Samuel Olatunji Adebakin Foundation has donated N20 million to Joseph’s Secondary School Agege to promote entrepreneurial education in the school.
The donation was made at the school’s 2025 Founders’ Day Anniversary held at the Lagos Country Club orgnised by the Global Alumni Association on Sunday.
The gift was offered by the founder of the Foundation who was represented by Oluwajimi Adebakin, a 1980 alumnus and chairman of the occasion.
The celebration brought together former students, teachers, and dignitaries to reflect on the school’s legacy and explore ways to enhance learning for current students.
In his keynote address, Adebakin stressed the importance of equipping students with practical skills rather than just theoretical knowledge.
“The world is evolving, and Nigeria needs graduates who can create jobs, not just seek employment,” he said.
Adebakin, who described himself as ‘the luckiest man on earth’ shared his inspiring journey from being a struggling student to a successful entrepreneur.
“I came to this school as a failure, with my mother begging for my admission. Today, I run a thriving logistics business as a qualified accountant.”
“This donation, made in honour of my late father, Chief Samuel Olatunji Adebakin, will support our school in fulfilling the vision of its founders, who originally named it St. Joseph’s Commercial School to foster innovation and self-reliance”, he added.
Mrs. Toyin Ukana-Bisiriyu, President of the Alumni Association, expressed deep appreciation for the donation, stating that it would significantly upgrade the school’s vocational and business studies curriculum.
“This generous contribution will provide empowerment for our students, who have entrepreneurial skills and need support to make it happen,” she said.
The event also featured an anniversary lecture delivered by Prof. Pius Adejoh of the University of Lagos’ Sociology Department.
Titled “The importance of loyal connections and networking in prosperous human endeavours”, the lecture highlighted the role of strategic relationships in personal and professional success.
“No one truly prospers alone. Behind every success story is a network—what we call social capital. Your network is your net worth,” Adejoh asserted.
Founded on February 12 1962 by the Ukana family, the school was named St. Joseph’s Commercial Secondary School with focus on producing administrative personnel that can be employed by companies.
A takeover of some private schools by the Federal Military Government in 1977 led to the school being renamed as St. Joseph’s Secondary School, with respected educationist, Mrs Millicent Jibowu as it’s first Principal.
In the early 2000s, when mission schools were returned by the Lagos state government to their original owners, the school was handed back to the Ukana family but retained its name and vision of producing enterprising graduates.
Awards were presented to outstanding alumni of the school, including a former Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who is a 1978 alumnus of the school.