The Queen’s College Old Girls’ Association (QCOGA) has announced plans for a global walkathon to commemorate the school’s 99th Founders’ Day and begin preparations for its centenary celebrations in 2027.

The walkathon, scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026, will bring together former students of the Lagos-based institution in cities across Nigeria, the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

According to the association, the event will mark the beginning of a series of activities leading up to the school’s 100th anniversary, with old girls at home and abroad expected to participate.

Queen’s College, founded on October 10, 1927, is approaching a significant milestone in its history as one of Nigeria’s longstanding institutions dedicated to girls’ education.

The association said the centenary would provide an opportunity to celebrate the school’s history while mobilising support for its future development.

President of the Queen’s College Old Girls’ Association, Engr. Temitayo Okunoren-Makindipe, announced the anniversary activities and the establishment of a committee to coordinate preparations for the centenary.

The committee will be chaired by insurance professional Ms Prisca Soares, who previously served as the first female Managing Director of NICON Insurance and Secretary-General of the African Insurance Organisation.

According to Okunoren-Makindipe, the committee will oversee preparations for the anniversary programme and support efforts to involve former students, partners and other stakeholders.

She said the association intended to use the milestone to strengthen relationships among generations of Queen’s College graduates and encourage greater participation in projects benefiting current and future students.

“Our ambition is to transform the sisterhood shared by generations of old girls into enduring support for today’s students and those yet to come,” she said.

The association expects the centenary programme to bring together members of its global network, friends of the college and prospective partners interested in supporting educational development.

Further details of the activities are expected to be announced as preparations progress.

The October 10 walkathon will serve as the opening activity in the countdown to the school’s centenary.

With former students expected to participate across five countries, the event is intended to demonstrate the reach of the Queen’s College alumni community.

The association said the programme would encourage participation by old girls from different graduating classes and locations.

For QCOGA, the anniversary represents an opportunity to reconnect generations of former students around a shared commitment to the institution.

The association has not yet disclosed the specific cities, routes or starting times for the walkathon in the information released.

However, it has encouraged members across its international network to participate in the Founders’ Day activities and subsequent centenary events.

Beyond the anniversary celebrations, QCOGA said its preparations would build on existing initiatives aimed at improving the learning environment and supporting students.

Among the projects identified by the association is the Light Up QC initiative, which involves providing solar-powered lighting within the school.

The association also highlighted the establishment of an Endowment Fund intended to support the institution’s long-term development.

Other areas of intervention include mentoring, career guidance and improvements to educational and sporting facilities.

According to QCOGA, these projects reflect the role former students have continued to play in supporting the school beyond their years of study.

The association said the centenary would provide an opportunity to consolidate those contributions and encourage additional support from alumni and other stakeholders.

“The centenary offers us an opportunity to build on these contributions and inspire even greater support for our school,” Okunoren-Makindipe said.

While the association outlined several existing projects, it did not disclose the amount invested in the initiatives or specific fundraising targets for the centenary programme.

Established in 1927, Queen’s College has educated generations of Nigerian women who have gone on to pursue careers across different professional and public spheres.

Its approaching centenary provides an opportunity to examine the institution’s educational history and its contributions to the development of women in Nigeria.

The anniversary also comes at a time when alumni associations continue to play an important role in supporting schools through infrastructure projects, mentoring programmes and fundraising initiatives.

For QCOGA, the focus is on ensuring that the celebrations produce benefits extending beyond commemorative activities.

The association’s planned engagement with former students and prospective partners is intended to strengthen support for educational opportunities and the development of school facilities.

The proposed centenary programme will therefore combine activities celebrating Queen’s College’s history with initiatives intended to support its future.

Okunoren-Makindipe said preparations for the 2027 celebrations would intensify following the October 10 walkathon.

The association plans to engage its members and other stakeholders as it develops a year-long programme marking the institution’s 100th anniversary.

“Details of the centenary programme and opportunities to participate will be announced in the coming months,” she said.

She also called on Queen’s College old girls around the world to participate in the Founders’ Day events and contribute to preparations for the centenary.

As the school approaches its 100th year, the association said its priority would be to preserve the institution’s legacy while encouraging initiatives that improve educational opportunities for future generations.

The global walkathon will mark the beginning of that process, bringing together former students in a celebration of their shared history and commitment to Queen’s College.