Hundreds of alumni of Federal Government Colleges, popularly known as Unity Schools, at the weekend held coordinated rallies in Kano, Lagos and Abuja to protest the Federal Ministry of Education’s decision to concession more than 30 hectares of land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, to a private firm, Pluck Global Services.

The protesters, operating under the umbrella of the Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA), described the move as a direct threat to the legacy, identity and future expansion of Unity Schools nationwide.

The demonstrations followed a reconciliatory meeting between USOSA leaders and the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in Abuja last week, which reportedly ended without resolution. Alumni representatives claimed the Federal Government remained resolute in proceeding with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement despite widespread opposition.

Speaking during the rally, several USOSA members said hopes of reaching a compromise were dashed when ministry officials allegedly insisted that the concession agreement could not be reversed.

“We entered the meeting believing there would be room for genuine engagement,” one of the alumni leaders, John Duru, told protesters. “What we encountered instead was a firm determination to proceed with the concession. This protest is our way of saying we will not stand by while the heritage of future generations is compromised.”

According to the alumni, the disputed land forms part of the school’s critical development reserve, traditionally designated for sports facilities, agricultural science projects and future infrastructure expansion.

While the ministry reportedly defended the concession as part of a broader initiative to revitalise public school infrastructure through private investment, the protesters argued that no transparent feasibility study or stakeholder consultation justified the transfer of such a vast expanse of school property.

Carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “FGC Kano Is Not for Sale,” “Revoke the Concession, Save Our Schools,” and “Hands Off Our Heritage,” the demonstrators marched through major routes in the three cities under tight security.

An emotional scene unfolded at FGC Kano when students gathered near the school fence to wave at the protesters in solidarity.

Leading the march, retired Gen. Abdulrasheed Lawal, an alumnus of FGC Kaduna, warned that generations of students stood to lose vital recreational and academic space if the concession was allowed to stand.

“Whether it becomes a hotel, shopping complex or office development is beside the point,” he said. “What matters is that this land belongs to a federal institution established for the education and development of Nigerian children.”

The protesters demanded the immediate revocation of the concession agreement and warned that failure by the ministry to rescind the deal within 14 days could trigger coordinated nationwide action across Unity Schools.

USOSA leaders stressed that their opposition was not directed against development but against what they described as the commercialisation of educational heritage.

“We have representatives here from Federal Government College Ido-Ani, FGC Odogbolu, FGC Okigwe, FGC Port Harcourt, FGC Ikot Ekpene, Queen’s College Lagos and many others,” said Humphrey Nwafor, Lagos National Chapter President of USOSA.

“This is a collective stand. We support development, but not at the expense of the school environment and future generations.”

Also addressing the gathering, USOSA President Mike Magaji reiterated that Unity Schools were established to promote national integration by bringing children from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds under one roof.

As of press time, the Federal Ministry of Education had yet to issue an official statement on the demonstrations. However, a senior ministry official, who spoke anonymously, maintained that the government remained committed to modernising Unity Schools through carefully structured private-sector partnerships, insisting that students’ recreational facilities would not be affected.

The assurance was swiftly rejected by USOSA leaders, who argued that the size of the concession effectively covers most of the school’s remaining undeveloped land.

In a message of appreciation, the Global President of the FGC Kano Old Students’ Association, Shoyinka Shodunke, thanked participating Unity Schools for what he described as a strong display of solidarity and collective responsibility.

The alumni have vowed to escalate the matter to the National Assembly and the Presidency, insisting that the battle to preserve the integrity of Unity Schools has only begun.
Photo and caption: Protesters