OAU Staff School: Joyous Days I remember those blissful days of childhood? Good times with friends, secure and happy, not a care in the world. School days in Obafemi Awolowo University Staff School are no sentimental Joyous Days; those times have real affection for its era.

An era we will someday regard as myths and artifacts of our life experiences growing up. What distinguishes OAU Staff School from other schools in our time was the basis of its foundation, or perhaps, the vision of the founding father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who built University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University. This great institution of higher learning is located in the ancient town of Ile-Ife in Osun State (formerly Oyo Sate). It was built in the period when Nigeria was experiencing rapid changes in its economy and its political landscapes, thus, giving emergence to better 'education', a word so ingrained in our national psyche. And in other to provide accessible primary school education to the children of the teachers (lecturers) who teach in this institution, OAU Staff School was born.

What, you may ask me, is what makes this primary school special? The reason: It is located within in a 'learning community', a community specifically designed to nurture OAU Staff School. An academic environment, which is one of the best known and the most beautiful in Africa and unsurpassed by other well-known international academic communities of its kind; the school is located on Road 9 within the residential quarters and it sits 3 miles from the university main campus. You may ask me again, what epitomizes OAU Staff School? My answer: It is the people, which are the boys and girls who attended this institution. These boys and girls are self-motivated, self-organized, self-disciplined and self-confident, these traits could only be developed in an environment where independence and achievement are taught, expected and practiced. If you do not believe me, I have results to show for it.

Many of these boys and girls have gone to become graduates of Obafemi Awolowo University, while many others graduated in the best-known colleges and universities around the world. Other people I would not fail to mention are the teachers and headmistress who oversee the school. Not only are they committed to teaching, but also, they exhilarate discipline and a mind-set that the young, half-civilized things called

children must be whipped into shape, if not by stick, but by punishments when they misbehave. Fortunately, I have my own share of my teacher's disposition whenever I was being a bad ass, and I know a lot of you who went through the same, please, do not pretend. I can go on and on to write about the memories of OAU Staff School, however, most students would agree with me that nothing was a memorable as the early morning assembly in the hall where we had to recite the national anthem, the 'grace' and the 'lord's prayer' every morning. The excitement of hearing the break-time bell and the home-time bell at 1:30pm when its time to go home, the annual Father Xmas party, the only day we didn't get to wear the green and white uniform to school and everyone had on their best outfit. The days I enjoyed the most were the inter-house sport practice on the big soccer field. If you agree with me, those were the happiest moments because all students don't have to go to classes. Most classes are dismissed early so that students can go out on the field for practice. Looking back into those years, we have all come a long way, and there is no doubt in my mind; we have all been achievers. Oh! What a joyous day.