Unveiling Nigeria’s Most Influential Old Students’ Network Never underestimate the influence of alumni associations. Each group of former students does more than organise social events, publish newsletters or magazines, and raise funds. Many provide a variety of services that help alumni members maintain connections to their educational institution and fellow graduates. In the US, most associations do not require a member to be an alumnus of a university to enjoy membership and privileges. They often support new alumni and provide a forum to form new friendships and business relationships with people of similar background. Alumni associations are often organised into chapters by city, region, or country. Across Nigeria, they are growing in popularity and becoming an important part of a personal business network. In the wake of the neglect and under-funding of the education sector by the government, some old students have stepped in to restore the decaying infrastructure in their alma maters. Indeed, the old students’ associations of some prominent institutions are rallying round to uplift their schools from the abyss of decay and academic degradation. Public schools, including some famous ones, have become a shadow of their glorious past due to neglect, underfunding and politicisation of the education sector by government at all levels. Consequently, these institutions that have produced past presidents, governors, engineers, world-acclaimed writers, legal gurus, renowned academics, well-bred civil servants, doctors, surgeons, scientists and actuarial scientists are all begging for attention. The old boys and girls are now contributing immensely to the rebuilding of their old schools, but there are schools that still remain in shameful states even though they churned out some big names in the country today. LEADERSHIP Friday unveils some of these alumni groups and their members. Government College Ibadan Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA) The Government College Ibadan Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA) is almost as old as the college itself. Right from the beginning, the college created an avenue by which it followed up the movement and progress of its outgoing students. By 1933, there were Old Boys’ “representatives” in Ibadan, Abeokuta, the Colony, Warri and Benin. They fed information about the old boys to GCI. GCIOBA, referred to as Old Boys’ Society at inception, was initiated by the second principal of the college in November 1934. The association’s first meeting was held on December 18, 1934. Capt. H.T.C. Field, the then principal and initiator, was elected its pioneer president at the first meeting attended by 14 old boys and four members of the staff. Prominent products of the college are the current Oba of Benin, Omo N’oba N’edo Erediauwa; the first hydrophilic engineer in Nigeria, the late HRH Oba J.A. Andu; foremost jurist and first chief justice of Botswana, the late Akinola Aguda; first actuary in Nigeria Chief Ajibola Ogunsola; first African literary Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; the late Chief Adegoke Adelabu; the late Chief Ayo Rosiji; a former secretary-general of OPEC, the late Chief Feyide; the late Chief E.L. Omitola; Chief Hope Harriman; Dr Christopher Kolade; Chief Olu Ibukun; the late Ambassador Leslie Harriman; Ambassador Luke Osobase; Maj. General Olufemi Olutoye (rtd); a former chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Michael Adelanwa; former military governor Air Vice Marshall Bayo Lawal (rtd); Second Republic governor of Oyo State, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo; a former managing director of the defunct Nigeria Airways, Air Commodore Kola Falope; Mr James Obi; Professor M.A. Bankole; Dr Afolabi Ogunlusi; Professor Oluwasanmi; Mr Seni Ogunkola; a former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Abel Guobadia; foremost historian the late Professor Saburi Biobaku; the late Professor Ifedayo Oladapo; Professor T.M. Aluko; Professor Ayo Ogunye; Mr Deji Sogbesan; Professor Samuel Ola; Professor Femi Osofisan; Dr M.O.E. Thompson; Dr Lekan Are; the late Dr T.S.B. Aribisala; the late Mr Joshua Adeniran Olarewaju; Mr Abdul Umoru; literary icon the late Cyprian Ekwensi; Mr Olumide Onakoya; Mr Bunmi Oni; Mr Gbolade Osibodu; Mr Adewale Sangowanwa; the first Nigerian to play professional hockey in the world, Mr Sanjo Kanmi-Jones; Dr. Akin Olowofoyeku; Mr Olanrewaju Bolarin, eminent physician and researcher; and former minister of health in the Republic of Cameroon, Professor Victor Ngu, among other eminent scholars. Rumfa Old Boys’ Association (RUMFOBA) The present Rumfa College, initially named Kano Elementary Middle School and later Kano Provincial School, was established in 1927. It has produced two former heads of state, namely, the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed and the late General Sani Abacha. It also produced respected traditional rulers like the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Dr Ado