By Tolulope Oke
It was a day of gratitude, memories and renewed sisterhood on Saturday, 23 May, 2026, as members of the Association of Direct Entry 5, D.E.S 1980 Set, gathered at De Meros Hotel, Lagos, to celebrate their 45th year of togetherness.
The event brought together retired nurses, committee members, guests, friends and well-wishers in an atmosphere marked by joy, reflection and thanksgiving.
In her opening address, the President of the group committee, Mrs Toyin Odukoya, thanked members and guests for honouring the occasion, describing the celebration as a testimony of unity, resilience and enduring friendship.
“When you look at them, they are all grandmas and they look radiant,” Mrs Odukoya said warmly, drawing applause from the gathering.
She noted that the strength of the association had been sustained by the commitment and support of members from the day the group was created.
“The support started from the day this group was created. Everyone has been putting in their best. I welcome all of us to this august occasion,” she said.
The gathering also observed a one-minute silence in honour of members of the set who had passed on, a solemn moment that reminded the association of the value of life, service and shared history.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr Akinoso Adebayo, who was represented by Dr Faleye, expressed gratitude to God for keeping the nurses alive, healthy and strong many years after their training days.
He recalled the journey of the group, its years of fellowship, the challenges members had faced, and the courage with which they continued to uphold the bond that began in nursing school.
Dr Faleye prayed for the celebrants, saying that as they had laboured on earth and contributed to humanity through the nursing profession, they would live to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
A member of the committee, Mrs Seki Oke, who gave a brief history of the association, said the idea of bringing the set together came from Lady Funmilayo Taylor, with support from Mrs Toyin Odukoya, after many years of separation since their nursing school days.
According to her, the group was formally created in 2015, with Lady Funmilayo Taylor playing a leading role and Mrs Odukoya serving as vice. Since then, she said, the members had remained committed to friendship, welfare support and charitable causes.
Mrs Oke explained that the association later took a more formal structure by registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and transforming into a non-governmental organisation.
She highlighted some of the group’s humanitarian interventions, including support for physically challenged children, donation of baby items and funds to a woman discovered through social media, and distribution of relief packs during the COVID-19 period to junior health workers at General Hospital, Ijede; Agege Primary Health Centre; and Ita-Elewa Primary Health Centre.
She also recalled that in August 2025, the association donated bedsheets to Primary Health Centre, Igbogbo. The group also distributed funds to some children at Sango and donated bedsheets to Idimu Health Centre, among other charitable activities.
The celebration was not only about reunion, but also about honouring sacrifice, professional service and the strength of women who have continued to support one another decades after leaving nursing school.
As part of the event, an award session was held to recognise some members who had distinguished themselves through commitment, service and dedication to the ideals of the association.
Among the executive members in attendance were Mrs Toyin Odukoya, President; Chief Mrs Abimbola Banjoko, Vice President; Mrs Wakila Aderogba; Mrs Idiyat Sanni; Mrs Olayemi Akinrinmade; Ms Abolore Abari; Mrs Nike Obisanya; Lady Funmilayo Taylor; Mrs Bola Ilubanwo; Mrs Shittu; Mrs Kemi Adu; and Mrs Bola Kadiri.
Special guests at the event included Dr Aihonsu Opeyemi George, Mr and Mrs Shina Dupe, Mr Niyi Williams, Mrs Adenike Okelarin, and Mrs Bola Adesiyan.
The former First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola, also graced the occasion, adding colour and prestige to the celebration.
For many of the nurses, the event was more than a social gathering. It was a celebration of survival, friendship, service, memory and the enduring dignity of the nursing profession.
