Restoring Unity Schools To Their Old Glory -By Omoniyi Animasaun

Federal Government College, Odogbolu

Unity schools were unique. Unity schools is the name coined for Federal Government Colleges and Federal Government Girls’ Colleges founded by the Federal Government of Nigeria for promoting national unity and integration. Students that passed through these schools till the end of the last millennium were privileged. They passed through a heritage which caused immense pride to well from deep within them. Though there are 104 of such schools, there is a striking similarity in the attitude, behaviour and mind-set of students that passed through these school. When they got into the universities, they easily bond with one another as the unity schools mirror themselves.

The last 16 years have witnessed a steep southward trend in the quality of these schools. This depreciation is part of the cause of the rancour on the pronouncements by the Federal Ministry of Education on the increase in fees and restriction on the charging of levies by Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs). The directives have elicited reactions and counter-reactions which might not result in improvement in the welfare or academics in the schools.

Federal Government Colleges in Warri, Sokoto and Enugu were established in 1966. The other schools that had national appeal before them were Queens College and Kings College, both in Lagos State. They are effectively the first two unity schools. I am privileged to have attended one of the oldest of these schools, Federal Government College, Odogbolu, established in 1973.

Till the early nineties, admission into the schools was very competitive though consideration was also given to students in the catchment area of each school. Merit was the foremost consideration. This ensured that each college admitted mostly brilliant students, precipitating healthy academic competition which helped the average students raise their standards. The mix in the schools however ran deeper as they served as the ultimate mixing pot. The ethnic, cultural, religious and social backgrounds of the students were diverse. The children of the most influential people in the society had to coexist with the children whose parents were on the lowest rung of the social ladder without a sense of superiority. Once you passed through the gates into the schools, there was a levelling. One needed to learn interdependence to survive the rigours of school. A student in these school would learn sophistication and poise on one hand, while soaking the lessons of endurance, innovation, tolerance and tenacity on the other. There was no room for religious extremism and the schools upheld secularism while supporting the students’ right to religious association within properly defined boundaries. Education in the schools went beyond academics, it was well rounded and complete.

My school had a Mercedes Benz luxurious bus, and a Kia Asia, Toyota coaster and Nissan Urvan buses. There was a Peugeot 504 Station wagon for the use of the principal. A Steyr water tanker which had served for over a decade by the nineties, a light blue Bedford truck and a tractor whose most used attachment was for taming the vegetation of the occupied segment of the expansive compound made up the remaining vehicles. The school is on approximately 600 acres of land. The blue Bedford truck was nicknamed ‘Blue Maria’ after it was used to transport some notorious students after they had caused a ruckus in school. Interestingly, other schools also had the same set of vehicles. There was a fair attempt to achieve parity between the schools.

The buildings were well built. Even with young, untrained eyes, we could see the solidity and the timelessness of the structures. Minor refurbishing and a coat of paint made the buildings new. We never heard or witnessed building collapse or roofs being blown by winds. The structures were built to last.

It is noteworthy that most of the ex-students will not send their wards to the colleges because of the fallen standard, yet they pour their resources into them because of the deep seated love for the alma mater captured in the last stanza of the Unity Schools’ song…

The Parents Teachers Association was a consultative and advisory body which served as liaison between the parents and the school. The contributions of the PTA was limited to giving the school extras as the basic needs and necessities were met by the Federal Government. I remember parents donating medals for Inter House Sports competition, jerseys to the school football team and drinks for students after prize giving events. The alumni associations had almost no involvement in the running of schools.

Unfortunately, all above point to the glory days. The schools are obviously underfunded presently. If well-funded, then there is need to scrutinise the use of the resources allotted to them. Most of the physical structures now appear derelict or dilapidated due to prolonged neglect. This has put a lot of pressure on the PTAs, having to take up all manner of capital projects. There are instances where teachers are even employed by the PTAs for the schools. In effect, parents have to pay development levies and recurring termly dues.

Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) was formed as an umbrella body of all alumni associations of the schools. USOSA seeks to present a common front for ensuring the schools return to their glory days. Each school has an alumni association with chapters based on graduating sets or geographical location. The reach of the alumni association is global and ex-students, especially in United States, Canada and United Kingdom have been actively collaborating with their colleagues in Nigeria to assist in raising the standards. They have refurbished and equipped labs, classrooms, clinics, hostels and dining halls. It is noteworthy that most of the ex-students will not send their wards to the colleges because of the fallen standard, yet they pour their resources into them because of the deep seated love for the alma mater captured in the last stanza of the Unity Schools’ song:

“ON THE GLORIOUS DAY
I’M YET TO SEE WHEN THEE I LEAVE
FOR LIFE’S GREAT SEA
GREAT FEDGO FEDGOCOL WITH PRIDE AND AWE,
I VOW TO REVERE AND THEEE ADOREEEEE!”

I am not against increase in fees. I am rather interested in bringing the Federal Colleges to their places of glory, churning out well rounded students and becoming the destination for valuable and affordable education. This cannot be achieved by reactive policies. It requires a holistic approach to determine where the deviation from the ideals of the founders started. It should not just be about stopping the rot but transforming the schools in all facets. Are teachers passionate? Do they pledge their lives to help build the leaders of tomorrow? Can the best teachers be recruited and retained? Will they be equipped to give up-to-date qualitative education? Would we be scrutinising the quality of the curricular? Would a student pass through a unity school and have optimum exposure to ICT? Can the product of this school compete with students of the private school?

These questions beg for answers.

Most Nigerian students studying outside the country and attending private schools here would have only considered these alternatives if they failed to get admission into the unity schools. It is a herculean task to turn the schools around. The earlier it is started, the better.

Omoniyi Animasaun (Mash) is an Information Security professional. He is the Acting Secretary of Federal Government College Odogbolu Old Students Association and President of FEGO9095.