By Simeon OSAJIE
The leadership and members of the Anglican Grammar School Igarra Old Boys Association (AGSIOBA) has raised the alarm over encroachment into the land of the school and called for Edo State government urgent intervention to recover the land and preserve it with perimeter fencing.
Engr. Titus Okuo, president of the Benin Branch of the association, stated this at the Association’s Pre-70th Anniversary Dinner held in Benin City, Edo State capital.
He lamented that the Association had written to the government about the dilapidated state of infrastructure in school since December 3rd 2025 without no response yet.
Okuo said the school has produced prominent Nigerians adding that the legacies of the school must not be allowed to die.
According to him, “In the early 1970s, the State Government took over all the missionary schools including our Alma Mater. Sadly the government allowed the school to deteriorate and it is now a shell of its old self.
“No adequate teaching staff, the boarding facilities were scrapped, land grabbers have encroached and developed on the school land and they continue to encroach as if there are no owners of the property.
“We appeal to the Governor, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo (Akpakomiza) to urgently reclaim the land and construct a perimeter fence around the school to stem the tide of encroachment.
“We will be calling on you all to come and celebrate with us for the 70th Anniversary and to join hands with us the old boys to rescue Anglican Grammar School, Igarra from going into extinction.”
Corroborating Okuo’ statement, an elder in the Association, Prince M. M. Ogedengbe said the school remained the second oldest Anglican Secondary School in the old Midwestern Region now Edo and Delta states.
In his remarks, the Secretary of the Association, Martins Agomini called on the government to properly implement and fund the current Universal Basic Education (UBE) which he said emphasized on the accuracy of age of school children.