10/11/2021
Warning long read but worth reading for all Alumni of USSA. This a tribute to one teacher but it is also part of the history of the school
Tribute to Pa Anthony Mobolaji Ariyibi
By the 1985 Set of United Secondary School Agugu Idi Obi, Ibadan
His name is Anthony Mobolaji Ariyibi. The year was 1983 at the start of school in September. New teachers were brought to our school, the then Agugu High School, Idi Obi, Ibadan now called United Secondary School Agugu Ibadan. The school was established 3 years earlier in 1980. Daddy Ariyibi was among four amazing teachers brought to the school at the beginning of our 3rd year. He was teaching us two subjects: (1) Principles of Accounting and (2) Commerce. He was very dedicated, very caring, a tough disciplinarian and an amazing father figure to us, his students.
Daddy Ariyibi came to us with a purpose. His purpose was to change our lives and showed us what was possible. After knowing him, some of us often wondered why did he chose to teach “useless” kids like us when he could be teaching in other much respectable schools with rich people’s kids? For you to know the type of kids we were at the time, let me give you a taste of us.
One time, a new building was built by the government for our school. We thought we, as the pioneer students, deserved to have our classes in that new building. The school administration had other ideas. They gave the building to the junior class. We were very aggrieved that the new building that we laboured for was given to the junior set. We organized a big riot, protested, and destroyed school properties. We wanted to burn the principals’ vehicle but for the quick thinking of some teachers who hurriedly drove her away. Some of us were bad kids from bad neighborhoods who were afraid of nothing and were ready to do anything.
When Daddy Ariyibi came to the school, we quickly realized there was a new King in our jungle. He was tall, looked strong, dressed well and very confident. We knew quickly that it was not going to be business as usual. Was he a disciplinarian that beat the hell out of some of us? Yes, but I don’t see how else he could have had the impact he had on us. We could not be reasoned with; logic could not have worked with us. Most teachers at that time would beat you silly if you did something silly. Cane and fear of being beaten by a teacher was the only language we understood. Daddy Ariyibi had special ways of holding his cane that made him different from the rest of our teachers. He also had funny ways of making you remembered what you did wrong for you not to do it again. One of such ways is to give you a “pélé” and believe me once you get a “pélé”, you will never want it again and it didn’t matter how tough or strong you think you were.
Despite being a strict disciplinarian, we saw the love and the care he had for us. He was always in school early in the morning to coach our sport teams, used his own money to buy sporting equipment for us. He Coached Basketball, Handball, Soccer, Tracks, Javelin, Discus, and some other sports we never knew existed at the time. In classroom, we saw in him a competent Accountant who never look at any textbook to teach or solve any accounting question. We knew he had amazing friends, wonderful family, he was a Rotarian with good connection to important people in the society.
The impact he had on us was so great that by the time he spent three years with us, we had trusted and looked up to him. He never disappointed us and we never wanted to disappoint him. The impact was such that when we did our WAEC in 1985, the school had 100% pass rate on the two subjects taught by Daddy Ariyibi. We knew those subjects inside and out by fire by force. Many of us went further to universities and other higher institutions to study Accounting due to his influence. Some that did not initially study Accounting in the University later converted to accounting by taken ICAN.
To the glory of God, we now have many Chattered Accountants, an ICAN chairman, an Internationally renowned Professor of Accounting and Finance in our 1985 set. We also have many Bankers, seasoned administrators, successful businessmen and women produced from the 1985 set of Agugu High School. We also have a former IMF Director taught by Daddy Ariyibi from the school. All of us credit our success in life and in our careers to the good foundation Daddy Ariyibi gave us. We pray that the Good Lord will Rest Our Daddy Anthony Mobolaji Ariyibi in Eternal Peace. Amen.
From the 1985 Set of United Secondary School, Agugu Idi Obi, Ibadan (Formerly known as Agugu High School)
United Secondary School, Agugu Idi Obi Ibadan
United Secondary School, Agugu Idi Obi Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
02/08/2022