The newly sworn-in President of the Command Secondary School Lagos Old Students Association (CSSLOSA), Kayode Ogunsola, has expressed optimism and a strong commitment to repositioning the institution through strategic alumni engagement, infrastructure development, and value-driven leadership.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Nigeria Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA) Hall, featured the swearing-in of new executive members drawn from various graduating sets.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of certificates of return to the president and other members of the executive committee.
The newly elected leadership is expected to serve a two-year tenure.
The event was marked by nostalgic moments and warm reunions, as old students reconnected and shared memories of their time at Command Secondary School Lagos.
The new CSSLOSA executive committee comprises: Mogaji Kayode Ogunsola (C88) – President; Hawa Iyamabo (C88) – Vice President; Mojisola Benson-Adeeko (C93) – General Secretary; Abimbola Eniola-Balogun (C94) – Assistant General Secretary; Demola Sanyaolu (C91) – Publicity/Social Secretary; Sarah Ogungbefun (C92) – Welfare Secretary; Helen Nwobodo (C93) – Financial Secretary; Adeola Baderin (C00) – Treasurer; Morenike Ojo (C01) – Legal Secretary; and Fatima Laraba Yusuf (C02) – Ex-Officio.
A New Role at a Defining Moment
“First of all, I’m excited,” Ogunsola said during an interview with Chronicle NG. “I was General Secretary of my set, C88, and later served as President of my set from 2022 to 2024. Now, stepping into this role at the national and global levels is a huge honour.”
According to him, the confidence reposed in him by his peers played a significant role in his emergence.
“My set mates recommended me, and I won the election. That means a lot. We’ll be 50 next year, which is symbolic—it’s a Jubilee year. It’s a new dawn for us.”
He added that plans are already underway to bring together alumni from across the world—including Australia, the United States, Africa, and Europe—to mark the milestone and contribute to rebuilding the school.
Ogunsola emphasised that strong educational institutions are fundamental to national development.
“I believe you grow a nation from the family and from schools. Great countries have great schools,” he said.
Reflecting on the evolution of education in Nigeria, he noted that many legacy institutions declined after government takeovers but are now being revived through alumni intervention.
“The alumni have come of age. They are now taking charge and rebuilding these schools the way they should be. It’s our turn to do the same.”
Ambitious Plans: $1 Billion Endowment Fund
Central to his administration’s agenda is the establishment of a $1 billion endowment fund aimed at long-term sustainability.
“We may not achieve it in one or two years, but we need a target,” he explained. “From the fund, we can allocate resources to infrastructure, scholarships, welfare, and alumni operations.”
He also highlighted plans to upgrade school infrastructure, including hostels and dormitories, expand student capacity, build an amphitheatre for modern learning, and develop an event centre to generate internal revenue.
“These are things the school cannot do alone. The alumni must step in to ensure sustainability,” he said.
Discipline and Values as Core Legacy
Ogunsola credited his formative years at Command Secondary School for shaping his character and leadership style.
“The Army system instils discipline. I joined at age 10. I wake up at 4 or 5 a.m. naturally—it’s part of me now,” he shared.
“I entered as a soft person but came out independent, confident, and goal-oriented. Those are the building blocks for success.”
On strengthening ties between past and present students, Ogunsola stressed the importance of structure and unity.
“Different sets are doing good things individually, but we need to come together for greater impact,” he said.
He called for a coordinated approach where thousands of alumni can pool resources and expertise.
“Imagine 5,000 alumni working together—we can do much bigger things. That’s the level we want to reach.”
Balancing Responsibility with Structure
Addressing concerns about managing such a large responsibility, Ogunsola revealed plans to decentralise operations.
“You cannot expect 10 people to run an association of 20,000 to 30,000 members,” he said.
“We will create centres of excellence—groups focused on infrastructure, healthcare, and welfare—so responsibilities are shared among professionals within the alumni network.”
Profile: A Global Professional and Administrator
Beyond his new role, Ogunsola brings a wealth of leadership and professional experience. He is a former Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), UK Chapter.
He previously served as General Manager and Deputy Director for Business Development and Investment (Finance) at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Academically, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan, an Executive MBA from Cranfield University School of Management, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Information Systems Design from the University of Westminster. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Europe.
He will be working with an equally robust team of professionally accomplished executives—fondly referred to as ex-Commandos.
