CHRIST'S SCHOOL RESTORATION: A Reviewed School Management Strategy Becomes Imperative
By
Seye Adetunmbi, 21/7/2026
Subsequent to Dr Uduimo Justus Itsueli, the erstwhile president of Christ’s School alumni association mandating Mrs Kemi Akin-Ajayi and I to put together the handover proposal document to be presented to Ekiti-State government, we were reasonably guided by the Lagos State experience of the handover of Anglican schools to the Church of Nigeria in Lagos-State. Kemi was then the principal of Anglican Girls Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos who witnessed smooth transition from government to the mission in Lagos-State.
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| A review session with Mrs Kemi Akin-Ajayi in her office at Anglican Girls Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos in 2016 |
It was clearly stated in the document that we prepared, advising Ekiti-State government to adopt the Lagos State handover model where all the Anglican schools were handed over to the Anglican Mission in Lagos-State not just the diocese in which a school is located. The old Lagos Diocese owned all the Anglican schools in Lagos-State. That diocese now has 6 bishops in charge of Lagos Diocese, Lagos West Diocese, Badagry Diocese, Awori Diocese, Lagos Mainland Diocese and Lagos South West Diocese. This college of bishops constitutes the custodians of the mission schools belonging to the Church of Nigeria (Anglican) Communion in Lagos-State. All the bishops were present at the formal handover ceremony, and the schools are managed by them with support from the alumni of the respective schools as the need arises.
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| The formal handover of the Anglican schools to the Church of Nigeria in Lagos-State with the constituent Diocesan bishops in attendance with the State governor |
By way of recall, Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti, was founded in 1933 by the Venerable Archdeacon Henry Dallimore when Ekiti District was an Archdeaconry in the old Ondo Diocese. Ekiti Archdeaconry was the custodian of the school under the watch of Venerable Dallimore. Rt Rev Michael Osanyin was the last archdeacon of Ekiti Archdeaconry, and he became the first bishop of the old Ekiti Diocese in 1966 as the custodian of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti.
From time in memoriam, the dioceses in the Church of Nigeria are funded through annual assessment paid by parishes in each diocese. The old Ekiti Diocese now has four lord bishops in charge of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Ado Ekiti; Ekiti West Anglican Diocese, Ijero Ekiti; Ekiti Oke Anglican Diocese, Usi Ekiti; and Ekiti South Anglican Diocese, Ikere Ekiti.
Ekiti State government did the handover, but the undoing of the government was the handover to only one diocese out of the four dioceses that were created out of the old Ekiti Anglican Diocese. This is a major slip with spiritual implication, which requires a reset. When a matter of this nature is not done properly, it becomes "adiye ba l'okun, ara o r'okun, ara o r'adiye." This may have contributed majorly to the impasse between the alumni and the Ekiti Anglican Diocese. It becomes imperative for the government to correct the mistake.
Christ's School heritage did not only belong to all the present dioceses created from the old Ekiti Diocese, but it rubs on the whole of Ekiti-State brand. As a matter of fact, Christ's School was the pride of the old western region and Nigeria at large. Handing over Christ's School to one diocese reduced the goodwill, heritage, intellectual content, pedigree, and other moral supports that Christ's School could harness from other Anglican dioceses in Ekiti to Ado community. The adage of two or more good heads are better than one comes to play in the affairs of a huge heritage/institution like Christ's School. The school is entiltled to the inputs of the four current Anglican Bishops in Ekiti-State.
The alumni body was carried away by the uphoria of the handover, while the government was eager to join the train of what was in vogue by handing over mission schools to their owners, but in the process, an adequate due diligence was not done in the handling of the transfer. On the part or the new Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Ado-Ekiti, Christ's School must have been seen as a "cash cow" which they want to have to their diocese alone. The school was named after Jesus Christ. It belongs to God. Everything concerning God's property must be clinically attended to in honesty and sincerity of purpose in order to have a clean bill and operate in peace.
An expanding cake for all the dioceses created out of the old Diocese of Ekiti is better than a shrinking cake for the diocese in Ado-Ekiti. We must remember that God can't be mocked. Galatians 6:7-9. Christ's School is a unique institution and exemptional asset of the Anglican Communion in Ekiti-State, which should be accorded with an outstanding transfer treatment. "Eiye meji, e i j'asa". It is Christ's School and others.
For Christ's School to regain her glory, attain her potential, and have a full restoration, all hands must be on deck. It is a tripartite project of the government, all the anglican dioceses in Ekiti and the alumni. A tested Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) school management model was embedded in the proposal that was presented to the government. The SPV will be able to raise the huge funds to anchor the restoration project and represent the interest of every stakeholder fairly and justly. Whatever blessing, goodwill, intellect, spiritual, and other integrated support the school enjoys now would be multiplied by four or more if the handover is reviewed appropriately.
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| The formal meeting of the alumni and the Diocesan in Ado-Ekiti with the state governor to advance talk on the handover process in 2016 |
The humble appeal is that the alumni should not call for the school to be taken back from the Anglican mission. Christ's School is not going to be better off if the government takes over. It will receive the same attention with other schools in Ekiti. Rather, we should advocate for a review of the handover so that the government can do the right and proper thing. Christ's School should be handed over to the care of all the dioceses created from the old Ekiti Diocese. The government will also mpress it on them in the transfer agreement to work together with the alumni by deploying a tested SPV model towards achieving the desired restoration for the great school.
This is a family affair with the government in the middle as an arbitrator and mediator. Let's use this opportunity to get it right and do the proper thing. The school will benefit from various resources that could be facilitated by members of the other Ekiti dioceses who are people of substance and may not have necessarily attended Christ's School. The bulk stops with the Ekiti-State government to make the rejuvenation of the great institution happen. Please, don't play politics with the required intervention, and posterity will remember the administration that does the needful.
To the indigenous Ado community, they must rise to the occasion by supporting resolution to prevail. If skyscrapers stand on Agidimo Hill and Christ's School becomes the cynosure of all eyes in Nigeria, the school premises will remain on the land that Ewi gave to the school. If the school is run aground to become a shadow of itself and diminished to Okeisa community school, "Ado na le i a". In essence, we all owe it a duty to make the revised handover review works well for all the parties concerned.
The question to the Anglican mission is, what would Jesus Christ do in a situation we find ourselves in the matter of a school named after our personal Lord and Saviour? The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in Ekiti-State is the salt and the light on the present Christ's School matter. Mathew 5:13-16. The tested Lagos Anglican mission schools management model is worth exploring in view of the fact that the current Ekiti model has not worked optimally or satisfactorily, apparently.
To the alumni, perish any thought of sole proprietorship or outright ownership of the school. The alumni body presently, is neither in a distinct strong position nor structured adequately to venture into it. Besides, being a product of the school, we are already a part owner till eternity. Any form of confrontation or hostilities by any member of the alumni body with the current anglican diocese in custordy of the school must be avoided in any forum or on any platform. The focus of everyone should be more on the restoration of the school and not necessarily about it being controlled by the alumni.
It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white for as long as it can catch the mice. What we want is for Christ's School to flourish and remain a citadel of excellence that will outlive the present generation after we have all gone. No victor, no vanquished! Let all parties concerned be guided by what Jesus Christ expects from us, especially the Anglican community and the alumni. The golden rule is that "it is not in name only, but in deed and in truth"
Ajuse o.
1A
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