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Tag: King’s College

  • King’s College celebrates Nigeria’s culture

    King’s College celebrates Nigeria’s culture

    The richness of the Nigerian cultural heritage was displayed during the fifth cultural day programme of King’s College Lagos.

    The boys were dressed in local attires of the various tribes for the occasion that was graced by various dignitaries and parents at the Victoria Island campus of the school.

    The teachers were not left out as they also looked radiant in the traditional clothing. The Igbo women group stood out in their yellow blouses on purple wrappers accompanied with matching headgears.  They stole the show during a local dance that they did around the field as well.

    However, the pupils had been well applauded for the local Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and other dances they presented during the event.

    Local delicacies of the major tribes were also a big feature at the event: palmwine, kunu, zobo drink flowed freely along with abacha (igbo) salad; suya, pounded yam and various soups.

    Nevertheless, the event was not all about merry making as the Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Ferdinand Anikwe, called for a reorientation of cultural values in the youths.

    Anikwe, in a lecture titled: “To Enhance and Inculcate the Rich Nigerian Culture and Values into our Children to discover and utilize their innate Values”, lamented that respect for elders among the youths was fast disappearing , adding that the zeal to imbibe western culture was hindering the development of the country’s cultural values.

    He argued that if parents and teachers are able to instill cultural values in their children, it would correct the ills.

    “Socialisation methods are fast giving way to strange and stinky infiltration from the other side. Propagation, preservation and promotion of the Nigeria culture are seemingly mandatory to retain our indigenous languages mode of dressing, morality, beliefs and values. The effect is our children’s inability to speak and understand their mother tongue; our young men and women behave and appear every inch American,” he said.

    The director general said the education system should integrate and inculcate the norms and values of the various cultural groups, which would create the consciousness required for social integration and national unity.

    “Unity within diversity is a necessary criterion for peace and the development of people, societies, nations and the world at large. Nigerian education policies and programmes should be the one that children must be made to understand and from which they would learn the values of the differences in our cultures,” he said.

    In an interview, the Principal of the college, Chief Oladele Olapeju, said there was a relationship between culture and learning.

    “They are two interchangeable concepts which combine together form the total man.  In the senior class, they have a subject called cultural and creative arts, so they are just putting to practice what they learnt in class and are now displaying that on the field,” he said.

    Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Chief Emmanuel Oriakhi, was happy about the programme.

    “The parents have been supportive. The cultural day has confirmed that King’s College is leading the way. We want to commend the management for the laudable step,” he said.

  • King’s College rewards teachers

    After serving meritoriously at King’s College for many years, it was a thing of joy for retired and transferred teachers to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication at the school’s annex on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Special awards were also presented to outstanding teachers, who distinguished themselves in their various subjects, as well as teaching and non-teaching members of staff, who were recently promoted.

    Among the retirees celebrated was the former Vice Principal (Academics), Mrs Comfort Uduehi, who described the last two years of her career at the King’s College as pleasantly different.

    Mrs Uduehi was celebrated for her contributions to the college life despite spending only 24 months before her retirement.

    The VP, who retired as a Deputy Director, said her posting to King’s College from the Federal Government Girls’ College, Benin City, came as a surprise because she had been told to choose where she wanted to go.

    However, it turned out to be the icing on the cake of her fruitful career as a unity school teacher. She described the boys as angels and praised the teachers for their commitment.

    She said: “I thought that with two years to go I could have some respite.  But, it was not to be. Working in KC was pleasantly different and quite tasking.

    “I have worked in nine Federal Government Colleges.  Compared to other schools the boys in KC would readily hearken to correction – except when it comes to the cleaning of their classrooms.  Many of our teachers are not only experienced, but committed.”

    Other retirees and teachers transferred to other unity schools also spoke on their King’s College experience.  They all described their time at the King’s College as their best, and also praised the principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju, fondly called the PKC (Principal, King’s College) on how he drove them to work hard and introduced many laudable initiatives.

    Mrs Uduehi said: “PKC is a man of many parts; uniquely endowed, versatile, very intelligent, and ever well-dressed.  Your wealth of experience and leadership skills and all your bashes made me work harder.”

    Mr H.A. Hussein, who retired as a history teacher after eight years at King’s College, described the PKC as the luckiest one, who was not upstaged by workers because of his shrewdness.

    “I enjoyed my service at KC best.  Of all the schools I have been to, Otunba Olapeju is the luckiest principal that the workers did not plan coup against because he is shrewd and tactical.  Otunba has been able to balance the act.  He knows how to reprimand and reward,” he said.

