HAVE you been to CMS Grammar School, Bariga, La­gos, the first and best secondary institution in Nigeria founded on June 6, 1859, by the Revd. Thomas Babington Macaulay, who was the first principal from 1859-1879 when he died? If you have, you certainly will not miss the imposing archi­tectural masterpiece with Ro­manesque trappings built and fully equipped by Modupe and Folorunsho Alakija. It is the latest boys’ hostel in the historic and structurally mas­sive citadel of learning. I am not sure if any other post-pri­mary educational establish­ment in the country has this kind of gigantic building and state-of-the-art interiority.
On the golden plaque just be­fore the entrance to the quint­essential edifice is this inscrip­tion: “To the Glory of God and for the benefit of all those who may be fortunate to pass through the great institution. Mr. & Mrs. Modupe & Folorunsho Alakija hereby donate this building to­gether with a transformer, water borehole and treatment plant to the CMS Grammar School, Bariga, as boys’ hostel. Opened by His Grace The Most Revd. Dr. Adebola Ademowo, OON, FNAL, PhD, the Diocesan Bish­op of Lagos, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of La­gos and Dean Church of Nige­ria (Anglican Communion) this 18th day of September, 2012.”
The perpetuity of this inter­vention by the Alakijas is the most symbolic aspect of it all. It was not an obligatory thing, but an act of unparalleled philan­thropy in a sector that is bedev­iled by a dearth of infrastructural facilities. With the collapse of the social contract between the government and the citizenry, this kind of rare philanthropic infinity becomes highly com­mendable. This type of assis­tance engenders the spirit of schooling which is just a part of the totality of the educative pro­cess.
What the Alakijas have done is not just invaluable but a piece of everlastingness that will outlive their entire generation. I am cer­tain this must have been the mo­tivational factor in the contem­plation of this project because its interminability is incomparable to any other form of generosity as it has to do with mind devel­opment of generations of young learners on whose shoulders the future of this country and indeed humanity rests.
It is my expectation that some boarders of this unique hostel would, on graduation from here and other tertiary institutions, according to Benjamin Franklin, earn more than the Alakijas so that they will at the opportune time replicate what they have benefited from living in this marvel of a hostel. The Alakijas have just laid a foundation and inaugurated a fountain that will never dry as long as there is life. The permanence of this facility will definitely mushroom in the years to come when these boys become men shortly. And in the continuance and immortal­ization of this hostel uplift, the name of the Alakijas will remain evergreen, inerasable and mem­orable.
Again, the immutability of this gift to mankind by the Al­akijas gives a measure of value that cannot be compared to any beneficence that we are used to. Most other affluent members of the society would look else­where despite accommodation challenges and other infrastruc­tural crises manacling the educa­tional sector.
I can now understand why the foremost tertiary centre of learn­ing in Nigeria, the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), recently conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Business Administra­tion on Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija. With her spousal externalization of the scholastic enterprise in CMS, more laurels await her in this sphere of life. How I wish other opulent Nigerians could emulate this virtuous woman in the provision of basic amenities for the teaching and learning process. By the law of nature, good things will continue to trail this especial benefactor who has succeeded in sowing seeds in the lives of young Nigerians from all walks of life. Even the parents and guardians of such children and wards will never forget that there was a beautician and oil magnate reputed to be the richest black woman who made a differ­ence when it mattered most. Till the crack of doom or rapturous descent, the Alakijas’ name will be written in gold in laudatory recognition of their role in what CMS represents today and its futurity not just in Nigeria but worldwide.
God is already embarrassing madam with favours. At 60-plus, she looks like a 40-year-old lady with a physique that makes her not just delectably shapely but too youthful for her age! As she admits, she was able to dream big and her Creator actualized her substance by making her sit atop riches and benevolence. Would you believe that at this graceful age, her life has not be­gun yet? Why? She is so mani­festly radiating that those char­acteristics of old age that afflict people above 40 may never be her portion: lumbago, bad sight, wrinkles, arthritis and amnesia.
From her reputational pedi­gree, Madam knows something about everything and everything about something. It is only God’s blessing that can guarantee this uncommon wisdom. I hear too that Dr. (Mrs.) Folorunsho Al­akija has never known suffering and needless to add that in the currency of her circumstance a life of paradisal bliss and splen­dorous earthly existence has be­come a routine!
Dr. Alakija’s profuse humil­ity and robust testaments on her UNN conferment, which is her second honoris causa, will end this delightful testimonial; “I feel highly honoured and hum­bled to receive such an award considering the fact that I never attended university and now I’m receiving honourary doctorate degrees from universities to the glory of God. I could not have come this far without God Him­self. I thank God that I was able to dream big. I thank God that He put it in my heart to make a covenant with Him at the time I did and it paid off.
He is a faithful, loving and caring God. He cares for each and every one of us and He leads and directs us in the way that we should go, if we are willing and ready to surrender ourselves to Him.
As I look back today, I know that I made the right choices and that it’s wonderful to be able to know the Lord and get closer to Him and I will continue to do that from the bottom of my heart until I die.”
Madam, you will double your current age in service to human­ity and your Maker. And so shall it be as we await your next God-endowed recognition!

The Alakijas in CMS