St.Gregory Alumni harp on quality education, vocational training in schools

The St. Gregory Old Boys Association (SGCOBA) has urged for quality education and the introduction of vocational training in schools across the country, saying that the more people are educated, the more they get to know their rights and the need for them to hold their leaders accountable.

This call was made by the association as it kicked off its programme, tagged ‘Reunion/Back to School’ fiesta, just as it identified inadequate funding of education as one of problems confronting the country.

President of SGCOBA, Justice Adeniyi Ademola (retd), said this in his address at the school premises, in Obalende, Lagos, pointing out that education is the main thing, without which more people become docile.

“One of the problems we have is education. The more people are educated, they’ll get to know their rights.

“Through knowing their rights, the more people are held accountable. Without education, that’s why most of our people are docile. The more they’re educated, the more they’re aware. The more they become active. Education is the main thing,” he argued.

The former Judge of Federal High Court, Abuja, however, expressed hope that with the development of basic knowledge, confidence and all that, such would help in reforming the education sector in a right frame.

“I think we have problems in the education sector. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. And I hope that with the development of basic knowledge, confidence and all that, it will help in reforming the education sector in a right frame,” he said.

Ademola, a grandson of Adetokunbo Ademola, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who was elated with the progress made so far by the association, stated that the back to school social reunion brought all the sets over the years back to school, noting that such enabled the old students from across the globe “know ourselves again.”

“We commenced with the mass at 10 o’clock today. From there, we had a match-past. We had an assembly. We get to know ourselves again. We sang war songs.

“A lot of youths have graduated from this college over the years. That has led to a lot of them going into different fields namely: economics, civil service, engineering, medicine, education, etcetera. I believe that has contributed to a lot of progress,” Ademola said.

First Vice President of SGCOBA, Mr. Tony Epelle, in his remarks, noted that citizens should get involved in addressing some of the challenges in the society, stressing that the government can’t do everything.

Epelle argued that there was still a lot of room for committed people to intervene in developing the education sector in the country, saying that the St. Gregory Old Boys were in a better position to do that due to their passion and commitment.

He, however, commended the Old Boys for their involvement in school activities, adding: “Almost every single thing that we’re doing today is being done by Old Boys.”

“The Disc Jockey (DJ) is an Old Boy. We’re bringing a guest artist, XBusta, who is an Old Boy. One of our emeritus presidents, for example, donated a ticket here for the school,” he said.

The guest of honour, and former Minister of Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Dr. Bimbola Ogunkelu, spoke about the importance of alumni association said, urging the Old Boys of the institution to be active in their contributions to their Alma matter.

This was just as he recalled that that the government once took possession of the school but said the Alumni struggled over the years to get it back after which they “were able to rebuild it, to develop it and bring it to the level it is.”

On how to improve maintenance culture in schools, he said such depended on the amount put into them, pointing out that “you don’t start a school and you let it rot away, develop it and encourage everybody that has passed through the school to contribute towards the building of the school.”

Also speaking, the 2nd Vice President of SGCOBA,Babalola Obilana, who is also the Chairman, Organising Committee, noted that the essence of the event was for Gregorians to unite, have the opportunity to network and assist one another.

He talked about the job portal, an initiative of SGCOBA that is on the pipeline, just as he urged Nigerians on the need to assist the government to create a better society.

“I think individuals have to do their own part. Everything cannot be left to the government. The government will do its own part. It’s not the government that drives on a one-way road. It’s not the government that drives a car without a license.

“So, every Nigerian must do their own part to ensure that they complement what the government is doing. We started with mass this morning where the Reverend Father was telling people that you need to do your own part.

“The government will do its own, but if you do not do your own part, then you cannot complement what the government is doing,” he said.

Pastor Lola Alakija, a veteran journalist and a member of the first set of female Gregorians, in her remark, flayed the falling standard of values, recalling that in those days one learned everything from religious knowledge to domestic science to help keep the environment clean.

According to her, it was also about home, community, as well as church, saying that it wasn’t all about the government as everything can’t be left to the government to do it all.

“Standards are falling. In our days, the curriculum was better. You learn everything from religious knowledge to domestic science. To help keep the environment clean.

“But then it was also about home, community, as well as church. First of all, the environment where you live, as well as the church. It wasn’t all about the government. You can’t give it all to the government. Government has its role to play. Parents have their role to play.

“The communities in which children grow up have their own role to play as well. Now, in our time, when you saw a child doing something, you got involved. Because the parents will not say, don’t tell me how to raise my child,” Alakija stated.

Prince Christopher Odianarewo, member of SGCOBA media team, who also spoke, called on the government to reintroduce into the school curriculum moral lessons “which helped us to have good morals,” wondering why “government decided to expunge them.”

Odianarewo equally canvased for vocational training, saying that it should just be about going to school, seeing the four walls of the university, but also “about, what can I do with my hands.”

Saheed Okeneye, another member of the media team, also corroborated Odianarewo on the need for government to introduce vocational skills to the schools’ education curriculum, saying that it should embark on a talent hunt to help control the ‘japa’ syndrome among Nigerians.

“Government should embark on a talent hunt. This will help to control this ‘japa’ syndrome. Look at China and Japan, they are industrialised nations. Japan for example started by developing young talents and today if you talk about technology, you will look at the way of Japan and China. So Nigeria can tow that path,” he said.

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