    Mr Adewale Raji, who is now the Vice Principal (Academics) at FGGC, Ipetumodu in Osun State after 17 years at King’s College, said Olapeju introduced so many useful programmes to the college that other schools are now copying.

    Olapeju, in his address, said despite the economic downturn in the country the school decided to reward the teachers to demonstrate how much they are valued by the school.  He urged them to accept the token gifts with love and wished them well in their endeavours.

    “We called the King’s College family today to celebrate some of us.  This is a team.  However good a leader is, without others he cannot succeed,” he said.

     

  • 100 years of King’s College now in print

    Floreat Collegium: 100 Years of King’s College Lagos, was launched with fanfare last Friday at the King’s College Hall, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.

    The King’s men, as the old boys of the 105-year old boys’ school are called, threw jibs at one another and bragged about the superiority of their alma mater while underscoring the importance of successfully completing the book, which took the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) over three years to accomplish.

    The book was initially billed for launch as part of the school’s centenary celebration in 2011 while Chief Sunny Kuku was the KCOBA President.  However, it took a longer time to be completed.

    Kuku, who said he did all he could to remain in office to be the centenary president of KCOBA “by not calling for the Annual General Meetings (AGMs)”, praised former Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Philip Asiodu and former Federal Commissioner for Works, Chief Femi Okunnu  for providing many of the stories that made up the content of the book.  He also thanked the Chief Editor, Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi, for doing a good job of alongside Prof Wale Osisanya and Mrs Gbolahan Alo; and the incumbent KCOBA President, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie, for providing funds to complete the book.

    “One of the things we set out to do was to write a book.  One of the most difficult things to do is to write a book and complete it.  We got Prof Gbadamosi involved with the mandate to ensure it was properly edited.  We all got stuck until Hakeem came along and provided funding.  Chief Philip Asiodu and Chief Okunnu told us all the stories we need to write the book.

    “This is part of our Centenary celebration and I must thank the present KCOBA President for keeping the hope of the book alive,” he said.

    King’s College, Otunba Oladele Olapeju said five years into its second century in existence the college still performs creditably in public examinations and competitions.

    “We have sustained the performance to an average of 80 per cent.  Whereas the national average for the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was 30.6 per cent, but at King’s College, it was 80.6 per cent.  In terms of performance, we have done well in competitions.  NECO declared us the best Unity School across the country,” he said.

    Emeritus Professor of Medicine and guest speaker, Oladipo Akinkugbe, caused laughter with his subtle reference to the rivalry between King’s College and his own alma mater, the Government College, Ibadan.  He, however, praised the quality of the book, which he said beat that of 600-year old Winchester College, an elite school in the United Kingdom (UK).

    Discussing the topic: King’s College, Lagos: The Second Century, Prof Akinkugbe maintained a light tone throughout.  He said he expects King’s College to remain in existence by 2109 operating a better curriculum, with a Nobel Laureate numbered among its alumni, and perhaps with an annex on Planet Mars – “For there are enough daredevils in Race Course to make this happen,” he added.

    In his speech, Mr Belo-Osagie, thanked his predecessor for starting the project.  He said the significance of the book is that it provides a history for the King’s College community to fall back on, which would guide its future endeavours.

    “It is important that the history of any institution be documented.  In Nigeria, we don’t appreciate history.  That is why we don’t have anything to fall back on and we are always lamenting. In the past 24 hours, I have read the book twice,” he said.

    The book was sold at a special launch price of N50,000, which has since reduced to N25,000.  Soft copies were sold for N10,000, while a special edition for the students is to be sold for N7,500.

  • King’s College inducts 509 JSS1 pupils

    King’s College inducts 509 JSS1 pupils

    Matriculation is usually the preserve of tertiary institutions. However, King’s College, Lagos conducted one to welcome new sets of Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 and Senior Secondary (SS) 1 pupils into its fold.

    The colourful event for the 2014/2015 academic session held at the Victoria Island annex of the college last Saturday.  The programme was conducted with a procession of the teachers and the new pupils wearing academic gowns; swearing to be of good behaviour and signing the matriculation oath.

    There were speeches to admonish them on good behaviour, special songs to inspire them and cutting of the matriculation cake to commemorate the event.

    Principal of the 105-year-old college, Otunba Dele Olapeju, said he introduced the programme at the start of the 2010/2011 academic session – the session that the junior secondary school arm of the college was reintroduced into Federal Unity Colleges after a five-year break.

    Olapeju said since the JSS was restored to the colleges, the quality of pupils produced by the colleges had improved.

