By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Class of 1996 of Igbobi Girls’ High School, Lagos, known as the IGHS Formidables ’96, has donated school items to current students and presented a gift to the school, as part of a two-day celebration to mark 30 years since they left the institution.
The event held on Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, 2026, and brought together members of the graduating class to commemorate three decades since they left the school. The class said it aimed to give back, reconnect and celebrate the enduring bonds of friendship.
The anniversary, themed “Same Roots, Bigger Dreams”, opened on Friday with a Back-to-School Give-Back Initiative. Through it, the Formidables gave current students essential school items, including uniforms, school shoes, school bags and socks.
The class also presented a special gift to the school, as a gesture of appreciation for the institution and its continued commitment to educating and nurturing young people.
Speaking on the initiative, members of the Class of ’96 thanked their alma mater for the foundation it gave them and stressed the importance of giving back to the next generation.
“Thirty years after leaving this school, we have come back not only to celebrate ourselves but to say thank you. We are products of this institution, and we believe that one of the best ways to show our appreciation is to give back and support the students who are walking the same corridors today,” they said.
The second day, Saturday, featured the IGHS Formidables ’96 30th Anniversary Celebration.
It brought former classmates together for a day of reminiscing, networking, entertainment, recognition and a celebration of their individual and collective journeys over the past three decades.
The class said the celebration gave members the chance to reconnect with old friends, reflect on their school years, celebrate milestones and reaffirm the bonds forged during their formative years.
The Formidables noted that the anniversary goes beyond a reunion, describing it as a celebration of legacy, resilience, friendship and the power of education.
“We may have left the school 30 years ago, but the school never really left us. The lessons, values, friendships and memories have remained part of who we are. Today, we return with gratitude and with a desire to ensure that those coming behind us can also dream bigger and achieve more,” they said.
The class also thanked the school management, teachers, former students, families, friends and everyone who contributed to the success of the celebration.
The IGHS Formidables ’96 reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the bonds created in school and to exploring meaningful ways to continue supporting their alma mater and the younger generation.
The statement was signed by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Taiwo Adekunle-Onigbinde, and the Secretary, Onayimi Johnson.
