History

As I watched the commissioning of the Renovated SSI Block which seem to have waited for my arrival, I was moved to tears. Finally, I can say, we did it! A vision that began over 3 years ago has culminated into multiple and multiplied joy; yes there was joy in the eyes of the principal, staff, students and for my colleagues, there was pride from seeing the work of our hands.

The genesis of LLM was a very personal thing. I love to travel, I love to care, I love to write and believe it or not, I love to love. What motivated me to put all these to work? In my Ajala trips I got wind of some gist: one, of a mate who committed suicide; two, of a mate who went into 419 business and had his name and mission splashed all over the internet; three, of a mate doing drugs and roaming the streets of Jandon... Yes, it came as gists but never left my medula. My caring heart knew I had to do something. So I consciously began to inquire about our mates and how they were faring, I began to collect email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses; I visited few, mailed some and phoned a couple but most importantly I began to build a database of the 1984 – 1990 set.

 

On 07.10.07; after drafting what seemed like a good message, I sent out the very first mail amidst mixed thoughts of how it would be received. These were mates I went to school with 17 years ago! Would they remember me, would they wonder who da heck this is and throw me out or accept the hand of friendship in good faith? I was amazed when the response began to trickle in with the very first response coming from my dear college sweetheart, Walata. The trickle became showers and then torrents; it felt like I opened my door to find 50 old students delighted to link up, so I named it the Link Up Project; bringing all my PR experience to bear on the project. Of course as with every new thing; the initial euphoria was followed by complaints especially in relation to influx of mails. While not blind copying made it possible to locate and contact folks, it also meant folks were getting messages from everyone; people were just so excited.

Then suggestions poured in. I really doff my heart for my 3F cronies; they played a major role in supporting the vision. It  was Henry Toby that came up with the Facebook idea which he set up for the entire alumni and I was compelled to join. Though I never liked the idea of Facebook, in being a team player, I had to willingly adopt other ideas. Then a blog was suggested; while it served as an “I wuz hia” wall for the likes of Obikudu to tell funny “Only in Odogbolu” tales, it failed to fulfill our yearning for real time interaction. So in came another suggestion for Google Group and finally a Facebook page specifically for our set.

From the Link Up Project, we launched The Reunions, then Class Meetings, then the BIG 2.0 to celebrate 20 years of leaving FGCO.

So how has it been? Amazing! Fulfilling! I knew the fire had burned beyond my wick when someone complained that my mail was beginning to miss out the Love Lifted Me sign-off. Then we had, Love Endued Me, Love made me honest, Love made me speak up, Love made me talk, I no send love wey no strong, Love hide im head for bed from too mush glama, Real love is better than e-love, E-love is better than no love,  Na love carry me follow body, Love na wa, Love odikwa serious, Love is far away now, Love slapped me....and I liked it, Love joggled my memory, Love do me jigijigi, Love believes the best, Love showed me, Love iwo waaaaa, eewwwww and finally, Love dey ginger my swagger.

The IEC is awesome; we couldn't have signed on a better team! We've been cohesive. The UK team has been very supportive and everyone has been so sweet to ensure we make history.

There were times I decided to pull back just to ensure it wasn't seen as Omolola's project. Just when I began to say well, no one is really interested, I am brought face to face with the inspiring writings of the likes of Kenny, Oyedeji, Korede... and Wacho Lanre. I cannot fail to mention the mails from seemingly quiet Abimbola Abolaji; they served to encourage me at the initial stage. Now that his first love has become his poems, his mails dried up but the ride became interesting with  many encouragers along the way.

We attended birthdays, namings, weddings, occasionally burials (of our elderly folks) and picked up the courage to visit the family of our dear Ronke Solarin Ojajuni after the news of her death. We impacted the students during the Career Seminar; we had an opportunity to laugh at and with one another during the Friendly Football Match and sleep over in Odogbolu; we shared food, we shared thoughts, we even engaged in business and other worthwhile endeavours.

The visit to Mr. Adefolaju was another milestone. A reminder that everyone has a laugh and happy spot… We saw our seemingly strict principal with his wife relax, eat and laugh even as we made our “Open Confessions”. We saw some of our mates shake as prayer came from the depth of the Adefolajus' appreciative hearts.

I commend you all; I'm moved to want to do you a solo… “Everybody's looking for that something, something that makes it all complete” – Eh, that's West Life's Flying Without Wings... You have moved me to more work; much more, you have moved me to continue to love. My dear President Keshinro and IEC members will show our appreciation in kind (souvenirs).

To the new Executive Council, I wish you grace. You'll need it for all the extra mile you'll have to run. I am confident that you can provide the quality of leadership required. Though I will be proceeding on vacation, you'd have my ears even if for a fee!

I can't recollect vividly how I added the sign-off “Love Lifted Me” but it was a challenging period; love had actually failed me. Yet, I found strength in giving of the mustard seed I had left. I must have been playing to the gallery of the Most High God but recently it dawned on me that even the date was a special one; the birthday of a loved one. Though I lost him, God has etched a new reason in my mind to celebrate this date. Indeed Love Lifted Me!

Thank you mates… God bless us as we continue to impact our world. 

Omolola Anne FAMUYIWA

L♥√ع Lifted Me (LLM)