Unity Schools Should Remain Accessible to All Nigerians, FGC Ilorin Alumni Urge FG

FGC Ilorin 1996 alumni have urged the Federal Government not to privatise Federal Unity Colleges, warning it would make quality education unaffordable. 

They warned that such a move would make quality education unaffordable for children from low-income families and deny many Nigerians equal educational opportunities.

The association made the appeal in Ilorin on Thursday during the commissioning of two solar-powered borehole systems, three 3D printing machines and sports kits donated to the college as part of activities marking its reunion.

President of the association, Chukwuyere Izuogu, who spoke after the Director-Principal of the college raised concerns over reports of an alleged plan to privatise unity schools, said government ownership had remained the foundation of the affordability and accessibility that distinguished the institutions.

“He has raised a very valid point. I am aware that the King’s College Old Boys Association proposed taking over the school, but once private interests become dominant, many indigent students may no longer have access to such opportunities,” Izuogu said.

 He added, “I am a practical example. One of the reasons I left Warri in Delta State to attend FGC Ilorin, a place I had never visited before, was because the education here was affordable. At that time, our major expenses were simply academic books.

“One of the greatest strengths of Unity Schools is that they provide equal opportunities for students from every part of Nigeria. Personally, I do not support privatisation because it could deny many young Nigerians the opportunity that shaped our own future. We want everyone to continue benefiting from this system.”

Earlier, the Director-Principal of the college, Dr Agbo Paul, had urged the Federal Government to retain the existing ownership structure of Federal Unity Colleges, saying privatisation would undermine access to affordable education.

“It was recently reported that the Honourable Minister of Education had approved the request by King’s College old students to take over the management of their school. That report generated widespread reactions because Federal Unity Schools remain among the few institutions in Nigeria that provide quality and affordable education for children from different socio-economic backgrounds,” Paul said.

He added, “If these schools are privatised, education may become unaffordable for many parents because private operators are primarily driven by profit. School fees would inevitably rise beyond the reach of many families. We therefore appeal to the Federal Government not to privatise the Unity Schools.”

The reunion also featured the unveiling of projects executed by the Class of 1996, including two solar-powered borehole systems to improve water supply in the boys’ and girls’ hostels, three 3D printing machines for technology education and sports kits for students.

Explaining the motivation behind the intervention, Izuogu said members of the class considered it a responsibility to give back to the institution that shaped their lives.

“We are here to give back to the educational institution that made us who we are today. Many of us travelled from different parts of the world to be here. The idea of this reunion had been on for many years. Returning today to give back to the school is deeply emotional because FGC Ilorin remains an integral part of who we are,” he said.

He disclosed that the borehole projects were designed to provide a sustainable water supply in both hostels, while the three 3D printing machines, donated through the support of a United States-based alumnus, Shola Adekanyin, would expose students to modern manufacturing technology and innovation.

“These machines will encourage creativity by allowing students to transform ideas into practical products, from simple designs to more advanced innovations. We believe this will broaden their learning experience and inspire them to become problem-solvers,” he added.

Receiving the projects, the Director-Principal commended the alumni for remembering their alma mater decades after graduation, describing the intervention as worthy of emulation.

“It is always a thing of joy when former students remember the school that nurtured them and return to give back. Government alone cannot adequately cater for all the needs of our schools. Parents, alumni associations, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders must continue to support educational development,” he said.

Chairman of the reunion planning committee, Oherein Enahoro, said the projects were conceived about six years ago but were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical challenges.

According to him, the association initially planned to install solar streetlights before discovering that inadequate water supply had become the school’s most pressing need, leading members to rehabilitate existing boreholes, convert them to solar-powered systems and install overhead tanks with multiple water outlets.

Financial Secretary of the association, Bashir Ahmad, said the class deliberately chose projects that would have a lasting impact on students, urging them to remain focused on their studies and avoid activities capable of jeopardising their future.

Also speaking, a physically challenged member of the association, Abdulqodir Suleiman, appealed to the Federal Government to sustain policies that guarantee affordable education for children living with disabilities, saying such opportunities had transformed his own life.