Eko Boy in Egbaland: Ven. Fafunwa Marks 70, Urges Return to Technical Education

Venerable Fafunwa is an alumnus of Egba Comprehensive High School, Abeokuta, where he later returned to serve as Principal. He remains one of the most respected elders of the institution, having contributed immensely to the development of his alma mater through his work as an executive of the Old Students’ Association, ECHSOSA. He is currently a member of the revered ECHSOSA Council of Elders (COE).

As Venerable Fafunwa turns 70, The Business Package engaged him in a heart-to-heart discussion. He made far-reaching statements, tracing his family background, educational journey, and his role as an old student, while also delving into the Nigerian education system. He emphasized the need to prioritize technical education and revive the nation’s fading reading culture. 

Dr. Waheed Ogunjobi engaged him. 

Q:Let's peep into your life journey and  turning 70?

A: I  was born on Tuesday, 24th April, 1956, at the then Rural Maternity, now Primary Health Centre, in ilaro, Ogun State.  Both parents were teachers. I spent more time with my grandparents as a child, and this shaped my worldview — my grandpa was of the Holy Order.

Q: Take us through your educational journey.

A :  I attended several primary schools because my parents were frequently transferred across states. I tagged along with my siblings, but I finally completed my primary school at Ogbe Methodist Primary School, Abeokuta, in 1968. It’s a school the likes of  Chief Obafemi Awolowo once attended — and many other great Nigerians.

For secondary school, it was Egba Comprehensive High School, Asero, Abeokuta. At the time my set was admitted, it was named Egba High School with (Comprehensive) in brackets. I enjoyed technical education there, and that technical background later gave me better side hustles. One subject I offered was Geometrical and Mechanical Drawing, and I thank God I passed it well.

That qualification helped me get employed by the defunct Egba Area Planning Authority. The Authority sent me to the Town Planning Training School in Ibadan for a one-year course. Afterward, I returned to Abeokuta and was posted as Building and Site Inspector to Otta, overseeing Iju-Ajuwon, Ifo, up to Ewekoro.

Q: But you didn’t stop there. You went further in education…

A:  Yes. I had my eyes on furthering my education. I gained admission to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for A-Level courses in Mathematics, Geography, and Engineering Drawing, intending to study Architecture. I even paid the ₦57 fee for the whole year.

But my mother, a teacher, counseled me to pursue teaching. So I gained admission to the University of Lagos, which then offered NCE courses. I studied Mathematics and Geography. After completing the programme and NYSC, I returned to UNILAG for a two-year course to complete my degree.

With NCE in Mathematics and Geography and my background in Town Planning, I sat for an Ogun State examination in 1980, passed, and qualified to practice as an Architectural Draughtsman — preparing bungalows, storey buildings, and handling constructions as side hustles while teaching.

Q: You spent decades as an educator. Walk us through that.

A:  I started teaching at African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta in August 1980. I’ve taught in Ilaro, Otta, Agbele Community High School, Ejila Awori, Agbara, and several other places. I later became a Principal and was posted to my alma mater- Egba Comprehensive High School, in September 2010. I retired as Principal of the Senior School in December 2012.

But I wasn’t done. I went into full-time ministry with the African Church. After retiring from public service, the Church posted me again to head African Church Grammar School, (Private), where I served another six years as Principal before finally retiring.

Q: What was your childhood like?

A: Superb. I lived very close to Chief Toye Coker on Itori Road. Our house was 105 Itori Road; his was 109. Only Chief Okelana’s house was in between. We had a lot of discussions together — with people like Tokunbo Pearl, Gbolahan Pearl, and Tunde Coker who also attended Egba High School.

I met so many people in my youth: Dr. Femi Amusan, Gbolahan Aina among others. I wanted to be an architect — it fascinated me — but my mother encouraged teaching. I haven’t regretted it. It serves the community. Today, two of my children are teachers: one is a university lecturer, another has a Ph.D in an agricultural discipline and plans to join the university.

Q: What was it like being a Principal of your alma mater?

A: Exciting. When I got to ECHS, the school was inaccessible. Erosion had degraded the road. With my construction background, I restored the road. Discipline was another issue — there was no perimeter fence, so students left at will, and there was encroachment on school land.

The school was originally allotted 100 acres, stretching to where we now have Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Hospital. Some parts were ceded to the Egba Joint Action Committee. As Principal, I put many things in place. I still function in the school today — I teach remedial Mathematics to SS1 students on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7am to 8am. Sadly, many students don’t attend.

Q: You’ve been active in ECHSOSA. Tell us about that?

A: By 1984, we were trying to put the Old Students’ Association on stream. Akinyinka Ajasa was our first President. During Engineer Abubakar Abari’s time, he strove to strengthen ECHSOSA, coming from Lagos to inspire us. That led to Engineer Lanre Bisiriyu becoming President, unopposed after him. His tenure was short-lived due to his demise. His Vice, Chief Femi Popoola, stepped in, and we’ve moved steadily on  since  then.

I served as Secretary once. My posting took me to Agbara, and I had to travel through Atan-Otta and Sango-Otta to get to Abeokuta. Mr. Haroon Koleoso, who came after me, corrected some  lapses and built a high-performing secretariat.

Q: How would you assess the contributions of different sets to ECHS?

A:*Different sets are making contributions, especially the younger ones — many abroad — who are bringing in helpful support. One set provided the girls’ hostel, another the boys’ hostel, another a modern toilet facility and a borehole for the Junior School. I encourage all sets, especially younger ones, to keep striving for the best — that’s our motto.

Q: Looking back at 70, any regrets?

A: My specific regret is that none of my children attended Egba High School. We lived around Panseke, and due to distance, they preferred African Church Grammar School and Ijemo Titun High School. I’m looking forward to at least one grandchild attending ECHS and enjoying the boarding facilities. By God’s grace, that will be an event I’ll celebrate.

For Nigeria, parents must encourage their children to read. Reading culture is fading. We can’t do away with new media, but discovering knowledge by oneself is essential. When I read my grandfather’s handwritten notes from 1953 — before I was born — I realized reading gives joy, and we’re not exploring it enough.

At 70, I want to see Nigerians reading again. We lack reading centres and libraries. At my level, I donate books to ECHS to revive the school library. I’ll continue.

Q: Anything you wish had been done differently — for ECHS, yourself, or Nigeria?

A: Yes — we must prioritize *technical education, “do-it-yourself” skills, and psycho-motor development. Between 1948 and 1956, Benjamin Bloom and his associates developed Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. In Nigeria, we’ve over-emphasized the cognitive domain — pupils recall and enumerate, but the doing aspect is lacking.

That’s why we’re moving back and forth instead of having a unidirectional goal. Technical education is the way to go. The 1980 conference on education stressed that for Nigeria to become an egalitarian society, we must begin to produce things. We haven’t been producing.

Q: Final words — to current ECHS students, ECHSOSA, and Nigeria at 70?

A: To ECHS: We have enough land for agriculture and technical education. Compared to schools of its ilk, we’ve moved forward, especially with Old Students’ input. Since Engineer Abari’s regime, through Engineer Bisiriyu who inspired sets to give back, to Chief Femi Popoola consolidating today — we’ve seen laboratories furnished, facilities refurbished. But we can still do more.

God has been good to me. My grandmother and mother were from Abeokuta, my father’s side is from the Onikoyi Royal Family in Idumota, Lagos. But my nuclear family is settled in Abeokuta, and we’re enjoying it. So I remain an _Eko Boy in Egbaland_, and we remain so.