The St. Gregory’s College Old Boys’ Association (SGCOBA) has unveiled plans for a major infrastructure and facilities upgrade at the historic Lagos school, including the expansion of its assembly hall, modernisation of classrooms and the revival of sporting facilities.
The initiative, which formed part of the association’s broader plan to reposition the institution, was unveiled at the weekend during the Grand Reception organised by SGCOBA at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.
SGCOBA President, Francis Kudayah, said the proposed intervention was necessary to bring the physical facilities of the college in line with contemporary educational requirements and preserve the institution’s legacy.
According to him, the association intends to expand and modernise the school’s hall and classrooms while upgrading critical academic facilities, including the Digital Hub, Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre, e-Library and laboratories.
Kudayah said the college needed facilities that would equip its students to compete in an increasingly technology-driven world.
He specifically highlighted the need to expose students to artificial intelligence, coding and robotics, alongside conventional academic programmes.
The SGCOBA president also announced plans to revive the school’s sporting infrastructure, including the development of an Indoor Sports Complex, rehabilitation of the tartan tracks and modernisation of the college’s cricket oval.
He said the proposed interventions were part of the association’s effort to ensure that the physical environment of the college reflected the quality of education and values for which St. Gregory’s had become known.
Kudayah said the infrastructure programme would be supported by the newly launched SGCOBA Endowment and Perpetual Fund, which is designed to provide both immediate funding for priority projects and a sustainable financial base for the future.
He explained that the association was deliberately combining infrastructure development with long-term financial planning to avoid dependence on repeated emergency appeals whenever major repairs or upgrades were required.
“This is not another levy. This is a permanent, professionally managed Fund with two objectives,” he said.
He said one of the objectives was to address immediate infrastructure and sporting needs, while the second was to establish a perpetual financial structure capable of supporting the college in the long term.
The Lagos State Government welcomed the initiative, describing investment in school infrastructure as essential to creating an environment where young people can learn, innovate and develop strong character.
The state government, represented at the event by the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, commended SGCOBA for taking steps to strengthen the institution and urged other alumni associations to adopt similar initiatives.
Agoro, who delivered the message of the Lagos State Governor, said physical infrastructure and sustainable funding were critical to the development of institutions seeking to produce future leaders.
“When we provide our young people with the environment to learn, innovate, and develop strong character, we are not merely preparing them for a degree; we are preparing leaders who will shape the future of Lagos State and Nigeria,” he said.
The state government also noted that the history of St. Gregory’s College had been sustained by successive generations who invested in the institution, stressing that the present generation had a responsibility to hand over an even stronger school to future students.
The proposed infrastructure programme comes against the backdrop of SGCOBA’s broader plan to reposition the college and preserve its heritage.
The association said the school’s existing facilities required renewal to meet contemporary standards, while its sporting heritage also needed to be restored and modernised.
The planned Digital Hub, CBT Centre, e-Library and laboratory upgrades are expected to strengthen the academic and technological environment, while the proposed sports projects are aimed at restoring facilities that have historically formed part of the college’s identity.
The association also plans to establish mechanisms for transparent management of funds committed to the projects, including oversight by trustees, professional fund managers and external auditors.
With the infrastructure programme and the Endowment and Perpetual Fund being pursued together, SGCOBA said its objective was not only to renovate existing facilities but to establish a sustainable framework for continuous investment in the institution.
The initiative is expected to form a major part of preparations for the college’s centenary in 2028, with old boys being called upon to contribute financially and professionally to the repositioning of their alma mater.
For SGCOBA, the objective is to ensure that the next generation of students inherits not only the celebrated history of St. Gregory’s College, but also an institution equipped with modern facilities capable of meeting the demands of contemporary education.
