CMS Grammar School alumni in Lagos are targeting ₦50 million to improve information and communication technology learning at their alma mater, using their 50th anniversary reunion to invest in the next generation of students.
The 1976/81 set of the Old Grammarians Society (OGS) plans to raise the money to equip and sponsor a classroom in the Tola Adebonojo ICT Building. The drive forms part of its anniversary activities running from October 8 to 11, according to a report by Punch.
For the former students, the contribution is intended to go beyond a celebration of their shared past. It is an effort to help current learners gain the digital knowledge that is increasingly important in education, work and business.
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Alumni Set ₦50 Million Target for ICT Learning
Kayode Olu-Martins, chairman of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations Planning Committee, said the set’s legacy project would support ICT education and strengthen the school’s ability to prepare students for the future. The class intends to sponsor a classroom within the Tola Adebonojo ICT Building, an initiative of OGS Americas.
The proposed ₦50 million fundraising goal places digital learning at the centre of the anniversary. Rather than limit the reunion to a meeting of old classmates, the alumni are directing part of the occasion towards a facility that can be used by students who were not yet born when members of the set entered the school.
The building honours Professor Tola Adebonojo, Grand Patron of the Old Grammarians Society in the Americas and the United Kingdom and Europe. The sponsorship plan is part of a wider effort by alumni to provide the school with facilities suited to technology-based learning.
For students, a properly equipped ICT classroom can provide practical exposure to computers and digital resources, helping make lessons more relevant to a world where technology is part of many professions.
Anniversary Programme Combines Reunion and School Support
The celebrations began on Thursday, October 8, with a meet-and-greet reception. Members are scheduled to visit the school at noon on Friday, October 9, bringing the anniversary back to the place where their shared experience began.
The programme continues on Saturday, October 10, with a sightseeing and relaxation trip to Abeokuta. It will conclude on Sunday, October 11, with a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, followed by a celebratory luncheon and fundraising event. Retired Supreme Court Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour is expected to chair the luncheon, according to Punch’s report.
Olu-Martins said the anniversary was an opportunity to honour the school’s role in members’ lives while extending its benefits to younger generations.
Back Story: CMS Grammar School’s Long Educational Legacy
CMS Grammar School was founded in Lagos in 1859 and is widely recognised as Nigeria’s first secondary school. The institution has continued to draw support from former students through the Old Grammarians Society, whose projects have included fundraising and improvements to school facilities.
In June 2025, Punch reported that alumni had laid the foundation for a wider ICT centre estimated at $2.5 million. Supporters said the centre was intended to prepare learners for technology-related fields, including machine learning, robotics and drone engineering. The ₦50 million target announced by the 1976/81 set is a separate classroom sponsorship drive connected to the Tola Adebonojo ICT Building.
Digital Skills Are Central to the Project’s Purpose
The fundraising effort comes as digital competence becomes increasingly relevant to how students learn, communicate, research and prepare for employment. Access to appropriate equipment can help learners develop practical skills and understand technology as a tool for solving problems.
The alumni have not described the ₦50 million target as a completed fundraising result, so the classroom sponsorship remains a goal they are working towards. The outcome will depend on the funds raised and implementation of the project.
The initiative highlights the role former students can play in education. Schools benefit when alumni turn gratitude into practical support, particularly where improvements can help teachers deliver lessons and give learners greater exposure to digital tools.
As the 1976/81 set marks five decades since its admission, the classroom plan links remembrance with practical contribution. The group is celebrating its own journey while seeking to make the next generation’s learning experience better equipped for a technology-driven future.
