Statement Issued by Queen's College Old Girls Association
On 31st January, 2017, there was a school tour at the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Education Inspectorate Division by Dr Frances Ajose, which began the series of events resulting in the emergency intervention of the Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos Old Girls Association (QCOGA). First, was the Sick Bay teeming with over 100 students down with diarrhoea and vomiting. An unsanitary cooking area, revealed untrained cooks who had never had any food handler/health inspection checks; and who were later found to be carriers of Typhoid and other diseases. Dormitories holding as many as 80 children meant very low oxygen tension in the rooms; mattresses teeming with bed bugs, insecure ground floor dormitories and dangerous corroded balcony railings on upper floors. A subsequent investigation revealed dangerous levels of 6 toxic pathogens found in the 14 sources of water on site, contaminated by a broken down sewage system. On the 22nd of February, 2017 the school was closed down on medical grounds with only SS3 and JSS3 students allowed to attend classes as day students. Dr Frances Ajose is the current President QCOGA.
QCOGA Intervention
An emergency meeting of the QCOGA was convened and it adopted this mission to intervene:- “To Restore our Alma Mater to a state of cleanliness of our time, and to present it to the School Management and PTA for sustenance, whilst we maintain close surveillance.” Their goal mainly was:- Ensuring no more deaths occurred, attaining secure safe water and decontamination of the immediate environment, and minor repairs. This was to be done through fundraising in cash and kind from the Old Girls. A Finance group, Legal group and Advocacy Pressure group were inaugurated, as a means of fighting for improved standards of education and welfare of Queen’s College girls.
QCOGA has so far carried out the fumigation of the entire premises, executed substantial refurbishment of the toilets and dining hall amongst others. The Association has also carried out an independent analysis of the water system, and is embarking on prevailing upon the Federal authorities to further assist, so the students can resume and return to a safe and clean environment. The School Management and PTA have also been busy.
For the ‘Old Girls’, a primary push according to Chairperson of the Advocacy Pressure group, Mrs Abieyuwa Eke Sanyaolu, is reaching the Legislature to start deliberations towards making government examine it’s policy on Unity Schools, because it has clearly failed. Across board, the Secondary Schools were suffering a similar collapse of infrastructure and academic standards. The ‘Old Girls’ want the Federal Ministry of Education to review the admission processes of the 3,550 girl school; classrooms and dormitories meant to accommodate 25 to 30 people currently accommodating 3 times the number. QCOGA want Legislative hearings and panel of inquiry instituted into the collapse of basic sanitation, and the failure of funding that led to such a catastrophe as the death of 3 young girls and a raging epidemic amongst 1200 others.
No, QCOGA does not want to Privatise QC
Enemies of progress insist on spreading erroneous news of a supposed QCOGA agenda to privatise the school! Organised Labour and a section of the Federal Civil Service have busied themselves with false propaganda, to detract from the lofty desire of the QCOGA to return the school back to its former glory, with sustained engagement and oversight. This may not be unconnected to the ‘Old Girls’ pursuit of justice for the 3 dead girls, and many view this claim of intent to privatise as a sheer diversionary antic by the opposition.
Mrs Patience Aderogba’s comment says it all…. “It is pertinent to clearly state that the Queen’s College Old Girls Association exists simply to preserve our brand by passing on the torch to the next generation.”
The Advocacy Group (QGOGA)
"ENEMIES OF PROGRESS INSIST ON SPREADING ERRONEOUS NEWS OF A SUPPOSED QCOGA AGENDA TO PRIVATISE THE SCHOOL! ORGANISED LABOUR AND A SECTION OF THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE HAVE BUSIED THEMSELVES WITH FALSE PROPAGANDA, TO DETRACT FROM THE LOFTY DESIRE OF THE QCOGA TO RETURN THE SCHOOL BACK TO ITS FORMER GLORY, WITH SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT"