GCL Old Boys Repair Water System, Donate 200 Chairs to School

Oluchi Chibuzor

The 1985 set of Government College Lagos (GCL) old boys has delivered a fresh wave of infrastructural support and academic incentives to the school, as part of efforts to improve learning conditions and motivate students and teachers.
Speaking at the school’s annual prize and awards day, coordinator of the ’85 set, Ohiole Akhibi, stated that the interventions were driven purely by passion and a deep sense of responsibility to the institution that shaped their early years.
One of the major interventions was the repair of a faulty borehole and the restoration of the overhead tank.
Akibi said the old boys stepped in immediately after learning of the challenge.
“It’s not a competition or show-off. Many of our members donated anonymously. We simply want to give back to the school that made us who we are. Students shouldn’t be distracted by something as basic as toilet access. It affects their focus. So we intervened quickly,” he said.
The set also donated 200 new classroom chairs and table sets, divided between the junior and senior schools to replace broken furniture and support growing class sizes.
Akibi acknowledged that wear and tear in boys’ schools is inevitable. “Boys will be boys. Chairs get broken. It’s a continuous project. We will keep supporting.
“We unveiled the refurbished borehole, overhead tank and toilets for the senior school block of classrooms and presented 100 copies of the book titled ‘Leading with Impact’ to the school. Also, today we presented 200 desks and chairs to the senior and junior schools,” he said.
The annual awards also recognised outstanding students and honoured the best teacher, selected through a transparent process based on impact, subject mastery, quality of mentorship, and overall character.
Akibi stated that the initiative was designed to catch the students young.
“When JS1 students enter the school and see that hard work is rewarded, it makes them sit up. The teachers too outperform themselves. We’ve seen student performance improve,” he said.
The group also donated books to the school library, including titles authored by an old boy, to foster leadership traits and intellectual curiosity among students.
To fund the projects, the ’85 set launched an endowment supported by personal contributions and public donations. Akibi said that the projects cost millions of naira, but insisted that the real value lies in their impact.
“We didn’t meet our target, but we put every kobo to effective use. Beyond cash, what we are building is leadership. Nigeria needs these children to rise,” he said.
Marking 40 years since their graduation, the ’85 set said giving back remains a source of fulfilment.
“You can feel the atmosphere in the hall. The joy is real. This is why we do it. We pledge to continue supporting the school with additional projects in the coming years,” said Akibi.
The Principal, Government Junior College, Olokodana Elizabeth, commended members of the 85 set for the initiative, and urged others to emulate them.
She also urged the current students to return the gesture by becoming great and studying hard to excel.