Igbobi College prepares for 90th Anniversary commemoration

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By 'Femi Okutubo

One of Nigeria’s oldest legacy colleges – Igbobi College Yaba, commemorates the 90th Anniversary of its founding from next month.

The milestone will be commemorated with a year-long series of events which will be celebrated by the stakeholders, including the Igbobi College Old Boys’ Association (ICOBA) all over the world.

ICOBA maintains and enhances a highly engaged, vibrant community of alumni worldwide, helping them stay connected to the College and each other through a range of activities and events.

The theme of the anniversary is “Producing Leaders - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, which draws on the rich heritage of the College known for producing generations of exceptional leaders.

Renowned Industrial Economist and Management Consultant – Mr. Foluso Phillips, a former President of ICOBA and the current Chairman of the College’s Board of Governors noted that the “anniversary will be celebrated in a special way. Aside the normal yearly programmes, the 90th Founders’ Day Anniversary offers a unique opportunity for the stakeholders to deepen our culture of doing social good to the College.”

The current President of ICOBA - Mr. Olumuyiwa Kinoshi, said that, “The 90th anniversary of the College is an important period to take stock of the past and plan for the future. As you are all aware, ICOBA worldwide has invested heavily by way of donations and contributions in cash and kind to the development of the College in terms of infrastructure and upgrading the quality of teaching and learning, with the objective of bringing back the school to its once sterling standards, but a lot more remains to be done.”

Chairman of the 90th Anniversary Planning Committee - Mr. Femi Olubanwo, said that: “We normally celebrate the Founders’ Day with a week of activities; however given the landmark nature of this anniversary, the celebration will be a year-long series of events.”

He promised that, “The occasion of the 90th anniversary celebrations will create unrivaled conversations and opportunities for stakeholders. They can take part in activities supporting the educational upliftment of the pupils of the College and improve its infrastructures, making it the most inclusive anniversary ever.”

The line-up of activities includes a fundraising gala on January 29th, 2022 to raise money to fund projects including an apartment-type staff quarters, an ultra-modern sports complex and a technology hub; Holy Communion Service on February 2nd; Conferment of the deferred 2021 ICOBA Merit Awards; Cocktails and Networking mixer celebrating ICOBA Wives worldwide on 5th February; followed by the Thanksgiving Service and Luncheon, including the 2022 ICOBA Merit Awards on February 6th, 2022.

Olubanwo noted that “fundraising has already commenced with the Commemorative Wall Project. Anniversary commemorative memorabilia have also been created to capture the historic occasion and raise funds.”

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Igbobi College

Igbobi College

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Igbobi College

Igbobi College

Igbobi College was established by the Methodist and Anglican Churches in 1932, as a follow-up to the 1926 Education Code, which was itself an attempt to revise and improve upon Lord Lugard’s Education Code of 1916. In the relative economic boom of the late 1929s, the government followed up the Education Code with the establishment of a number of colleges around Nigeria. In 1928, the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the Wesleyan Methodist Mission cooperated in founding a Teacher Training College for women in Ibadan - the United Missionary College. Its success led to the agreement to cooperate on another venture, a secondary school for boys in Lagos to address the criticisms of existing secondary schools.

Igbobi College is still located at its original site in Yaba – a suburb of Lagos, and most of the original buildings are intact.

Igbobi College is the alma mater of many well-known Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in numerous spheres of life. Nigeria’s current Number 2 and Number 4 citizens in the nation’s Order of Precedence: Vice President – Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Speaker of the House of Representatives – Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila respectively, are ‘Old Boys’ of the College.