Brief History of Derimobo Model College Old Students Association: By Lene Ododomu

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DERIMOBO MODEL COLLEGE OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (DMCOSA) BY LENE ODODOMU

The Derimobo Model College Old Students Association (DMCOSA) is an incorporated body and public trust to advance the objectives of national unity and development through quality access to education in Nigeria. It encompasses all the graduants of Derimobo Model College, also known as Derimobo group of schools located at Ese Odo LGA, Ondo state. It was promoted by the proprietor of the school, High Chief Karina Tunyan, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

However, the formation of the association brought an everlasting union among the old students. The association was founded on 1st January, 2020 with the idea leading to her establishment mainly originating through the efforts and exertions of the proprietor.

The association had her first congress on 2nd January, 2020 which was in attendance by the proprietor and with other dignitaries at Derimobo school. However, the proprietor addresses the members or participants of the association with some encouraging words, and followed by one of the distinguished guests, Dr. Bekewei Ijeh.

The association started with the first and second academy session. Also, decisions were made to appoint acting excos which was gaveled to make Comrade Eric Stanley (President), Miss Edith Eperetun (Vice President), Comrade Lene Ododomu (PRO) and other Executives.

Currently, about two academy sessions have joined the Association. And its had her second Congress on 2nd January, 2021 which led to a successful decision of nominating presiding excos. 

The Nomination Thus: Comrade Mope Ibediwei was nominated as President, Comrade Lene Ododomu-Vice President, Comrade Powei Tunyan-Secretary, Comrade Oweikewari Eduh-PRO 1, Miss Nimi Kekemeke-PRO 2, Comrade Joshua Ayawei and other Executives.

The effort and exertion of the proprietor to establish this prestigious school, Derimobo group of schools was to curb the so called "Examination Malpractices" which was being a serious bane to almost all the O'level holders in the state. The schools that dwells on this Immoral Act, produced students who had A-B parallel in their Certificates; such as WAEC, NECO etc. but no confidence to defend the results due to the fact that they did the so called "Copy and Paste."

 The meaning of Derimobo had its origin from the interpretation "Come with Laughter". According to the proprietor, High Chief Karina Tunyan, on his address presented on the 23th day of November, 2017 at the commissioning of ultra modern swimming pool built by Karina Tunyan Foundation (KTF) for Derimobo group of schools at Derimobo camp, Amapere road, Arogbo: 

"Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, permit me to begin this address by first giving a brief background behind the conceptualizing of building a model primary and secondary school by us which idea was muted in 2004 through the Karina Tunyan Foundation when in my capacity as chairman of Arogbo-Ijaw Central Organization, few seminars were organized at Arogbo Town and Bolowou to deliberate and find ways of stopping examination malpractices in Arogbo-Ijaw Kingdom which was growing as a major cankerworm eating deep into the main fabric of our educational system in the kingdom. At the end of all the seminar, it was critically observed though quite regrettably that substantial number of parents, students and teachers were either not ready or even willing to change their attitudes towards what I could term as a shameful and retrogressive method of aiding students to pass examinations. The imaginary fears expressed by those who were not willing to agree with us to change this narrative was that, if this condemnable system is stopped in our schools in this kingdom, we will surely loose all or majority of our students to other neighbouring riverine communities in Ondo state, Delta and Edo state and that the consequence of this will be that WAEC and NECO will withdraw their centers in our schools for insufficiency of candidates which may result from this.

This ugly inducement for examination malpractices was given a Nickname "Helping Fees". Parents sometimes pay between N20,000 to N30,000 per student apart from the official examination fee as helping fees, this is aside some school administrators.

With the visible lack of co-operation to stop this menace from those benefitting from the evil which was fast becoming the norm, the Karina Tunyan Foundation took up the gauntlet and decided to set-up model schools wherein "helping fees" will be eliminated, believing that, if our students can pass well without helping fees, other schools will emulate us.

Pursuant to this objective with a clear sense of vision, on the 16th day of February, 2009, the Derimobo Nursery/Primary School was established and consequently followed by the Secondary School on the 19th day of September, 2011 with initial intake of 16 students. 

At the establishment of the school a strict code of conduct was handed to the Governing Board that the school should measure up with the best schools anywhere in Nigeria and there will be zero tolerance for examination malpractices. It was emphasized to the Board that the schools will be self sustaining but not profit oriented since the core mission of the schools is to negate this shameful idea that without helping fees our children cannot do well in their studies. NO wonder the paltry school fees being paid in the schools which are the lowest amongst its peers with far less facilities. These ideas were inculcated in the students from day one.

To the glory of God we are delighted and indeed proud to state that this singular resolve to strive for nothing but excellence among our beautiful children has began to manifest as all the primary school Leaving Certificate Examinations that the primary school has participated, the school scored 100% without any helping fees while so far the secondary school has written 2 Junior Secondary School Examinations and recorded 99% and 100% in the two examinations without any helping fees. Note; these are government organized external examinations." The purpose of given the above quotation is to give credence to the existence of the Derimobo group of schools which gave birth to this prestigious association "DMCOSA". By the deponent of this association, every of its student is known as an educationist. 

This Association was formed to foster development in the school. Also, it was conceptualized to ensure that there would be no vacuum for the improvement of the school.

The Objectives of the Association are as follows:

a) To foster an active interest in the affairs and activities of the Derimobo Model College.

b) To provide a forum for social interaction among all the graduants.

c) To support Derimobo Model College, its principal, staffs, students and the Board of Management in the best interests of the school.

d) To create extra moral lessons to support the excellent performance of the incoming graduants.

e) To support, contribute to and work in association with any other body or individual which may be working towards similar or related objectives.

f) To specifically support the School Management with infrastructural development.

g) To do all such lawful things as are incidental to the attainment of the above objectives.

Historically, this Association is going to be 3years existence by 2nd January, 2022