Group warns FG against moves to privatise unity schools

The President of the Old Students Association of the Federal Government College, Ilorin, 1996 Set Alumni, Barrister Chukwuyere Izuogu, has warned the federal government against any move that could lead to the privatisation of Federal Unity Colleges.

Izuogu warned that such a policy would erode equal access to quality education and place the schools beyond the reach of children from low-income families.

The president of the group who spoke after the Director-Principal of the college, Dr Agbo Paul, expressed concerns over reports suggesting that the federal government may consider handing over the management of some Unity Schools to alumni associations or private interests, insisted that move would be against the interest of the low income earning members of the society.

According to him, “any such move will totally deprive children of the low income earners in our society of education.”

Izuogu who is an attorney-at-law said he and other members of his alumni team came to this conclusion after making a thorough and wide investigation of the consequences of such an action as canvassed by some selfish individuals or groups.

As a result, t alumni president and his association made the appeal on Friday, in Ilorin, during the inauguration of two solar-powered borehole systems, three 3D printing machines and some sports kits donated to the college as part of activities marking its reunion.

Izuogu said while alumni contributions to their former schools should be encouraged, transferring ownership or management to private interests could undermine the core objectives for which Unity Schools were established.

“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,” he said.

Drawing from his personal experience, Izuogu said the affordability of the Federal Government College, Ilorin, gave him access to quality education, despite coming from another part of the country.

He disclosed, “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,” he added.

Earlier, the Director-Principal of the college urged the federal government to preserve the existing ownership structure of Federal Unity Colleges, arguing that privatisation would undermine the institutions’ role in providing affordable education to children across the country.

“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.”

Beyond the policy concerns, 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.

While explaining the rational for the intervention, Izuogu said members of the class considered it a responsibility to give back to the institution that contributed to their personal and professional development.

“We are here to give back to the educational institution that made us who and what 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 further disclosed that the borehole projects were designed to provide sustainable water supply in both hostels, while the three 3D printing machines, donated through the support of a United States-based alumnus, Mr Shola Adekanyin, would expose students to emerging 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.

While receiving the projects, Paul commended the alumni for remembering their alma mater decades after graduation, describing the intervention as a model worthy of emulation.

“It is always a thing of joy when former students remember the school that nurtured them and return to give back. The 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, in his remarks 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 identifying inadequate water supply as the school’s most pressing challenge, prompting members to rehabilitate existing boreholes, convert them to solar-powered systems and install overhead tanks with multiple water outlets.

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

Also speaking, a physically challenged member of the association, Abdulqodir Suleiman, also appealed to the federal government to sustain policies that guarantee affordable education for children living with disabilities, saying access to Unity School education has transformed his own life.