    This session, he said, the school admitted 509 boys, who scored at least 84 per cent in the National Common Entrance Examination into JSS1 classes (compared to the national merit score, which was 69 per cent).  They represent 10.18 per cent of the 5,000 that applied to the school.

    “The admission process for this year’s set of matriculation began with the call for entry and registration, which was followed up with the conduct of two examinations for placement into King’s College, which is a single gender school.  Over 5,000 applicants were registered–with more than 2,500 shortlisted for the post National Common Entrance second test,” he said.

    Fifty-nine pupils were admitted into JSS2, and 69 into SS1 on transfer from other schools.

    However, the number admitted by the school into JSS1 also represents 30 per cent above its carrying capacity, which is 400.  To deal with the extra numbers, Otunba Olapeju said parents have provided extra facilities in the college dining hall.

    Olapeju counseled the new intakes to be studious in order to excel in the school that has produced many prominent professionals.

    “It is a great achievement to be so privileged to matriculate in the college.  But this achievement would not make meaning except you pass out of King’s College in glowing colours in order to attain great heights as expressed in our school anthem, which says others went before you and attined the height, where they wait to cheer you victors in the fight.  It is my prayer that the Lord will give you resounding victory,” he said.

    The Guest speaker, Prof Oladapo Afolabi, told the new pupils to count themselves lucky to have been admitted, a feat he failed to achieve in his own time.  He counseled them to work hard.

    “Let me say I am proud of you because in my time in 1964, I couldn’t make it into this school.  Because you made it, congratulations.  In the early 60s and mid 80s, graduates of this school were controlling the wealth of this country.  For those of you who are matriculating, what you need to do is to be better than your peers and your teachers,” he said.

    The new pupils were also counseled by the General Secretary of the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA), Mr Lucky Idike Jr, the School Captain, Malami Saeed and the Chairman of the Parents/Teachers’ Association (PTA), Mr Emmanuel Oriakhi.

    Idike told them that their six years in the school would be critical to their success in future, while Malami advised them to embrace patriotism, integrity and honesty as true Nigerian children.

     

  • APC, PDP chiefs for King’s College anniversary lecture

    The Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and his counterpart in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, will tell Nigerians their parties’ vision for education in Nigeria at the King’s College anniversary lecture scheduled to hold Thursday next week at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The lecture is one of the week-long programme to commemorate the college’s 105th anniversary.

    Mr Albert Okumagba, Chairman, King’s Week Committee, said in an interview that the lecture was an effort by the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) to bring educational issues to the front burner, especially as the 2015 general elections are near.

    He added that the lecture, which would be chaired by Chief Philip Asiodu, would also have a nine-member panel, including Frank Nweke Jnr’ former minister of information; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, founder, Trinity House, and Toyosi Akerele.

    “As we run up to the general elections in 2015, this lecture offers a formidable platform for the leading parties to showcase their parties’ vision for education in Nigeria. This is in consonance with our commitment to the unity of Nigeria and our desire to raise the quality of public discourse around key issues as we approach 2015,” Okumagba said.

    Dr Leke Oshunniyi, Vice-President of KCOBA,  added that this is not the first time the school would host both parties. Last year, he said Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, an APC State, and Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River, a PDP state, discussed education issues at the Founder’s Day lecture.

    The King’s Week will also feature the Founder’s Day dinner, which Oshunniyi said would be graced by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, an old boy of the college on Saturday September 20.

    The launch of The Centenary Book, a documenting 100 years of the college and the introduction of the Floreat Fund, a N1 billion endowment fund to improve the school will take place during the dinner.

    Other events lined up for the anniversary include a novelty match between KCOBA and Queen’s College Old Girls’ Association on September 17, Jumat Service (September 19), and a thanksgiving service/Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 21.

     

  • Yellow House wins King’s College competition

    Yellow House wins King’s College competition

    With 19 gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze medals, Mckee Wright (Yellow) House, has emerged winner at the King’s College, 94th Inter-house sports and athletics competition held on the college’s sports field.

    It was followed by Pane’s (Blue,) House (17 gold, 14 silver and 21 bronze medals), and Harman’s (Green) 17 gold, 17 silver, and 13 bronze medals), while Hyde Johnson (Red) emerged fourth (11 gold, 17 silver, 12 bronze medals).

    Speaking at the event, the Principal, Otunba Oladele Olapeju, said the school introduced additional new games this year, including shuttle relay, squash, basketball, chess, cricket, 5-Aside and football.

