About the Book
“The Ilegrams 42” is more than a book — it is a living, breathing tapestry of stories, pain, triumph, and undying hope. Authored by 42 distinguished alumni of Ilesa Grammar School’s Class of 1993, this powerful collection of biographical essays captures the incredible journeys of a generation that came of age in the shadows of Nigeria’s economic and social upheavals.
These are not just stories — they are lived experiences.
From medicine to engineering, from law to logistics, these alumni have not only shaped their own futures but have also become shining examples of what it means to persevere, rebuild, and overcome. Each narrative is a capsule of transformation — showing how individuals carved out success against mighty odds, often with faith as their only anchor.
And yet, this book is not just about personal victories. It is also a collective tribute — a heartfelt remembrance of seven classmates whose journeys were cut short by the cold hands of fate. Their memory breathes through these pages, reminding us all of the fragility of life and the enduring strength of community.
Read the FOREWORD by Professor Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Washington DC., United States of America
Foreword
There are many aspects to this unusual book.
In the first place, it is the story of a generation’s transition to adulthood, and like all such
stories, it beguiles with both the good and the bad. The dedication page, a memorial to seven
members of this generation who were claimed by the cold hands of death, is a somber
illustration of what happens to every generation - not everyone gets to the final destination, if
there is really such a thing, and everyone who does has a some scars to show for it.
Hence, this is also a story of survival. We see in the 42 biographical capsules collected here,
stories of defiant individuals who triumphed against mighty odds, often tempting fate, and in
the case of many, while being steadied by faith. It is a story of hope.
Above all, this is an instructive sliver of the broader story of what has happened to the Nigerian society over the past three decades. From the stories of these 42 individuals, scattered across the professional spectrum- medicine, pharmacy, law, banking, information technology, cyber security, engineering, building & construction, telematics, nursing, education, agriculture, finance, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, etc., we see individuals nailing down careers, building families, starting afresh in foreign lands, even as the wreckage of the destruction perpetrated by the Nigerian political elite threatened to sabotage their best laid plans.
All too often, projects like this fall victim to the vanity of contributors- I did this, and I did that; I
own this, and I own that. You will see none of that fatuous chest beating here. Instead, what
we are afforded is a rare window into the soul of a generation, warts and all.
As a generational testimony, I enthusiastically commend it to historians, sociologists, watchers
of the Nigerian education sector, and the general reader.
Ebenezer Obadare, Ilesa Grammar School 1984-85 (HSC), Health Prefect.
November 2018
Be Part of the Story
When you buy “Reflections of a Generation”, you are not only taking home a deeply moving book — you’re also investing in the future of countless students at Ilesa Grammar School. You are honoring a generation’s journey, and helping to light the path for the next.
Available Now on Amazon
Click here to get your copy
About the Book
“The Ilegrams 42” is more than a book — it is a living, breathing tapestry of stories, pain, triumph, and undying hope. Authored by 42 distinguished alumni of Ilesa Grammar School’s Class of 1993, this powerful collection of biographical essays captures the incredible journeys of a generation that came of age in the shadows of Nigeria’s economic and social upheavals.
These are not just stories — they are lived experiences.
From medicine to engineering, from law to logistics, these alumni have not only shaped their own futures but have also become shining examples of what it means to persevere, rebuild, and overcome. Each narrative is a capsule of transformation — showing how individuals carved out success against mighty odds, often with faith as their only anchor.
And yet, this book is not just about personal victories. It is also a collective tribute — a heartfelt remembrance of seven classmates whose journeys were cut short by the cold hands of fate. Their memory breathes through these pages, reminding us all of the fragility of life and the enduring strength of community.
Read the FOREWORD by Professor Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Washington DC., United States of America
Foreword
There are many aspects to this unusual book.
In the first place, it is the story of a generation’s transition to adulthood, and like all such
stories, it beguiles with both the good and the bad. The dedication page, a memorial to seven
members of this generation who were claimed by the cold hands of death, is a somber
illustration of what happens to every generation - not everyone gets to the final destination, if
there is really such a thing, and everyone who does has a some scars to show for it.
Hence, this is also a story of survival. We see in the 42 biographical capsules collected here,
stories of defiant individuals who triumphed against mighty odds, often tempting fate, and in
the case of many, while being steadied by faith. It is a story of hope.
Above all, this is an instructive sliver of the broader story of what has happened to the Nigerian society over the past three decades. From the stories of these 42 individuals, scattered across the professional spectrum- medicine, pharmacy, law, banking, information technology, cyber security, engineering, building & construction, telematics, nursing, education, agriculture, finance, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, etc., we see individuals nailing down careers, building families, starting afresh in foreign lands, even as the wreckage of the destruction perpetrated by the Nigerian political elite threatened to sabotage their best laid plans.
All too often, projects like this fall victim to the vanity of contributors- I did this, and I did that; I
own this, and I own that. You will see none of that fatuous chest beating here. Instead, what
we are afforded is a rare window into the soul of a generation, warts and all.
As a generational testimony, I enthusiastically commend it to historians, sociologists, watchers
of the Nigerian education sector, and the general reader.
Ebenezer Obadare, Ilesa Grammar School 1984-85 (HSC), Health Prefect.
November 2018
Be Part of the Story
When you buy “Reflections of a Generation”, you are not only taking home a deeply moving book — you’re also investing in the future of countless students at Ilesa Grammar School. You are honoring a generation’s journey, and helping to light the path for the next.
Available Now on Amazon
Click here to get your copy