Kunle Adelabu
The Shams- El – Deen Grammar School (SGS) Alumni Association has declared itself independent and not a party to the Peace Accord of December 1st, 2025, facilitated by stakeholders in the school.
The factional association emphasising its fundamental right of association, stated that it will not allow anybody to destroy what they have built.
SGS Alumni Association made its position known in a statement sent to THE IMPACT and signed by Engr. (Dr.) IDOWU Hamed A., Chairman Board of Trustees.
Recall we reported last week that, His Eminence, Sheikh Yahya Oshoala As -Samadaani, the Chief Imam, Oriwu Central Mosque, serving Principals, former Principals and other stakeholders facilitated a Peace Accord for the factions – Shams-El-Deen Grammar School Ikorodu Old Students’ Association and Shams-El-Deen Grammar School Alumni Association, that have been battling for the control of the old students’ association.
Engr. Idowu alleged that his faction was not carried along in the Peace Accord, adding that it was done in bad faith.
“When events unfolded, those given authority abandoned the newly created name and reverted to the CAC-registered name of the 1988 set, running the Association alone without representation from our side.
“We therefore call on our members not to trust them, as lies and blackmail have always been their tools. They even attempted to hijack our bank account, but banks operate under strict legal procedures and policies.
“In light of these developments, we reaffirm our commitment to continue with the SGS Alumni Association we built, refusing to let anyone destroy it.
“We emphasise that freedom of association is a fundamental right. Our teachers erred in judgment by failing to uphold this right.”
He went on to declare: “As SGS Alumni Association, we state that anyone unwilling to be part of us is free to leave. We have no right to enforce membership, and this freedom must be respected by all.”
He also alleged that rather than the Peace Accord harmonising the two factional names, it tilted towards one, a situation seen as biased against the SGS Alumni Association.
“The reconciliation so to say choose the name below for harmonisation: Shams-El-Deen Grammar SCHOOLS Ikorodu Old Students’ Association. Please note the ‘s’ in SCHOOLS. Their intention is to reflect the coming together of two associations.
“The two names below were dissolved: Shams-El-Deen Grammar School Ikorodu Old Students’ Association and Shams-El-Deen Grammar School Alumni Association.
“To our dismay, apart from being left out of whatever they are doing, they reverted to the first name that was dissolved as this can be seen in their messages, correspondence and everything in circulation.
“Also, the constituted BOT by the reconciliation has the incumbent President, Engr Idowu as member, but check what they wrote, his name was omitted.
“Who is deceiving who? We felt deceived and concluded that Leopards cannot change their skin. They can never be trusted. Hence, our association continues too,” he said.
The statement cites a series of events that led the SGS Alumni Association to declare itself independent of the Peace Accord
“The Shams-El-Deen Grammar School Alumni Association wishes to clarify the series of events that have shaped our current position:
- The Association was originally established as the SGS Old Students’ Association, led by Engr. IDOWU Hamed, with the vision of uniting all branches. Ironically, those who now seek leadership of the Association were opposed to that vision at the beginning.
- After successful registration with the Local Government, we pursued registration with the CAC to obtain more respected documentation.
- Certain individuals secretly worked to block the CAC registration. We know who they are, but will not mention names publicly. These same individuals are now among those clamouring to lead the new Association.
- While we were still resolving issues with CAC, the 1988 set, originally a branch under the National body, obtained CAC registration and began claiming ownership of the Association.
- They created their own National Executives and demanded that Engr. IDOWU Hamed and his team step down, citing our lack of CAC certification.
- We appealed to them to allow us to use their certificate, but their condition was to take over the national body entirely.
- Members then resolved to change our name to SGS Alumni Association.
- We registered the Association under this new name and updated all official documents, including bank records.
- At that point, they chose to distance themselves from us, and we continued building our Association independently.
- They resorted to blackmail, reporting Engr. IDOWU Hamed to various individuals and institutions. Several reconciliation efforts failed due to their lack of trustworthiness.
- The last reconciliation attempt was clearly aimed at sidelining Engr. IDOWU Hamed. The meeting excluded him as a key stakeholder and was held behind his back.
- Eventually, the school management overstepped its authority, powers that rightly belong only to CAC or the courts, by dissolving both Associations and forming a new Association under a new name very similar to the one registered by the 1988 set. This action has no merit under the law.
- They appointed individuals who had contributed little or nothing to the Association as members of the Board of Trustees, showing clear bias towards the opposition.
- They instructed certain representatives to dictate the actions of the executives, reducing Engr. IDOWU Hamed and his team to powerless figures.
- In summary, they drafted a new constitution for an unregistered Association, granting full powers to individuals unknown to our members.
