Chairman, 1984 set of Saint Finbarr’s College, Andrew Adeniyi, has said the association is working to bring the school into the new world of innovation where ideas and creativity drive progress.

Adeniyi spoke at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos during Fr. Denis Joseph Slattery Memorial Lecture Distinguished Conquerors & Benefactors award and fund raising.

He noted that Saint Finbarr’s College was the first to introduce electronic curriculum workshops and technical education.He explained that the purpose of the event was to ensure the college remains a pioneer of innovation.  He stressed the importance of giving back to society, in line with the legacy of Father Slattery.
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“Saint Finbarr’s has the first set of electronic, and technical education curriculum. Right now we are in a new world where innovation is what is spinning the money, spinning the idea. In order for us to continue to stay on top as pioneers, we are now bringing this Rev Father Joseph Slattery Innovation Hub,” he said.

According to him, the event was aimed at raising funds for the construction of the innovation hub, so that students of the college would understand that innovation is the key to survival in the modern world.
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“We need to make sure that we give back to society, give back to the people. So, this is like trying to continue the legacy of Rev Father Joseph Slattery who came all the way from Island to give to   Nigerian children, of which we are all beneficiaries. He set up a school that has become top notch, a school that every other school will be envious of and also will like to be part of,” he said.
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Also speaking, President, Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association, Patrick Doyle, described Father Slattery as a man who left his comfort zone to spend the rest of his life serving the Nigerian people.
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He added that Saint Finbarr’s College has produced some of Nigeria’s best engineers because it was the first school to offer technical subjects and the only one with a full secondary school curriculum.
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“It is the only school in Nigeria that has a full secondary school curriculum, as well as a vocational curriculum and both of them run simultaneously, which is why some of the best engineers in Nigeria were students of Saint Finbarr’s College,” he said. Doyle also praised the school’s achievements in sports, saying it has produced several of the country’s top footballers.
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“At least if you are going to count 10 of the greatest footballers in Nigeria, five of them were Finbarrians – Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Samson Siasia, Nduka,” he added.