First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has stressed the importance of discipline, leadership, and service in driving national development.
She made the call while speaking at the 116th Founder’s Day Lecture and Fundraising Dinner of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) in Lagos, held as part of the 2025 King’s Week.
Represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Strategy, Wahab Alawiye-King, the First Lady commended King’s College for over a century of instilling these virtues, which she described as crucial for addressing challenges in education, youth empowerment, and national development.
She praised the alumni for sustaining the school’s legacy through voluntary service, mentorship, and sacrifices that continue to inspire younger generations.
Tinubu described this year’s theme, “The King’s College Legacy: Honouring the Past, Empowering the Future,” as both timely and inspiring, stressing the need to adequately prepare the next generation to uphold the school’s ideals.
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, represented by the Principal of Queen’s College Lagos, Mrs Oyindamola Obabori, emphasised the need for investment in modern infrastructure, teacher development, digital learning, and equal access to education. He added that historic institutions like King’s College must not only preserve tradition but also lead innovation in education.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Keem Belo-Osagie called for intentional leadership to confront the country’s long-standing challenges, stressing that Nigeria must strengthen its values to move forward.
Earlier, KCOBA President, Dr. Leke Oshunniyi, encouraged members to demonstrate the “King’s spirit” by generously supporting initiatives that will safeguard the school’s legacy for future generations.
CISLAC Raises Alarm Over Corruption in Education Sector
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has warned that entrenched corruption is crippling Nigeria’s education system and threatening the nation’s future.
Speaking at the International Conference on Anti-Corruption hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), in collaboration with PANAFSTRAG and CISLAC, Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described corruption as a systemic disease that undermines governance, erodes public trust, and weakens national development.
The conference, themed “Politics, Governance, Probity, Religion and Corrupt Behaviour in Nigeria,” brought together academics, civil society leaders, and policy experts, who unanimously warned that Nigeria must decisively tackle corruption to prevent further governance failures and rising poverty.
Declaring the event open, UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, defined corruption as an “abuse of entrusted power for personal gain,” noting that even favouritism falls within corrupt practice.
Also speaking, Major General Ishola Williams (rtd), former Commander of the Nigerian Army Signals and Director General of PANAFSTRAG, lamented that corruption had become normalized in Nigeria. He accused lawyers, accountants, and media practitioners of enabling corrupt practices by shielding officials from accountability.
