NANFeatures/Vol.11/No.32/2017 (Feb. 15)
Victory Comprehensive College, Edidi@50: The prospects and challenges
A News Analysis by Yinusa Ishola, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
When in 1966, the erstwhile Victory College of Commerce became Victory Comprehensive College, little did the founder, the late Dr Paul Dada, a seasoned educationist from Oro-Ago in Kwara, understand its impact, values and level of its contributions to the development of education in the community.
Some alumni of the college, located in Edidi community in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara, observe that the college has proved its relevance.
According to them the college has increasing alumni and students from the pioneer 120 students that resumed full academic programme on Jan. 6, 1967.
The college ran and still runs boarding and day-student system and its first principal was the late Mr Carl Shelton, an American.
Dada, a one-time lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, had envisioned and settled for a commercial college with a belief that it would be much easier to get an approved licence for such institution.
So, by 1971, all necessary materials were already in place to justify the approval of the first set of students to write the West African School Certificate Examinations in that year.
The college has, within 50 years, produced famed academics, captains of industries, successful politicians and revered men and women of God.
These achievements notwithstanding, stakeholders in education sector observe that the level of infrastructural decay in the school presently is worrisome.
In the light of this, the residents of Edidi community and the stakeholders have solicited assistance in various means to ensure that the college sustains its relevance in the education sector.
According to them, empowering the college adequately will prepare a platform on which it can play a prominent role in the nation’s socio-economic and human capital development through sound education.
However, the community had, at a time, obtained World Bank assistance with counterpart contribution to boost the development of the college, employing more skilled teachers to teach core subjects in the college.
Apart from this, the old students of the college formed an association about three decades ago to support the community in rescuing the college from imminent collapse and restore its past glory.
The alumni were also instrumental to the organisation of the college’s three-day 50 year’s anniversaries from Feb. 9 to Feb. 12 with the school management.
The events turned out to be a great union, especially for members of the old students association, who came to the venues in large numbers from different parts of the country.
Some of the old students at the events included Mrs Faith Oyedepo, Vice-President, Education, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Mr Segun Arinze, a popular Nollywood actor, Prof. Timothy Opoola, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Kwara chapter, Amb. Sola Enikanolaye and Mr Jones Afolabi, Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), among others.
The programme started with an inter-house sports competition held at the school’s play ground during which Dr. Olafimihan Emmanuel, a lecturer at the College of Education, Oro, solicited the establishment of more recreation centres in rural communities to resuscitate sporting activities at the grassroots.
Mr Raphael Olarewaju Titiloye, the President, Old Students Association of Victory Comprehensive College, in his speech at the grand finale of the events, urged members of the association to exhibit great commitment in bringing back the lost glory of the college.
He said the desire of the students to have a functional and formidable association was not achieved initially due to lack of commitment and poor attendance at meetings by members.
According to him, there is need for the sustenance of the association to revamp the college infrastructural facilities.
“I appeal to our distinguished members and other dignitaries to please donate generously towards this noble call for the rehabilitation of the college which is in total despair.
“This requires our financial support to repair the structures and bring the institution back to its past glory,’’ he said.
Principal of the college Mrs Deborah Amao Amao, pleaded for sustenance of the legacies of the institution’s founding fathers, observing that the management with its meagre resources had been able to renovate a block of classroom equipped to be used temporarily as the school computer library.
She said the school had continued to maintain excellence in academics, sports and other humanitarian duties.
“No word would suffice to thank the students, both past and current ones, most especially the community leaders and other stakeholders.
“They are the architect of this anniversary, and have variously contributed to the development of the school morally and academically,’’ she said.
Similarly, Oba Stephen Olajide, the Olola, Olla, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara, called on old students associations to be reputable agents of development and provider of educational facilities.
The monarch noted that the nation’s economy had posed serious challenge on old students’ associations to be drivers of the desire development in their various alma maters.
He also suggested the appointment of members of old students’ associations as principals and vice-principals of the college.
He emphasised bridging the information gap between schools and old students’ associations to build a sustainable cordial relationship.
Alhaji Muftau Abolarin, the chairman of the occasion, urged governments at all levels, community leaders and members of the old students associations of education institutions to be alive to their responsibilities by providing quality and qualitative education for the public.
In his speech, Mr Jones Afolabi, Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), an old student of the college, said his education experience in the school was “very challenging.
“The secondary school education we received from the school has definitely contributed in no small measure to the success of all of us that passed through it then.
“Life at the school was difficult, sometimes painful and at other times challenging.
“What we consider grievous at the time was actually responsible for instilling in us the values of hard work, self reliance, discipline and focus which has continued to be our guidance up till today,’’.
Afolabi called on members of the association to join hands in restoring the college’s past glory by donating generously.
The highlights of the events included fund raising and award of certificates of meritorious services to no fewer than 28 members of the old students association for their selfless contributions to the development of the college.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)