The Chairman, 2023 King’s Week Planning Committee, Mr Olumide Apata, says infrastructure has been a major challenge in Kings College.
Apata said this at a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
King’s College Lagos, an all boys dual campus secondary school, was established on Sept. 20, 1909, by an Act of British Parliament.
Apata said that the Old Boys Association of the college been doing all it could to intervene, in order to ensure that it remained relevant and afloat.
“We know that a holistic intervention will definitely be necessary because King’s College Lagos, does not belong to just us. It is a property of Nigeria.
“This 114-year-old institution belongs to Nigeria; it is therefore in our interest to keep it up and running and in great condition,” he said.
Apata, who spoke on activities to commemorate the 114th anniversary college, .disclosed that the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, would be hosted as part of the events, to afford him first hand information concerning the state of infrastructure in the school.
“On that day, we expect all the Old Boys across all the generations in attendance for us to have a big conversation,” he stated.
Apata said that Umahi would be hosted at a dinner on Sept. 23, as part of the events which would run from Sept. 18 to Sept. 24.
Speaking further, the chairman noted that Mr Tonye Cole, Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2023 election, would deliver the institution’s Founder’s Day lecture, scheduled for Sept. 20.
According to Apata, the theme of this year’s lecture is: Dismantling the Barriers; Creating a Pathway for the Emergence of Effective Leaders.
The chairman said that Funsho Doherty, the ADC governorship candidate for Lagos in the election, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, as well as Akin Rotimi, member of the House of Representatives, among others, were also expected to speak at the occasion.
He said that the session would be moderated by Tokunbo Shitta-Bey, Chief Medical Director, Duchess International Hospital Ikeja.
Speaking further on the week-long activities, Apata added that the association would, on Sept. 21, introduce a programme tagged ‘Careers Day for the younger Old Boys and the SS3 Students’.
He said that the aim was to provide guidance and prepare attendees for the future of work, especially with the emergence of unconventional professions.
“This will be followed by the a Jumat Service, on Friday, Sept. 22. On Saturday, we will have sporting activities, precisely a cricket match, where Old boys would relax with their families and have some fun.
“The cricket match is scheduled to take place between the Old Boys and Teams from the Nigerian Cricket Foundation. There will be a thanksgiving service on Sunday to mark the end of the celebration,” he said.
Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, President of the old boys association, reiterated the need for the Federal Government to consider handing over the college to the Old Boys for effective administration.
He noted that as a heritage site, the Old Boys would be bound to give all at their disposal, to make it greater than its current state, if given the opportunity.
The association president noted that over the years, the Old Boys of the college had taken turns, according to sets, to invest, especially in the area of infrastructure.
According to him, the association is of the belief that the college still has a lot to offer, when it comes to human capital development.
“The Federal Goverment has many issues seeking for its attention, going from security, economy, foreign affairs, defense and a lot more.
“It should hands off issues concerning secondary education and allow critical stakeholders such as our association to handle the running of our schools.
“With this current dispensation therefore, it is our prayer and hope that it will rethink its stand on this,” he said.
He lauded the association, the Principal of the College, Mr Andrew Agada and the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) for their efforts in ensuring that the college remained relevant in the development of the boy child.
He assured of the association’s commitment in ensuring that the college remained a force to reckon with, in the training of young minds.
On his part, the principal, Mr Agada, also commended the association for the show of love for their institution.
According to him, since assumption of office four years ago as principal, he has enjoyed unprecedented support from the Old Boys, under the leadership of Ibrahim-Imam.
“I want to congratulate the Old Boys on this occasion of the commemoration of the anniversary of their college.
“It gives me great joy to be a part of this celebration and to witness yet another celebration.
“This association has given me reason to be happy operating here as the principal of their college. The kind of support and collaboration I have been enjoying is something I will live to cherish for a very long time,” he said.
He pleaded with members of the association not to get tired of supporting their college, as they were only leaving their footprints in the sands of time.
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