The story of Idia College in Benin City is one that blends history, resilience, and the determination of women who believe in the power of education. Last week, that story took another remarkable turn as members of the Idia College Old Girls Association (ICOGA), North America Chapter, returned to their alma mater with a gift that went beyond material items—it was a reaffirmation of identity, responsibility, and pride.
The association donated 2,500 branded school bags and 5,000 notebooks to current students of the college. For teachers, they added 100 laptop bags and board markers to ease classroom instruction. For many in the audience, the gifts may have looked like simple tools for learning. But for the alumni, it was a deeply symbolic act—an investment in the future of young women walking the same halls they once did.
Dr. Stella Igbinedion, President of ICOGA North America, who led the delegation, spoke with the passion of someone who had never lost touch with her roots. “We are who we are today because Idia College shaped us,” she said. “This is more than charity; it is duty. We owe this school, and we owe the next generation the support that will enable them to dream bigger and achieve more.”
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Idia College Students Inspired by Role Models
At the presentation ceremony, the excitement among students was palpable. Many clutched the new school bags tightly, not just because they were new and colourful, but because they felt the weight of representation. To them, the alumni standing before them in professional attire—doctors, engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs—were living proof of what Idia girls could become.
Dr. Igbinedion urged the students to wear their new school bags with pride. “Every time you carry this bag, let it remind you of who you are and the greatness you are capable of,” she told them.
Her words struck a chord. Several students, speaking afterwards, said the gesture gave them a renewed sense of purpose. “It is not just about the notebooks,” said Chidinma, a Senior Secondary School student. “It is about knowing that old girls are watching us, that they believe in us, and that one day we too can give back.”
Endorsement from Government and School Leadership
Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, represented by Mrs. Mercy Isibor, praised the initiative as a timely intervention that captured the spirit of education. “This is the best kind of gift,” he remarked. “Not just because it puts materials in the hands of students, but because it inspires confidence and sets an example worth emulating.”
He called on the students to work harder in their studies, reminding them that education remained the surest path to a better future. “When you see your alumni giving back at this scale, it means you too must prepare to give your best,” he said.
The principal of Idia College, Mrs. Joan Ehimwenma Dimuna, was visibly moved. She highlighted that this was not the first time the alumni had come through for the school. From previous infrastructural upgrades to scholarship support, the old girls had consistently intervened. “Each time ICOGA visits, they leave behind a legacy,” Mrs. Dimuna said. “Our school is better today because of their generosity, and our girls are more motivated because they see role models who once sat in these same classrooms.”
Beyond Donations: A Call for a Culture of Giving
What makes this donation stand out is not just the size of the items given but the deliberate effort to build a culture of giving back. In many Nigerian schools, especially government-owned ones, alumni associations remain the lifeline that bridges funding gaps. With government resources stretched thin, it is often old students who rally to provide chairs, renovate classrooms, or offer scholarships.
The gesture from Idia College Old Girls highlights the transformative power of alumni networks when properly mobilised. It also reflects a global culture of institutional loyalty that Nigeria is gradually embracing. In developed countries, endowments from alumni sustain some of the best universities and colleges. The hope is that, with consistent examples like ICOGA’s, Nigerian schools will enjoy a similar tradition of alumni-driven development.
The 2025 project by ICOGA North America is a reminder that when people remember where they come from, they can help shape where others are going. And in a country where public schools are often dismissed as “broken,” these interventions can be the difference between despair and hope.
Conclusion
The donation of 2,500 school bags and 5,000 notebooks to Idia College is more than a news headline. It is a lesson in gratitude, responsibility, and vision. It shows that giving back is not an act reserved for the wealthy; it is a culture that must be nurtured.
For the students of Idia College, the gifts are a daily reminder that they are not forgotten. For the alumni, it is proof that their legacy lives on in every new girl who walks through the gates of their beloved school. And for society at large, it is a model worth replicating.
The focus now should be on building partnerships that ensure such acts are not one-off ceremonies but sustainable traditions. If every alumni association followed this path, Nigerian public education would not just survive—it would thrive.
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