Kings College marks 115th anniversary, decries insecurity

By Dotun Omisakin

The Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) has expressed concern over the spate of insecurity confronting the country, underpinning its vision for a secure Nigeria by 2030.

Tonye Cole, Chairman of the organising committee for the Kingsweek 2024, targeted to mark the school’s 115th anniversary, themed: “Achieving a Secure Nigeria by 2030″, said the anniversary was aimed at responding to the issue of insecurity confronting the peace of the country.

“We are very pivotal to whatever happens in Nigeria. We were trained in this school to pay attention to whatever happens in the country on the side of politics, business. So when it comes to Nigeria today, there is no one that is in doubt that security in every facet is challenged from food, national, and financial security.”

“So when we are thinking about this, the natural instinct for us as king college old boys was that what is the most pressing issue in Nigeria today. So we thought about it and said that within the next six years what can be done to set us on a trajectory that will change the nation towards the secure future and so achieving a secure nigeria by 2030, impacting nationally and internationally,” he said.

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He reeled out the lined up of the one-week event to mark the annual Kingsweek anniversary which would begin September 16, saying that retired Major General Tari-Timiye Gagariga will address on how the country could abate national insecurity.

“Achieving a Secure Nigeria by 2030” reflects the urgency of addressing multifaceted security issues—from social and financial security to national, information, and energy security. These issues are critical to the nation’s sustainability and future growth, and the KCOBA is taking this opportunity to engage thought leaders, alumni, students, and the broader public in meaningful conversations on how to secure Nigeria’s future,” he added.

The association’s president, Dr. Leke Oshunniyi, highlighted the projects done by the association to improve the welfare of the school, saying that the fund by the federal government is not sufficient to meet the needs of the school.

“Dotted all over the schools are projects which old boys have embarked on to sustain the physical environment of this great college which has been in existence for over 115 years.

“As we all know the relative amount of funding to government owned secondary schools has diminished over the years to the extent that we have had to come in with full force, “he said.