King’s College ’78 Set To Embark On Peace Tour

Members of the 1973-1978 set of King’s College, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, reunited in Calabar, Cross River State, southsouth Nigeria, over the weekend and resolved to undertake a tour across the country to promote peaceful co-existence among the different ethnic groups.
Senator Sanusi Daggash, the Chairman of the set told P.M.NEWS that the prime cause of the problems plaguing the nation is the lack of development across the country and stated that if Nigerians find a conducive environment to fulfil their dreams and aspiration, the tendency to engage in violence and crisis would be minimal.

He declared that the set has distinguished professionals who are in virtually every field of human endeavour, including the academia, engineering, medicine, agriculture and politics, and thus capable of proffering solutions to the nation’s challenges.

He declared that for development to thrive in the country, peace and unity among the different ethnic nationalities is necessary.

“Only peace will guarantee development in parts of Nigeria. There can be no meaningful development without real peace,” he said.

The former Minister of Works said the set plans a peace tour to some parts of the country to demonstrate to Nigerians the need to live in peace and harmony.

According to him, since the graduation of the set in 1978, they have remained in touch with one another in spite of their ethnic, social, and religious backgrounds.

“Out of 61 students, we have lost six of our classmates; we have pledged to continue to meet from time to time to interact and to exchange valuable ideas,” he stated.

Another member of the set, Mr Edo Ukpong, who is the coordinator of the peace tour, said it has become necessary to use the set as a rallying point for peace across the country in the face of the current security challenges.

“Our set was unique because we have people from all the states of the federation and since 1978 we have remained united.

“So we felt that we should be a clear example to the rest of Nigerians,” he said.

He said the Old Boys were also articulating their views on other areas and how to assist in the infrastructural development of the school.

Ukpong, who is also a legal practitioner, said the set was blessed with various professionals who have contributed individually to the development of the school and would bring their experience to bear in promoting peace across the country.

“But this time we want to do it collectively and we are starting in Jos and from there go round the country,” he added.

He lamented the infrastructural and moral decay in secondary schools across the country, and said this was responsible for the problems in the education sector.

According to him, the current teachers in schools are not committed to their duty, adding that in their days “we had dedicated teachers.’’

Some notable members of the set include Prof. Ade Mabogunje from University of Standford USA; Sen Bukola Saraki among others.

By Emma Una/Calabar