Government College Ibadan Old Boys Seek Funds to Support Teachers

Government College Ibadan Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA) has appealed for increased financial support to sustain teachers’ welfare and strengthen academic standards at the institution.

The association’s President, Dr Bolanle Babalakin (SAN), made the appeal at the 2026 reunion of the old boys, held alongside the commissioning of some infrastructural projects.

Babalakin said the association needed to expand its teachers’ support fund to cover at least 70 tutors to meet the college’s academic requirements.

He said the association had pursued a comprehensive programme of academic and infrastructural improvements since taking responsibility for the school’s development, management and operation under a concession granted by the Oyo State government.

According to him, the association initially underwent a two-year assessment period to demonstrate its capacity before securing the full concession to manage the school.

Babalakin recalled that the school faced inadequate infrastructure and low morale among teachers and students when the association began its intervention.

He said students’ enrolment had increased from about 600 to 700 before the introduction of free education in 1979 to more than 3,000, putting additional pressure on existing facilities.

To improve academic standards, the association engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to assess the school and develop a master plan, while scholars from the University of Ibadan (UI) were brought in to evaluate teachers’ capacity.

It also engaged renowned educationist Prof. Peter Okebukola to support teachers’ professional development and partnered with Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, to benchmark academic and administrative practices.

Babalakin said alumni had also invested in road rehabilitation, boarding houses, laboratories, a medical centre and ambulance, security systems, sporting facilities and digital infrastructure.

He expressed appreciation to the state government for giving the association the opportunity to develop, manage and operate the school.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, commended the old boys for their commitment to the college’s development.

Makinde said the association’s contributions demonstrated the importance of collaboration between government and stakeholders in improving educational institutions.

He recommended that the old boys adopt the approach to support similar development efforts in other schools in the state.

The reunion also featured the association’s yearly general meeting, where members discussed the school’s management, funding and development priorities.

The Babalakin-led executive was returned for another term. The event marked the 60th, 50th and 40th anniversaries of the 1966, 1976 and 1986 sets, respectively.

Activities also included the yearly lecture delivered by renowned dramatist and professor, Femi Osofisan, titled: ‘From the Nobel to the Thalia Prize: GCI and the making of modern African theatre.’ Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, attended as guest of honour.