Convention Activities

Deliberations

Gathering: The main event took place at La Quinta Inn & Suites, Katy TX. Members started meeting for breakfast from 7 AM.

Call to Order, Prayer, Hymns, Choruses & Exhortation: The meeting was called to order at approximately 8:50 am. Pastor Sunday Adebimpe gave the Opening Prayer. This was immediately followed by the singing of the Opening Hymns: O God Our Help in Ages Past and I am Resolved. The hymns were led by Mr. Femi Williams who played the keyboard. The singing of the hymns was followed by rendition of some of the favorite choruses, including “Eni nla l’Olorun wa …”, “Bi mo ti ri laisawawi”. The atmosphere was one of joyful reunion and shared faith as members sang and their voices filling the room with nostalgic melodies and heartfelt praise. The collective singing fostered an immediate sense of unity and shared heritage, setting a warm and reflective tone for the day’s proceedings.

The meeting then moved into a period of exhortation, led by Rev Ige. He delivered a powerful and resonant message drawn from the book of 2 Kings, chapter 5—the story of Naaman, the Syrian commander healed of leprosy, a scripture he noted was a core part of life at Baptist High School, Shaki. The central theme of his message was “Who God Uses,” framed as a challenge to the alumni to address the “sicknesses” plaguing their communities and homeland. The exhortation was structured around five key attributes of individuals God uses for His purpose. First, “God uses a simple person,” he urged, reminding members that significant change often comes from humble origins. Second, “God uses a person with testimony,” encouraging them to leverage their shared experiences at the school to strengthen it and draw others to faith. Third, “God uses people who are compassionate,” challenging the group to relieve the suffering they witness in their school’s community, particularly in light of government neglect. “We have been doing a lot,” he stated, “but we still need to do more.” Fourth, “God uses a person with courage,” pointing to the young maid in Naaman’s story as a model for moving forward despite fears and challenges. Finally, “God uses a person who is confident of his faith,” calling on members to believe that God can restore the glory of their alma mater. He concluded with a powerful question to each member: “Am I ready for God to use me?” The message served as a profound and motivating charge, framing the association’s work not merely as philanthropy, but as a higher calling.

The President’s Welcome Address: Celebrating a Legacy of Nourishment: Read (https://bhssaana.org/convention-reports/presidents-welcome-address/)

### A Moment of Solemn Remembrance:

The proceedings took a somber turn as the President led a moment of silence to honor alumni who had passed away since the last convention. Members, both in the room and joining virtually, were invited to name those they wished to remember. Among those memorialized were Mr. Ogunmodede Ogunjimi (1976), Chief Simeon Awolola (1972), Mr. Niyi Otunla (1972), Mr. Ola Ade (1967), Mr. John Ogunkanmbi (1972), Mr. Banji Ayiki (aka Ayoma, 1966) and others. After the names were shared, the attendees observed a minute of silence, and the President offered a prayer for their souls to rest in peace.

### Reconnecting the Community: Member Self-Introductions:

The atmosphere lightened as the meeting moved to self-introductions. The roll call revealed a diverse group, with alumni from sets spanning decades, from the class of 1969 to 2000, residing in states across the U.S. The introductions were peppered with personal anecdotes and good-natured humor, such as one member proudly declaring he was from the “first set of Boys and Girls, 1972 set” and had not only earned his certificate but also found his wife at Baptist High School. A fun fact emerged that the 1992 set was the most represented set at the meeting, with members of the set attending in-person and virtually.

### Formal Business: Review and Adoption of Past Minutes:

The agenda then shifted to official business with the review of minutes from two previous meetings. First, the minutes from the 11th Convention held on November 24, 2023, were summarized. With no corrections offered, a motion was moved by Mrs. Adegbola and seconded by Pastor Sunday Adebimpe to adopt the minutes of the 2023 convention as a factual record.

### The Students Awards Program and a Vision for the Future:

Flowing directly from the adopted minutes, the meeting addressed the successful execution of the 2025 Students Awards program. It was confirmed that the association had maintained the monetary value of the awards at 50,000 Naira for each of the six senior secondary subjects and 25,000 Naira for each of the five junior secondary subjects. It was noted that he association’s representative, who attended the school’s valedictory service in July, did a wonderful job, and it was reported that the school’s leadership commended BHSSAANA’s effort, via a note from BHS I Principal. There was a palpable sense of pride as a speaker recounted the success of the program, which distributed N850,000 cash to deserving students. It was noted that a few students won awards across multiple subjects in different categories, with one junior student winning across four subjects and taking home N100,000, notwithstanding the face value of award at the level being N25,000 per subject. An interesting observation was also shared on the school’s growing diversity, underscored by awardees with non-Yoruba names.

