Madam Roseline Ololo, 91,
has given the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, a seven-day ultimatum
to ensure the return of Metropolitan College and Isolo Secondary School to her,
failing which she will permanently occupy, the governor’s office.
In a statement by her
counsel, Malcolm Omirhobo, Madam Ololo and her late husband, Chief Michael
Ololo, had through their company, Akaix West Africa Limited, established
Metropolitan College in 1955 with the first batch of 19 students in Surulere
area of Lagos.
In 1976, through the
Education (Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions) Law, the Military
Government of Lagos State took over 48 Private Secondary Schools from their
owners, including Metropolitan College. In the process, Isolo Secondary School
was carved out of Metropolitan College on the same expanse of land hosting the
college.
However, in 2001, the
administration of Bola Tinubu repealed the law and returned the said 48 private
schools to their owners, but Metropolitan College was curiously not returned, a
development that brought about a law suit.
The government, however,
indicated willingness to amicable settle the dispute, a development which led
to the matter being referred to the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, LMDC, for
arbitration.
At the arbital sitting,
another trouble started due to insistence of the Lagos State Ministry of
Education to retain the Isolo Secondary School.
Akaix West Africa had
contended that the retention of part of the school was against government’s
restructuring of the educational system of divesting and allowing the private
sector to invest in the educational system so as to provide the conditions in
which students can learn to the highest standard and prepare themselves to meet
their future needs.
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