The sightless Principal of Community Grammar School, Igbogbo-Baiyeku, Ms. Deborah Mojisola Balogun, on Monday, May 8, 2017, retired from service after serving for 31 years and celebrated her 60th birth day anniversary.
Speaking during the occasion, the representative of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Falola Olumide, who is also the Director of Lagos State Office of Quality Assurance, Zone 4, Ikorodu, said, “I am here to grace the occasion of the retirement of Ms Balogun Mojisola with joy and happiness. I met her when I came to inspect the school with my team and found her interesting during my first interaction with her during the exercise.”
“I discovered that she is hard working, superb and an epitome of intelligence inspite of her sight challenge. Moreover, looking at her, you will not realise that God has deposited something special in her. My message to her is to keep doing the good work and never get tired after retirement. May God continue to protect her and the family,” he stated.
Also, the Principal of Community Senior Grammar School, Mrs. Flora Esa, gave kudos to Ms. Deborah for being a hard working lady, who is jovial, responsible, trustworthy and selfless since the 1980’s when they met.
According to her, despite her disadvantage, she never relented and never stopped working. In her words, “I wish her best of luck in her retirement and God’s protection over her everywhere she goes.”
While speaking with Oriwu Sun, the Oba of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali (Emugoriade I) said, “Ms Deborah is a hard working civil servant and my presence at this occasion was to demonstrate to the world my alignment with excellence and anything that promotes excellence within the society. The celebrant has always been active and responsible. She is truly an epitome of intelligence. May God continue to bless and protect her and the family.”
Speaking with our reporter, the celebrant, Ms Deborah, who started her teaching career in January 1986, was born into the family of Oduyebo in Itunmeko and grew up with many compassionate siblings, who gave her all the respect and supports she needed.
According to Ms Balogun, “I attended Salvation Primary School, Pacelli School of the Blind and Queen’s College, Yaba. I went for my first degree at a University in London and came back to the University of Lagos for my Master’s degree.
Currently, I am a student of the University of Ibadan, where I am doing my doctorate degree.” Speaking further, she said that she had conquered a lot of challenges starting from the sightless challenge to others like making the students work, which made her employ some nice undergraduates to help her in reading out their work.
She also said that filling government forms was difficult for her and she had to always wait for her friends to fill their own before she begged them to help her with hers.
This was what she said, “I give thanks to Almighty God for saving my life and guiding me since the beginning of my career till my retirement after 31 years in service and hope to witness more than sixty years in life.”
The retired Principal had served the Ministry of Education, District II, Zone 4, Ikorodu, Lagos State for 31 years without any form of query during her service. To her credit also, she has a lot of successors including bankers, lawyers, doctors and all other professionals.
Q: Can we meet you ma?
A: My names are Mojisola Daborah Balogun
Q: What’s the today’s celebration for, ma?
A: Today, I turn 60 years and also retire from being the Head of the Community Senior Secondary School, Baiyeku.
Q: Since when did you start this job?
A: I started in January 1986. It’s been 31 years from now.
Q: Can you tell us some of the challenges you faced.
A: My sight seemed to be a limitation for me because most people did not believe that someone, who is physically impaired, could teach those who were not. They asked me to go to a special school instead. I did not give up and kept on going to BWD, which was at old secretariat and I got a job finally with the help of the then Commissioner of Education, Onipede.
Secondly, making the students work was hard for me. I had to employ an undergraduate from the school of NCE with my salary on Saturdays. They assisted in reading out the student’s work for me and I will tell them whether the answer was correct or not.
Thirdly, filling government forms was difficult for me. I had to wait till my friends were done filling their own so I could beg one of them to help me with mine. I was always given one or two days after the deadline given to others because of my sight. I also could not attend seminars so I decided to apply for government scholarship to further my education (PHD). When I occupied the Principal seat, I began to go for seminars in the year 2010 at Ipakodo Senior Grammar School at Ebute Ikorodu.
Q: Despite the challenges, how did you manage to become the Principal?
A: What I loved most about Lagos then was that every interested teacher was allowed to partake in the examination to become the Principal or Vice Principal after buying the form or writing a letter.
Q: What are your qualifications?
A: I attended Salvation Army Primary School, Onishigida, I left there when the problem with my eyes began and attended Pacelli School for Blind, Surulere. I also went to Queens College, Onikan, Yaba, Lagos for my Higher School Certificate. I went to a country, Whales, where I did my first degree in Education and History. I also went to the University of Lagos where I acquired my Masters in Educational Foundations, specializing Counselling, after which I went to the University of Ibadan for Special Education for M.E.D in Learning Disabilities. I am hoping to be a Doctorate graduate of the same department very soon.
Q: What are your personal interest ma?
A: I like singing, counseling, evangelizing, writing and I take interest in things that involve farming.
Q: Have you ever received any award during the course of your teaching profession?
A: Yes, I have received a few like the Governor’s Eko Education Award 2013/2014; Best Vice Principal Award, Lagos State, 2014 and others.
Q: Can you tell us about your family background?
A: I was born in Itunmeko to the home of late Pa Ashafa Abraham Oduyebo and his wife, Abigael.
Q: Can you tell us about your family. How many children do you have?
A: I have no child of my own. I kept praying for a child but when there was no result, I started taking care of many children in my family and they make me happy and have made today’s event a reality.
Q: How do you today?
A: I am very happy and excited about today. I give thanks to God for making today a memorable one for me and my family. I want to say thanks to Late Balogun Tiamiyu Oduyebo and Late Pa Ashafa Abraham Oduyebo (Paternal side) and the entire Onanuga family of Liworo quarters Ijebu-Ode (maternal side). I also want to thank Oriwu Sun publisher, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom; the entire staff of CJSS Baiyeku; all officials of Education District II and the Ikorodu zonal office; all officials of the Ministry of Education and L.A.S.O.D.A, Ipakodo Junior and Senior Grammar School; Ipakodo Team Work Association, Staff of Ipakodo Primary School; All ANCOPSS, NUT officials; all the invited guests; all churches and C.C.C. Amuludu Parish, Odogunyan, My gratitude also goes to my brothers and sisters. May the good Lord reward you bountifully.