Bayero. It is an institution that produced several ministers, ambassadors, academics, technocrats, administrators, jurists, educationists and politicians of repute like elder statesman Dr Yusuf Maitama Sule. It is a fact that this institution has played significant roles in the affairs of this country .It had served and is still serving the state and the nation as a manpower incubator. From March 1980, the institution was renamed Rumfa College. The change of name for the institution was at the instance of the Rumfa Old Boys’ Association (RUMFOBA), which, after securing the blessing of the grand patron of the alumni association, Emir of Kano Bayero, requested the Kano State government to re-name the school after the 20th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Rumfa. The request was granted by the then governor of Kano State, the late Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi. It is noteworthy that many RUMFOBIANS, as they are popularly called, had served with distinction in the Nigerian armed forces and the paramilitary. Apart from the generals Muhammed and Abacha, others are the Emir of Dass in Bauchi State, HRH Alhaji Bilyaminu Usman; Ambassador Kabiru Ahmad Rufa’I Daura; a former national security adviser, retired Major-General Sarki Mukhtar; retired AVM Hamza Abdullahi; the late Brigadier A. S. Wali; a former military governor of Oyo State, retired Col. Ahmed Usman; retired Col. Datti Abubakar; retired Col. Daudu Suleiman; retired DIG Aliyu Mahe; Bashir Wali; Walin Kano Abbas Sanusi; retired AIG Alhaji Bello Ahmed; Walin Ringin retired Compol Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Babankowa; ex-RUMFOBA president Alhaji Bala Dambatta, among others. The organization now known as RUMFOBA metamorphosed to its present form and composition after a series of attempts by former students of the college. However it was only in 1977 when a group of former students of the college, then studying at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, decided to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the college that a formal organization of former students of the college actually emerged. When the attention of the association really turned to their alma mater, the urgent needs of the institution were seriously addressed. First in conjunction with the Parent -Teacher Association (PTA), Rumfobans ensured that the college was fenced with concrete blocks and with a befitting gate to enhance security and facilitate a conducive atmosphere for learning. Blocks of toilets were constructed and old ones were renovated, while roads were rehabilitated, and some minor repairs undertaken. Other working materials including laboratory equipment were similarly provided. King’s College OldBoys’ Association (KCOBA) KCOBA has been in existence for over 70 years and is a well-organized association duly incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission. It has a functional constitution which governs its affairs. It is presided over by a president who is at the helm of an executive committee, whose members are democratically elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). However, no elected officeholder can be elected more than five times to the same office. KCOBA, currently headed by billionaire Hakeem Bello-Osagie, has taken up the challenge of restoring, preserving and developing the physical, intellectual, moral and social fabric of the institution. King’s College is a secondary school located in Lagos. It was founded on September 20, 1909, with 10 students on its original site at Lagos Island, adjacent to Tafawa Balewa Square. The school admits male students only, although there were some female (A Level) HSC students before the establishment of its female counterpart, Queen’s College, also in Lagos. At inception it was called King’s School. Its 10 pioneer students included J.C. Vaughan, Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, Frank Macaulay, Herbert Mills (from the Ghana), O.A. Omololu and Moses King. Oluwole was the first senior prefect of the school. Other prominent students of the college were the first indigenous chief justice of Nigeria, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola; co-founder and first president of the Lagos Youth Movement in 1934,James Churchill Vaughan; a former secretary-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Egba high chief, the late Lateef Adegbite; former vice president Alex Ekwueme; ex-Biafran warlord Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu; Kole Omotosho; erudite professor of political economy, international scholar and social crusader, the late Prof. Claude Ake; one-time chairman of the defunct Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), Justice Victor Ovie-Whisky; world-class diplomat Ibrahim Gambari; nationalist the late Chief Anthony Enahoro; current minister of national planning, Shamsudeen Usman; Adebayo Ogunlesi; famous television series producer, Wale Adenuga; current governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Senator