    He said Nigerians’ performance in athletics has taken an embarrassing decline, hence the relevance of sporting in schools than ever before

    “The directive by the president that there should be a re-invigorating of school sports is a welcomed idea. The implication of such directive and enhancement of the directive lies directly on our individual attitudes and leadership abilities as school heads,” he said.

    Olapeju said despite inadequate space and facilities, the school still has to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the 3000 student population under its tutelage. He, however, said he is happy that the boys have found abode in sports to the extent that every round object is turned into a football and every available space converted to either a football field or a tennis table.

    He stated that the sports the school is involved in sharpen students’ cognitive skills. “Most of the boys that have been excelling in the school are involved in one type of sports or the other. We are grooming them to be the best in sports. Sports and education compliment each other. Sports allow for a sound body and a sound mind and a sound body must hold a sound mind,” he added.

    He also said the school is grooming potential stars that will represent Nigeria in international sporting contests in future and in the military, recalling that the first cadet in Nigeria was established in King’s college.

    Olapeju said as King’s College students, they are the future military men. He recounted how the military started in King’s College in 1944 when there was a riot in the college and the then colonial master conscripted the boys who partook in the riot into the military.

    He added that Ojukwu, a King’s alumnus, was the first university graduate to join the army.

    The Chairman, of the School’s Management Based Committee, Prof Peter Okebukola, told reporters said the school offers the boys the best in class to develop sound mind and sound body.

    “The expectation is that the students will go further to compete and win laurels in Nigeria and Africa. We develop an all round student, intellectual development, physical development, and moral value. By the time they are leaving King’s College they will be the best leadership material,” he said.”

     

  • King’s College principal seeks succession plan in Unity Schools

    •As school holds matriculation

    King’s College, Lagos Principal Otunba Dele Adepeju, has called on the government to address the dearth of teachers plaguing Unity Schools nationwide.

    Olapeju, who spoke on Saturday at the 23rd matriculation held at the school’s Victoria Island annex, noted that another worrisome aspect is what becomes of Unity Schools when the crop of experienced teachers retire as the Federal Government is not making succession plans.

    He said: “Government should declare recruitment emergency in unity colleges. Succession plan in the unity colleges is endangered. Those who are to take over from experienced hands are not there. Government should recruit teachers mostly in vocational subjects because the subjects have increased. Here we need about 200 young and vibrant permanent teachers.”

    He urged the school to embrace reforms in the admission process that will authenticate proof of the selection, adding that such approach will expose unqualified candidates that might want to sneak into the system through fraudulent means.

    “The more one relies on only one exam as a gateway to securing admission into unity colleges, the more desperate parents will device unethical method to compromise the sanctity of the exam process.

    “The introduction of post-UTME in the tertiary sector has undeniably led to the admission of more qualitative students into our tertiary institutions,” he added.

    He advised the over 500 new pupils to live up to the white-upon-white uniform, which, according to him, is emblematic of academic excellence King’s College is reputed for. Adepeju also called on parents to see themselves as committed partners in their wards’ upbringing.

    The supervising Minister of Education Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who was represented by his Special Assistant (Special Duties) Mr Lambert Opara, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration places emphasis on education as the engine room of the nation’s economic and technological growth.

    Said Wike: “Much attention is being focused on the Unity Schools; the idea is to bring back the dream and aspiration of the founding fathers.

    “The schools were established as centres of unity, but have, over the years, degenerated to the extent that most of them hardly meet the minimum requirements as colleges.”

    In an interview with The Nation, the PTA Chairman Emmanuel Oriahki, said through some new projects by parents, the acute accommodation problem facing the school would soon be a thing of the past.

    He, said the dining room for instance, accommodates about 300 out of 1,300 pupil population, a development, which Oriakhi said, forces the school to make students eat in turns, thereby delaying their reading time.

     

  • Coach tasks scrabble players on skills, strategies

    Wale Ilori, the Scrabble Coach of Kings College, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday said that consistently playing with a better opponent would improve the skills of any scrabble player.

    Ilori told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing `Scrabbulympics’ competition holding in Lagos from Nov. 4 to Nov. 8 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

    According to him, when a player continually plays with someone on a higher level than himself, he will be forced to improve his skills and strategies in the game.

    “It is a simple theory in life. When you want to become great, challenge those who are better than you in the field you intend to develop yourself in. When you engage those who are better than you in a specific field, you unknowingly improve on yourself, to even become better than your superiors,” he said.

    Ilori, who represented the country at the 2010 Africa Scrabble Championship in Ghana, said that constantly studying the dictionary would also help to improve one’s knowledge of words.