Building on this success, an innovative idea was introduced to create a new, and prestigious award to recognize a student who embodies all-around excellence, not just academic merit. The group agreed that the criteria would need to be carefully defined, though there was confidence the school could identify such a student. A creative brainstorming session for a name yielded the suggestion, “The Jewel of Idi-Araba,” sparking a nostalgic discussion of the school’s history and heritage.

### My Health, My Wealth: A Presentation on Well-being

The agenda then moved to a health and wellness presentation titled “My Health, My Wealth,” delivered by Dr. Bola Adegbenjo. She provided a holistic overview of maintaining physical, mental, and social well-being into older age. She stressed nutrition, hydration, and regular exercise, calling walking “the best kind of exercise.” She emphasized regular medical checkups, adherence to medications, and maintaining cognitive and social engagement. The presentation concluded with a powerful discussion, as members shared moving personal stories about glaucoma, heart attacks, and cancer, making a passionate plea for proactive health screenings and community support.

### Celebrating Milestones and Honoring a Leader

In a joyous shift of tone, the meeting turned to special recognitions. The association celebrated Reverend Abel Ige on his 70th birthday and Pastor Sunday Adeyemi Adebimpe on his 50th birthday, presenting both with commemorative plaques. The room then erupted in a warm celebration for the association’s President birthday, who was surprised with a birthday cake and a heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday” led by the keyboardist, Mr. Williams.

The highlight of this segment was the announcement of the Distinguished Alumnus for the 2025-2026 term. The President announced the recipient: Deacon Samuel Ogunsola Olaniyi Togunde, of the Class of 1969. A moving tribute was read, painting a vivid picture of Deacon Togunde as a respected student leader, a dedicated professional who rose to the rank of Permanent Secretary, and the current national alumni leader whose missionary leadership has inspired unprecedented achievements. The announcement was met with resounding approval.

Action Item: The formal announcement and profile of Deacon Samuel Ogunsola Olaniyi Togunde as the 2025-2026 Distinguished Alumnus was to be published on the association’s website and other communication platforms.

The afternoon session commenced with opening prayer by Chief Atanda. Recognizing time constraints for remote participants, the group offered flexibility in the agenda, particularly moving the topic of fundraising earlier.

# Project Presentation: Audiovisual Communication System:

The meeting transitioned to a presentation on a proposed IT Audiovisual Communication System for the school. The project aimed to bridge the gap between the school and the global community, enabling remote lectures, meetings, and knowledge sharing. The vision was ambitious: “We’re looking for means of bringing the world to Baptist High School.”

The presentation detailed the need for renovating existing infrastructure, installing screens, cameras, computers, and reliable internet connectivity (preferably Starlink). Solar power solutions were also considered to ensure sustainability. The estimated cost was presented as a high-level figure of $100,000 (Equipment and furnishing – $67,000; building renovation and repurposing – $33,000), with the understanding that local sourcing and phased implementation could reduce expenses.

Concerns were raised about the long-term maintenance and utilization of new facilities. The group acknowledged past challenges with project adoption and stressed the importance of joint ownership with school authorities. The need for a robust management plan and regular appraisal was emphasized to ensure assets are used as intended.

The discussion revisited previous initiatives, such as the toilet project, highlighting both successes and frustrations with local adoption. The consensus was that changing mindsets among staff and students was as critical as providing resources. Participants advocated for ongoing engagement, joint ownership, and accountability measures.

The committee was charged to continue to assess the project’s feasibility, refine its scope and budget.

Other Businesses:

A brief informational note on probate court and estate planning was shared, underscoring the importance of preparedness for all members. It was noted that this type of topic could slated for future meetings to better educate members.

It was agreed that an in-person convention will be fitting for 2026, being the 20^th anniversary of the group. The arrangement to have in-person convention every other year will then follow again from 2026. The venue and timing of 2026 convention will be decided in future meetings.

## Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks:

As the session drew to a close, Mrs. Adegbola, on behalf of the participants, acknowledged the hosts’ generosity and the collective effort of all members.

The closing hymn was “Lead on, O King Eternal.” Closing prayer was said by Ms. Omoniyi following the closing hymn and meeting adjourned at about 5:15 PM.

The meeting concluded with a sense of accomplishment and renewed commitment, as members looked forward to translating ideas into action and sustaining the legacy of the alma mater.