Bukola Saraki; Cobhams Asuquo; Senator Sola Akinyede; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; a distinguished legal luminary, and Prince Dr Bolu Akin-Olugbade, among others. Bida Old Students’ Association (BOSA) BOSA is the alumni association of former students of 101-year-old Government College, Bida, in Niger State. The association was founded in October 1975. The college holds the record as the only secondary school to have produced two military leaders of this country – Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar – both of them in the class of ‘62. The same class has also produced the highest number of senior military officers in the country. These officers, with the exception of the current chairman of BOSA, Colonel Sani Bello, who was retired as military governor of Kano State, left the military as major-generals. These were Muhammadu Magoro, now a senator; Muhammed Gado Nasko, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Sani Sami, the current Emir of Zuru in Kebbi State; and the late Mamman Vatsa, also one-time FCT minister. Another exceptional classmate of theirs was Garba Duba who retired as a three-star lieutenant-general. The military, however, was not the only sector in which the early products of the school proved their mettle. In the judiciary, broadcasting, banking, bureaucracy, academia, and among traditional rulers, many of its students have come to occupy prominent positions. In the judiciary, for example, a former chief justice of Nigeria, Idris Legbo Kutigi, was a student (class of ’54) and its head boy. Then, there was Justice Abdullahi Mustapha, one-time president of the Federal High Court. Again, there is the former chief judge of Niger State, Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo; and Prof. Jerry Gana. Among the traditional rulers the school produced were the late Lamido of Adamawa; Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Sa’idu Na Maska; the longest-serving Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Muhammadu Kobo, who was both student and teacher in the school; the current Emir, Alhaji Umaru Bago II; the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Muhammed Sani Omolori; the Second Republic governor of Niger State and current Sarkin Zazzau of Suleja, AlhajiAwwal Ibrahim; and Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, Ambassador Shehu Malami; among others. Two women were said be pioneer students of the college, hence the choice of BOSA name for the old students. One of the women is Hajiya Jibabatu Mohammed. BOSA has done virtually all that any group can do to restore the past glory of the college. Along with his team, the president of the association has used a judicious combination of carrot and stick to get many of the high net-worth old boys to rehabilitate the school’s buildings, infrastructure and equipment. Kaduna Old Boys’ Association (KADOBA) This famous school, Government College Kaduna (GCK), has produced a lot of patriots who have contributed greatly in making Nigeria known globally. Two personalities readily come to mind because of their impeccable track records in their chosen fields of endeavour. They are the current comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, and a foremost pharmacist cum newspaper publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah, who is the current Chairman of the association. Queen’s College, Lagos Queen’s College, one of the foremost secondary schools for girls in Nigeria, was established on Monday, October10, 1927, to bridge the gap created by the limited scope of secondary education for girls at that time. It is located at Lancaster Road, Onike, Yaba, in Yaba local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Queen’s College is known for excellence in total education of the girl child and has successfully created equal gender opportunities for them in various fields of endeavour such as medicine, engineering, law, architecture, etc. It has remained the dream school of every girl child and her parents. The products of this great college are found all over the globe excelling, competing and contributing to nation building. They have in their different styles actualised the vision of the New Era Ladies Club of those early years, 1926/27, under the inspiration of late Lady Oyinkan Abayomi. Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA) The Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA) is the incorporated trustee of the alumni associations of all the 104 Federal Government colleges, Federal Government Girls’ colleges, King’s College, Queen’s College, Federal Government Boys’ College, Federal Science colleges, Federal Government Academy and Federal Science and Technical colleges in Nigeria. It is an association with over 500,000 members resident in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. USOSA’s major strategy is to actively partner with relevant stakeholders for the development and sustenance of a vibrant education sector and good governance in Nigeria. The precursor of USOSA was the Federal Government Colleges Old Students’ Association (FEGOCOLOSA) which was started in the 1970s in the nation’s universities by old students of Federal Government colleges. Unfortunately, FEGOCOLOSA fizzled out without gathering the much-needed momentum required to galvanise it to a sustainable force with viable branches outside the universities. Things were however to turn around much later when the old students of the three first-generation Federal Government colleges (i.e. FGC Sokoto, Warri and Okposi/Enugu) came together in January 2006 under the name “The Pro Unitate Forum”. The Forum was subsequently adopted as the umbrella body of the old students of all Federal colleges/unity schools. When it became necessary to incorporate this newly formed body, the adopted name “The Pro Unitate Forum” was not acceptable to the Corporate Affairs Commission, hence the present name “Unity Schools Old Students’ Association” (USOSA) which was eventually incorporated in April 2007. The spark that led to the re-emergence of a common platform for all old students of Federal Government colleges was based on the need to have a pressure group to engage with the federal government to rescind its decision of fully concessioning the unity schools to private sector operators . Having succeeded on that initiative, the body has come to stay as a stakeholder in promoting the development and growth of the unity schools in particular and the Nigerian education sector in general. USOSA is currently headed by Mr Albert Okumagba, the president-general who is a distinguished old student of both the Federal Government College, Warri, and King’s College Lagos. Government College Maiduguri Old Boys’ Association (GOCOMOSA) Government College, Maiduguri, with the motto “Man jaddawajadda” (meaning he who strives succeeds) was formerly Provincial Secondary School and later Government Secondary School in 1959; it has become Government College from the ‘80s till date. It produced former governors Muhammadu Goni of old Borno State and Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, many national legislators, army generals, top judicial officers and at a point almost the “who’s who” of the defunct North-Eastern State. Barewa Old Boys’ Association (BOBA) Barewa College, Zaria, Kaduna State, formerly known as Katsina College, is one of the first-generation secondary schools in Nigeria established by British colonial rulers. The former students of this college came together under the aegis of Barewa Old Boys’ Association (BOBA). Indeed, this school has produced a lot of prominent personalities in Nigeria including five past heads of government and the prime minister in the First Republic. They are: prime minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; former president Alhaji Shehu Shagari; generals Murtala Muhammed, Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari and the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Other members of BOBA are notable mathematician and politician Iya Abubakar; former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Abdulkadir Ahmad; Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa, former governor of Kaduna State; and a professor of Cardiology, former Nigerian ambassador to the USA, former minister for education, former minister for petroleum and mineral resources, and former senator, Prof. Jubril Aminu. Other prominent members of the association are the like of the first premier of Northern Region and Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello; former CBN governor, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma; former inspector-general of police Ibrahim Coomassie; former permanent Secretary, Northern Nigeria Ministry for Local Government, Ibrahim Dasuki; and former minister for transportation, Alhaji Umaru Dikko. Former chief justice Nigeria, Idris Kutigi; veteran journalist and politician, Suleiman Takuma; and former minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, are also on the list. No doubt, Barewa College has produced a lot of prominent personalities who have contributed immensely in shaping the destiny and history of the Nigerian nation. Queen Amina Old Students’ Association (QAOSA) Former students of Queen Amina College, Kakuri, Kaduna State, are united in the solid bond of the old students’ association of the college known as Queen Amina Old Girls’ Association (QAOSA). It is a forum for social and academic symbiosis for former students of the college which was originally known as Our Lady’s High School, after it was established by the Catholic Mission in 1940 before it was later renamed Queen of Apostles College. Some of the former students of the college in the country are: wife of the vice president, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo; Hajiya Saudatu Nuhu Maiwada; wife of former head of state Mrs Victoria Gowon; the late Mrs Maryam Babangida; Mrs Dabo Lere; Hon. Mariya Abdullahi; Mrs Asma’u Makarfi, and Mrs Maryam Luka Madami. There