    “When you study the dictionary, you inevitably develop and improve in the volume of words you know,” he said.

    Ilori also said that part of becoming a better player would be to understand the concept of hooks, which is a crucial strategy in scrabble. He described hooks as tiles on the board, which you can add to, in order to create stronger and higher scoring words.

    “This will increase your chances of scoring very high points, while using fewer letters on the game board,” he said.

    Ilori added that the country had enough talents that could easily master the concept of becoming better players in scrabble.

  • Drama as world’s language

    Pupils of King’s College, Lagos and participants from other schools displayed their creative talents at the inauguration of the school’s royal troupe at Tafewa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    They did various displays in dance drama to underscore the need to develop drama and theatre practice.

    The Oloni of Eti-Oni in Osun State, Oba Dokun Thompson, observed that the dance drama, was creative. He praised the principal for adopting the study of drama and theatre into the curriculum, noting that it would develop the talent and also preserve the cultural history.

    “Our history shows what we are to the outside world, because it defines us to the foreigners. With the cultural talents displayed by the students, our history can never die, but grow to be known across the world,” he said.

    Principal of King’s College, Otunba Dele Olapeju, who is also the King’s Royal Troupe artistic director, boasted of the school’s record of artistic outings. He said the troupe is passionate about the Nigerian youths and would act as a creative and cultural ambassador of and for the school.

    He urged other schools to add drama and theatre practice to their educational curriculum, noting that drama and theatre practice will improve the thinking and development of young students which will shape them to the right path for future. He listed entrepreneurial and skills development programmes, monthly seminars and theatre workshop as some of the latter programmes earmarked for the school troupe. “Talent is an ability that can be improved when learning towards it but can be destroyed when hidden” he added.

    The event was aimed at inspiring and turning on the creativity of the young people; identifying the special needs to preserve cultural activities and develop individual talent. Other schools that participated includes Keystone College, Obalende, Lagos City College; Obalende, Queens College, Yaba, Footprints of David Dance Academy.

    The event was sponsored by King’s College,King’s College Parents Teachers Association (KCPTA), King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOB) and DNL Construction (London).

  • Kings College holds 93rd sport meet

    Itsosime Francis a senior student of Kings College was the attraction at the 93rd edition of the school’s inter-house sport.

    Though, Francis was not the only winner in over 15 sporting activities featured during the sports meet, but he appeared an ‘anointed’ winner emerging first in the 100 and 200 metres Senior Boys category. His victory at the 400 metres Relay Senior Boys race was another spectacle. In the High Jump category, Francis who represented Yellow House (McKee Wrights) was another player to beat edging three other contenders – Green house(Harman’s), Red house Hyde Johnson and Blue house(Panes) to the plaque.

    But for his elder brother, Francis wouldn’t have considered himself fit for a sporting activity he said runs in the family blood.

    “He told me that I could do it and that it runs in the family. He always told me to aim for the top and at every high jump competition I meet myself, I should always aim the highest jump and that’s always my target, to be the best.”

    Although Blue House emerged the overall winner with 21 gold, 12 silver 10 bronze, Francis, including efforts of other athletes in his House saw them coming close with 12 gold, nine silver and 15 bronze, trailing the winner. Red House emerged second runner up with 11 gold, 13 silver, 16 bronze and Green House came fourth with eigth gold, 18 silver and 11 bronze.

    Otunba Dele Olapeju, Principal Kings College while giving his speech, said the sporting sprit of Kings College has been rekindled with the formation of the Lagos First Generation Heritage Colleges Association (LAFGHECA), (formerly called Association of the House of Lords), which comprised colleges that pioneered secondary education in Nigeria.

    He said: “For instance, at the first Inter-Collegiate athletics meet of LAFGHECA held on its sports field last year, Kings College came first by narrowly beating our arch-rival St. Gregory’s Lagos, while at the Federal Unity Colleges Games (FEDCOL) games held in Calabar in November, last year, the college placed third among 104 Unity Colleges in the male category .

    Olapeju told excited guests and parents that Kings College has moved to the semi final stage of this year’s Heritage Cup, hoping the school’s team would be good replacements for the Super and Flying eagles squad.

    He urged the parents to invest heavily towards the sports development initiative of the institution.

    Otunba Olapeju said the cooperation he has so far enjoyed from all since his assumption in January 2010, has also given him the opportunity to present the fourth sporting competition.

    He assured parents that talents discovered at the event would be involved in the second edition of LAFGHECA, as well as the International Bilateral Games between Nigeria and Ghana which is to be co-hosted by Kings College and Queens College in May.