The 1979-84 set alumni association of Titcombe College, Egbe, Kogi State, has called on stakeholders to address the falling standard of education in the country, especially in public schools.
The outgoing President of the association, Dr Abiola Adimula, spoke on Thursday at a virtual handing – over ceremony to the newly elected executives to run the affairs of the association for three years.
In her valedictory speech, Adimula said that parents who attended public schools could no longer send their children to such schools as a result of falling standards.
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She called on the federal and state governments to give more support to public schools and release more funds to improve standards, welfare of teachers and infrastructure in the schools.
According to Adimula, this is the only way that the children of the poor and the rich can measure up educationally, to bring progress to the country in the future.
“The education, discipline and friendliness the mission schools impacted in us during our school days are what we are enjoying today.
“Though Titcombe College was a public school, we had sound education and many of us are in top positions around the world today.
“Unfortunately, education standard has fallen greatly especially in public schools today, that even those of us that passed through public schools cannot send our children to study there again” she said.
Adimula said teachers are not well paid, and they concentrate more on other trades to make ends meet and leave the education of children hanging.
She said that the six – year journey of her leadership had given birth to the construction of two modern toilet buildings to the college.
Adimula also said that academic scholarships were given to 40 students of the school.
She said the alumni association paid huge amount to settle part of Titcombe College’s accumulated electricity bills, among other projects.
“Similarly, in an effort to give the school a befitting modern look and virtual library, we contributed some money for library project.
“The project was in collaboration with Book Africa London, UK. Unfortunately, COVID-19 disrupted this process and picking it up since then was difficult because of some incidental challenges that came up,” Adimula explained.
She commended the new President, Toba Ifabiyi for the landmark victory at the polls, saying “we know your antecedents and we are not in doubt of your good leadership qualities”.
Also speaking, the newly elected President, Toba Ifabiyi in his inaugural speech pledged to work with the set to restore and preserve the greatness of their alma mater.
“Let me start by acknowledging our own Electoral Committee for doing an exceptionally brilliant job of executing the election using an electronic voting
system.
“A feat I believe our nation’s electoral body INEC, can learn a thing or two from. The election has come and gone, and now is the period for us to face the real task of moving our Alumni Association to a higher level of performance.
“The challenge facing us as a body is daunting but not unsurmountable and I intend to, along with my team, frontally tackle them, for that is the only way we can truly be deserving of your sacred mandate,” Ifabiyi said.
The event brought together members of the set from across Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
The newly elected executives of the association are, Toba Ifabiyi as President, Folashade Owa, Vice President, Julius Ayodele, General Secretary and Olusanya Ikuborije as Assistant General Secretary.
Others are Shola Orunmba, Treasurer, Hassan Usman, Publicity Secretary, Collins Oladele, Welfare Secretary and Amos Kayode as Financial Secretary.
