The immediate past national president of the Fatima College Ikire Old Boys (FACOBA), Pastor Henry Otoibhi has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider the return of schools back to the missionaries, its rightful owners just like he did during his tenure as the governor of Lagos State.
He said: “It is possible, it is just a question of him giving an executive order and the schools will be returned. Afterwards, we will all see the standard of education improve drastically.
“President Ahmed Tinubu did return some schools back to their owners during his tenure as the governor of Lagos State and I know it was also done in Anambra and Delta States.”
Expressing displeasure over the delay in the Southwest zone of the nation on the drive to return schools back to their rightful owners, he said: “One is surprised that the Southwest that is supposed be progressive is not doing so at all in terms of education. The schools are too many for the government to handle.
Pastor Henry, a 1976-set alumnus of the school spoke on Friday at the 2024 Annual General Meeting of FACOBA, held in the school’s hall, adding that “there is something I believe in the spiritual realm, you cannot prosper with what does not belong to you. Fatima College, Ikire, belongs to the Catholic mission. You cannot take it from them and think you will prosper with it, it doesn’t work that way.”
Speaking further, he said “this is one thing we have been agitating as the old students of Fatima College, Ikire.
“In the course of my tenure, the executive had a meeting with the Osun State House of Assembly Committee on Education and we made a proposal to them to return Fatima College to its original owner, the Catholic Church. However, they said, it is an executive issue and not a legislative one and that the executive reserved the right to give instructions about the move.
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While he pointed the attention of the government to following the United Nations standards on education funding, he said, funding of education is key if Nigeria must develop.
Speaking about his achievements of his three-year tenure in office, he highlighted some of them to include perimeter fencing of the 68 years old school, refurbishment of the school gate and the gate house, initiation of scholarship scheme for the students of the school, organisation of health-talk for the students and publishing a book on the history of the Fatima College which was dedicated at the AGM, among others laudable projects.
He thanked his fellow executive for their selfless services and efforts during his tenure as well as other committed alumni members for their trust in his team to deliver on their mandate through their consistent and generous donations towards various projects in the school.
One of the alumnus of the school, Dr Patrick Ilo, the Managing Director/CEO of Petrocam Training Nigeria Limited, who single-handedly renovated the administrative block of the school named after Professor J.O Obemeata, said the gesture was “driven by my lifelong aspiration to give back to the school had profoundly impacted my life and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. I’m honoured to have had the opportunity to renovate this building, leaving a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and empower future generations.
He noted: “Fatima College has always been more than just a school; it’s a community, a family that nurtures and inspires its members to become the best version of themselves.
“The renovation of this building is not just a physical upgrade; it’s a symbol of our commitment to the values that Fatima College represents: excellence, compassion, and service. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration and generosity, as we come together to create a better learning environment for our students.
He expressed gratitude to the old boys association of the school, particularly the executives, saying your hard work and expertise have brought this vision to life, and I am forever grateful.
The highlight of the AGM was the dedication of the book on the ‘History of Fatima College’ by the old boy writers of FACOBA, election of new executive as well as their inauguration.
At the end of the election, Elder Gbenga Ajayi emerged as the new national president of FACOBA.
In his remarks after the election, he said his vision is to have a united association that will collaborate with all stakeholders for a school-focused development through inclusivity, teamwork, consultation and accountability.
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