The Oore of Otun EKiti, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo Best SS3 Prize in Economics of international School Ibadan has continued to serve as a symbol of the monarch’s commitment to giving back to his alma mater and encouraging academic excellence among students.
The prize, which was instituted four years ago, was established by Oba Adeagbo as his personal contribution towards rewarding outstanding students and supporting the educational development of the school where he completed his O and A levels.
Explaining the motivation behind the initiative, Oba Adeagbo said his decision was inspired by the strong foundation the school gave him, particularly under the leadership of the late Principal, Archdeacon Iluyomade.
According to him, the initiative is his own little way of expressing appreciation to the institution for the role it played in shaping his life and academic journey.
He said, “My decision to start was to give back to my alma mater. I cannot forget the foundation the school gave me under the principalship of Archdeacon Iluyomade of blessed memory.”
The monarch stressed the importance of a solid foundation, noting that the quality of any structure depends largely on the strength of its foundation.
He said the school had reciprocated the gesture by maintaining a strong relationship with the Oore’s Palace, adding that representatives of the institution had visited the palace on several occasions, particularly during festivals.
Oba Adeagbo described the relationship as a significant bridge between traditional institutions and international education.
He noted that the school has produced and attracted prominent personalities, including himself, the Eweka of Obosi and the Chairman of the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, who he said also attended the prestigious institution.
The monarch further highlighted the global impact of international School Ibadan, citing the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as another notable alumna.
He said Okonjo-Iweala, the daughter of University of Ibadan professors, attended the school before gaining admission to Harvard University.
Oba Adeagbo expressed satisfaction with the school’s response to the prize and said the initiative would continue to encourage students to strive for excellence in Economics and other areas of academic endeavour.
