In an ambitious move to counter educational decline, the alumni of Ahmadiyya Grammar School in Ogbagi Akoko, Ondo State, have launched a N500 million fund-raising drive to comprehensively renovate and re-equip their alma mater. The plan aims to restore the school's former academic excellence and create a modern learning environment for current students.
The alumni association announced the project as a central part of the school's 50th-anniversary celebrations. Surajudeen Abdusalam-Alada, the association's Vice President, stated that the initiative shows their deep commitment to supporting education. He described it as a model for collaboration between private citizens and the government .
The substantial funds will be directed toward several high-impact projects. Key plans include the construction of a fully equipped modern ICT centre. This facility is intended to give students access to global learning resources. The association also aims to complete the school's boys' hostel to revive boarding education. Further projects include renovating existing classroom blocks and modernizing the school library into a digital e-library .
Beyond infrastructure, the alumni plan to address educational quality directly. Abdusalam-Alada highlighted that retired alumni and other professionals will be engaged to teach core subjects. This effort is designed to bridge staffing gaps and raise the overall standard of education for students .
The association reported that funds have already started to come in from members and supporters. Notable figures, including the Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, have expressed support for the initiative. The chief launcher for the anniversary event is expected to be Alhaji Aliu Abdulkabir, CEO of Matrix Energy Nigeria .
When asked about the ongoing debate on returning schools to their original missionary owners, Abdusalam-Alada emphasized that capability, not sentiment, should guide such decisions. He argued that missions must present clear and viable strategies for managing schools before the government should consider handing them over .
This large-scale alumni effort mirrors a growing trend where private groups step in to support public education. In Baltimore, a partnership between a non-profit and a corporation recently renovated a local school's outdated kitchen and laundry room for about $7,100. That project demonstrated how community support can meet needs that strained public budgets cannot cover .
The Ahmadiyya alumni have set a high target, acknowledging that N500 million is far more than what some peer institutions aim to raise. Abdusalam-Alada cited the school's motto, "Faith and Hard Work," expressing confidence that the community will come together to achieve this goal . The project reaffirms the association's commitment to making the school a benchmark for educational excellence and a model for alumni-driven development in Nigeria .