the school has produced great men which include the Executive Governor of Ondo State Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. He however expressed concerns that there have been serious decline in the educational system generally since secondary schools have been taken over by the government but added that there have however being a systemic improvement since the Mimiko led administration.
In a similar vein, the chairman of the organizing committee of the golden jubilee celebration; Mr Oladapo Abimbola, a 1966 graduate of the school remarked that the discipline instilled into the students of the school and efficient teachers made the school golden in the 70s and 80s but regretted that the standards have fallen in line with the general degradation of the Nigerian Educational System.