The Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA) is the incorporated Trustee of the Alumni Associations of all the 104 Federal Government Colleges, Federal Government Girls’ Colleges, Kings College, Queens College, Federal Government Boys College, Apo, Federal Science Colleges, Suleja Academy and Federal Science and Technical Colleges in Nigeria. It is an Association with over 1,000,000 members resident in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
The Association was incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission in April 2007 and has a functional, fully staffed Secretariat in Asokoro District of Abuja.
The precursor of this Association was the “Federal Government Colleges Old Students Association” (FEGOCOLOSA) which was started in the 1970s in the nation’s Universities by Old Students who were then undergraduates. Unfortunately, FEGOCOLOSA gradually fizzled out after failing to gather the much-needed momentum that would have transformed it to a sustainable force with viable branches outside the universities.
Worried by the state of affairs and the steady derailment from the original concept of the Unity Schools, and specifically because of the worrisome plan of the Federal Government under President Obasanjo to handover the Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) to State governments, spurred a few graduates from the FUCs, led by industry leaders in their own right like Engr. Elens Eigbokhan (FGC Warri, Set of 1967 HSC), Albert Okumagba (FGC Warri, set of 1980 & KC Lagos), late Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu (FGC Warri, set of 1975/77 (HSC)) into meeting in February 2006, and forming a group to present a unified front to challenge the decision of the Federal government of Nigeria.
This group of FUC Old Students met with President Obasanjo on the 23rd of February 2006 under the name “The Pro Unitate Forum”. The meeting with Mr President, which was attended by the following great FUCs alumni: Engr. Elens Eigbokhan (FGC Warri), Albert Okumagba (FGC Warri & KC Lagos), late Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu (FGC Warri), Engr. Joseph Makoju (FGC Warri 1968 (HSC)), Prof Julius Okojie (FGC Warri), Bilkisu Magoro (FGC Jos), Late Judith S Mamven (FGC Jos), Arc. Ibrahim Audu ( FGC Enugu), Builder Halawe Hodaram Tanzamado (FGC Enugu), Pharm Babangida Tukur (FGC Maiduguri), Late Dr. Kevin Uchenabo (FGC Maiduguri), Ahmed Oseni (FGC Kano), Dauda N Iliya (FGC Warri), Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru (Queens College & FGC Warri (HSC)), Nicholas Okoye (FGC Okigwe), Odion Omonfomon (FGC Warri), Ini Akpabio (FGC Kaduna), Macaulay Atasie (FGC Okigwe), formally founded “The Pro Unitate Forum”, as the clear challenge that was being faced was established at the meeting, and the group needed to act fast.
The Forum was subsequently adopted as the umbrella body of the Old Students of all Federal Government Colleges or Unity Schools. However, when it became necessary to incorporate the association, the name was not acceptable to the Corporate Affairs Commission. Hence, the present name “The Incorporated Trustees of Unity Schools Old Students Association – Pro Unitate”, which was eventually incorporated in April 2007. Consequently, this association is known as “Unity Schools Old Students Association”, USOSA.
The objectives of the association include, among others;
To rekindle the vision of the founding fathers of this nation who came up with the concept of Unity Schools as centers of academic excellence, national integration, leadership, capacity building and national unity.
To influence policy changes that would positively affect the admission, funding and administration of the Unity Schools.
To attract policy makers from both the public and private sectors to review in general, Secondary School Education in Nigeria and proffer strategies that would enhance the growth and development of secondary school education as a foundation for sound academic, moral education and national economic development.
To foster private sector participation in the funding of Unity Schools.
To engage Government at all levels and the private sector in constructive, positive advocacy, actions and initiatives geared towards revamping educational standards across our public schools.
To provide a platform for promoting and advising on the unity of the Nigerian Nation.
THE CONCEPT & ORIGIN OF UNITY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA
Shortly after independence in 1960, the then Federal Government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa realized that most of the problems in Government and Parliament were due to mistrust and ignorance of the backgrounds among the people governing the new Nation. The political crisis that erupted in the Western Region after the 1964 elections further strengthened the government’s perception.
Thus, in 1966, the Federal Government decided to establish what was then known as “Inter Regional Secondary Schools” and later called Federal Government Colleges in the old three (3) regions of East, North and West. The Schools were sited in Okposi for the East, Sokoto for the North and Warri for the West. At inception, each school was equipped to prepare the students for both the WASC and thereafter, the HSC examinations for those who qualify to undertake the two (2) year programme.
The purpose of creating these Institutions was threefold:
To bring together young boys and girls from all regions of the country, irrespective of their social or economic background to learn, play, work and live under one roof in order to remove the virtual mysteries surrounding the evolution of the people who made up the regional citizenry, thereby creating a homogeneous family devoid of rancor, suspicion or distrust.
To create centers of academic excellence providing a reliable source of well grounded all round citizens to form the reliable assemblage needed to jumpstart the capacity building effort of the new republic and ensure positive growth and development.
To breed detribalized citizens needed for the good management of resources at all levels of governance of the Nation.
The success of these first generation Federal Government Colleges both in terms of National integration and academic excellence was so impressive that in 1970 when the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, (GCFR), visited Federal Government College, Sokoto, he made a pronouncement on the need to replicate these Unity Schools in other States of the Federation. Another justification for this was hinged on the split of the initial three (3) regions to a twelve (12) state structure in 1967. By 1973, nine (9) second generation Federal Government Colleges were opened. This is how the proliferation of these schools started and today, there are 102 of such schools in Nigeria. When Kings College and Queens College, (both in Lagos) are added, it brings the number of Colleges solely funded by the Federal Government to 104.
The Association is funded by subscriptions from members as well as donations and subventions from members and well-meaning Nigerians.
