The Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua Old Boys Association (ACCIOBA) has said that stronger involvement of alumni bodies could play a key role in addressing the decline in infrastructure and standards affecting many public secondary schools across Nigeria.

This was disclosed during a book launch and global reunion where members gathered to unveil a publication titled “The Making of a Great School”, documenting the history and development of the institution.

Global President of the association, Dr Joseph Ohens, said that alumni intervention helped revive the school after years of neglect, noting that members mobilised resources to restore critical facilities and improve the learning environment.

He disclosed that the association has so far spent about N3.5 billion rebuilding infrastructure in the school, including classrooms, laboratories, hostels, and internal road networks.

According to him, the institution had deteriorated significantly over the years, to the point of having only a principal and three teachers for more than 800 students.

Ohens said the intervention by old boys was driven by a sense of responsibility to support the institution that laid the foundation for their careers and personal development.

The Chairman, ACCIOBA Lagos branch, Efe Akhigbe, noted that the event was aimed at raising additional funds to support ongoing development projects in the school.

Akhigbe noted that the alumni association had, in recent years, embarked on extensive reconstruction of facilities in the school, including laboratories, classrooms, and the principal’s residence.

He added that the book project was initiated to preserve the institution’s history by documenting the experiences of its earliest students and alumni.

Author of the book and a lecturer at Lagos State University, Pius Akhimien, explained that the project involved extensive interviews with members of the pioneer graduating class and other alumni, after which the narratives were compiled into a historical account intended to preserve the institution’s legacy for future generations.