The Crowther Memorial College (CMC) Lokoja Old Boys Association has called on the Kogi State government and other stakeholders to urgently investigate the crisis of ownership and abuse of due process by the Anglican Diocese of Lokoja in the management of the college to preserve the college’s good legacies.
Addressing a press conference in Lokoja yesterday, the president of the association, Colonel (Dr) Abayomi Dare (retired), said the alumni of Crowther Memorial College, stand united in their appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to support them in saving their beloved institution from the threat of balkanization posed by the Anglican Diocese of Lokoja.
They alleged that the church has continued to deface and balkanise the structures of the college, saying that stakeholders must come together to save the school from going into extinction.
He noted that the most worrisome development is the conversion of the Assembly hall, the Principal’s quarters, and a section of the compound into a Church, printing press, and private school, respectively.
According to him, a situation where students are in their classes and an ambulance conveying dead bodies to the church in the name of burial services passes through the classrooms is morally wrong and unhealthy for the children.
“The recent developments concerning the division of the school are deeply concerning. Our Alma Mater, built on decades of tradition and excellence, stands at a crossroads, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure it does not lose its identity or the legacy of its founding principles.
“We urge all stakeholders to come together and work towards a resolution that preserves the integrity of Crowther Memorial College and secures its future for generations to come.
“This reunion is not just a celebration; it is a call to action. It’s an opportunity for all of us to stand in solidarity, reflect on our shared history, and invest in a brighter future for Crowther Memorial College. Together, we can make a difference.
“The Crowther Memorial College Lokoja Old Students Association (CMCLOSA) will also be hosting its Mega Reunion from January 22nd to 24th, 2025, and we are thrilled to have this as a way of bringing together Old students from across the globe.”
According to him, the association will officially launch a fund that will provide long-term support for the educational development of future generations of students at Crowther Memorial College and also hand over the rehabilitated Administrative Building to the management of the college.
Speaking also, Mrs Cecilia Cook, an old student of the College and a former Chairman of the State Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission, said the moment the state government agreed to grant aid to the school, the ownership automatically changed, saying that the Anglican Diocese has no control over the college anymore.
Recall that the Crowther Memorial College was originally established by the missionaries and was later taken over by the state government.
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