are other names too many to mention. No doubt, QAOSA is rich with powerful women in Nigerian society today. It is one of the strongest and most influential alumni associations network among Nigeria’s first-generation secondary schools. The calibre of its members with their elevated social, political and financial status has always shown unparalleled commitment to the improvement of their alma mater, members’ welfare as well as society. This is done through moral or financial assistance. Christ The King Old Boys’ Association (COBA) Christ the King College, Onitsha, Anambra State, is indeed, a popular school. This school has trained several prominent players in different endeavours in Nigeria. Its former students came together under the aegis of College Old Boys’ Association (COBA) which has branches across the country and beyond its shores. For instance, the association has a chapter in faraway North America from where the alumni members resident abroad often meet to deliberate on general issues affecting the school, the alumni members and the welfare of present-day students in the school. In Nigeria, COBA also has branches in major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Benin City, Owerri and Port Harcourt. Some prominent members of the COBA alumni association are: a retired justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and former chairman, Human Rights Violation and Investigation Commission, widely known as Oputa panel, Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa; a renowned economist and founder, Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi; popular economist, Dr Pius N.C. Okigbo; Archbishop Valerian M. Okeke, and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State. Other members are Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe; former chairman, defunct Constituent Assembly, Justice Anthony Aniagolu; and human rights activist and former chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN). Government College Umuahia Old Boys’ Association (GCUOBA) Government College Umuahia Old Boys’ Association (GCUOBA) is the umbrella association of ex-students of the college which is located in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. This association is, indeed, one of the most influential and popular in the country following the establishment of the school in 1929. Subsequently, the school has produced a lot of prominent persons who are notable members of the alumni association; such people are the late Prof. Chinua Achebe; Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike; Elechi Amadi; I.N.C. Aniebo; Ken Saro-Wiwa; Christopher Okigbo and Gabriel Okara, all of whom were prominent writers. Others are: famous sculptor Ben Enweonwu; first speaker, House of Representatives, Jaja Wachukwu; Okoi Arikpo; N.U. Akpan; Victor Mukete; former premier of Southern Cameroon, Dr E.M.L Endeley; and First Republic minister of health, Dr J.O.J. Okezie. Others are Prof. Bede Okigbo; Kesley Harrison; Wilfred Chukudebelu; E.J. Allagoa; Donald Ekong; former Nollywood actor and present traditional ruler of Oko community in Anambra State, Prof. Laz Ekwueme. Former governors Achike Udenwa and Orji Uzor Kalu of Imo and Abia States respectively are also members of the alumni, as are Lucius Nwosu (SAN) and a renowned research fellow, Chidi Domike. Abeokuta Grammar School Old Students’ Association (AGSOBA) Abeokuta Grammar School is one of the oldest secondary schools in Nigeria. The former students of the school have an umbrella association known as Abeokuta Grammar School Old Students’ Association (AGSOBA). Some prominent members of the alumni are Mr Olayinka Opaleye, Mr Clement Oke, Dayo Dasilva and London-based disc jockey D.J. Sloughbaby. AGSOBA was reported to have assisted the school by funding the construction of a N50m project which cost about N32.5m. Baptist Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association (BBHSOBA) Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, is one of the oldest secondary schools in Nigeria. The prestigious school, which was established in January 1923, has produced several eminent Nigerians. The former students of the school came together under the aegis of Baptist Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association (BBHSOBA). Prominent members of the alma mater include former premier of the Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo; former military head of state and civilian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, election, the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola; Folarin Ramon Adeneye; and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole. Others are the Alake of Egba land HRM Oba Aremu Gbadebo, renowned international jurist Prince Bola Ajibola, and Sola LadipoAjayi, among others. leadership.ng/news/260713/unveiling-nigeria-s-most-influential-old-students-network#sthash.c16thrtk.dpuf
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:03:26 +0000
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