Preamble

The idea of admitting ACU graduates to the membership of SACOBA was first muted to the ACU Management when representatives of SACOBA paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor on June 22, 2021.  This idea was further presented to the SACOBA CEC meeting hosted by the Ibadan Branch on 15 July 2021 by the Chairman of the Ibadan Branch. It was at this meeting that the CEC mandated Emeritus Professor Gabriel A Kolawole to prepare a document for further discussion at the next CEC meeting.

Proposal

SACOBA was the acronym adopted for St. Andrew’s College Old Boys’ Association since its inception.  Till date that acronym has been kept despite later changes in its demography arising from the metamorphosis of St Andrew’s College to St. Andrew’s College of Education. It is the thread that bore the College of Education that also bore Ajayi Crowther University.  It is that umbilical cord that traces the genealogy of both the College of Education and the Ajayi Crowther University to St Andrew’s College and SACOBA that drives the present proposal.

St Andrew’s College, established in 1896, was running as a teacher training institution, admitting Standard six, Modern III and Cambridge School Certificate/West African School Certificate holders.  It was therefore, at a stage recognized as a tertiary education institution by virtue of its two-year training programme for Cambridge School Certificate holders. The curriculum was also rich enough for products to teach in secondary schools. SACOBA today has on its register distinguished academics, Church leaders, lawyers, scientists, and medical doctors that are serving/have served the nation and humanity in diverse spheres.

The essence of this move from SACOBA is to ensure that the Association lives on after the aging members pass on. SACOBA has a rich legacy that should not be allowed to die with the present generation of members. Because of the name of the University it might be difficult to link it to St. Andrew’s College in the next 50 years.

With the induction of our brothers and sisters who completed NCE in the defunct St. Andrew’s College of Education into SACOBA, we must have extended the lifespan of SACOBA by a generation.  Most of us who attended St. Andrew’s College are already over 60 years old. Andrians are generally blessed with long life.  If we work on the current trend where many of our over 80’s find if challenging to attend quarterly meetings, it would be logical to project that in another 20 years most Andrians who attended St. Andrew’s College may not be able to participate actively in the activities of SACOBA.  Add another ten years and most of the NCE members would also fizzle out of active participation.

What then becomes of SACOBA in 20±10 years from now?

This is the basis for the proposal to induct graduates of Education from ACU into SACOBA.  Other graduates could voluntarily join or if the Management of ACU so desires induct all alumni of the University into SACOBA.  This way this trademark remains registered in perpetuity.

It is suggested furthermore that every student of ACU (undergraduate and postgraduate) should be given a run-down of St. Andrew’s College, its history, tradition, spirituality and attributes (hard work and dignity of labour).  This would be their equivalence of SACO orientation, traditionally ‘washing’. Consequently the mantle of SACOBA can be kept burning till God’s Kingdom come!

Emeritus Professor Gabriel A. Kolawole, FRSC, FAS