The Pioneer Class of 1988 of Lagos State University (LASU) returned to familiar ground on Saturday, December 20, 2025, gathering at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, to mark their 37th anniversary alongside their Annual General Meeting and end-of-year celebration. What unfolded was less a reunion of nostalgia and more a measured reflection on continuity, loss, responsibility and shared purpose.
Opening the proceedings, the class president, Duke Olabode Garbadeen, framed the evening in gratitude and restraint. He thanked God for the grace to reconvene as a family and for the confidence reposed in him and his executive committee to steward the affairs of the association. His remarks struck a sober but affirming tone, recognising members whose loyalty and quiet sacrifices have sustained the class across nearly four decades.
The mood briefly shifted as members observed a minute of silence in honour of departed classmates. Duke acknowledged the emotional weight of the year, offering an apology for the inability to host the 2024 AGM following the loss of a serving executive member. The pause underscored the association’s enduring emphasis on empathy as much as administration.
Beyond remembrance, the leadership used the platform to outline progress. Member welfare, Duke said, remains the bedrock of the class, shaping decisions and priorities. The association’s legacy footprint continues to grow through projects at LASU’s Ojo main campus, scholarship funding and targeted academic support initiatives-interventions designed to bridge past privilege with present need. Operationally, the class has leaned into flexibility, allowing governance structures to adapt without losing cohesion.
Vice-President Latifa Saka, brought warmth and candour to her address, praising the planning committee for its relentless coordination and the executive council for its collaborative spirit. She referenced months of late-night WhatsApp brainstorming sessions and face-to-face meetings in Ikeja as evidence of a collective still willing to invest time and energy in shared outcomes. Her closing words celebrated the alumni and guests, urging them to relax, reconnect and enjoy the evening.
The lighter moments followed with raffle ticket draws that produced 20 winners, rewarded with household items ranging from electric irons and blenders to kettles. Members including Bunmi Awonaya, Yeside Oyetayo and Adeniyi Bello were among those who emerged smiling. In keeping with tradition, cash support was also extended to members and families of the deceased, reinforcing the association’s commitment to solidarity beyond ceremony.
By the close of the night, the event had seamlessly served its dual purpose-as an AGM anchored in accountability and as an end-of-year gathering defined by fellowship. Captured in photographs by Azuh Lilian of solidnewsng.com, the evening reflected a class that has aged with perspective, choosing substance over spectacle while quietly investing in people and legacy.
