GCIOBA, ipNX install broadband for 2,250 students, staff

Government College Ibadan

The Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association has partnered with Nigerian ICT company, ipNX Nigeria Limited, to install campus-wide fibre infrastructure and wireless access equipment at the school.

The project enables no fewer than 2,250 students and staff members of Government College, Ibadan, to have access to high-quality broadband Internet access, thereby enhancing teaching and learning in the college.

According to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Monday, the project was highlighted during the 2026 GCIOBA Lagos Branch Annual Luncheon held recently.

The partnership, led by the GCIOBA North America branch, is being executed under ipNX’s wider corporate social responsibility strategy and will see the deployment of fibre backbone and wireless connectivity spanning 29 buildings within the college.

The statement read, “Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association and leading Nigerian ICT company, ipNX Nigeria Limited, have partnered to deliver a transformative campus-wide digital connectivity project for Government College Ibadan.

“The initiative delivers a robust campus-wide fibre backbone connecting 29 buildings and enterprise-grade wireless connectivity within each building.

“Serving more than 2,250 students and staff, the infrastructure establishes a resilient digital ecosystem that will support teaching, learning, research and efficient school administration while enabling the adoption of future-ready digital learning resources.”

The GCI installation is part of ipNX’s broader target to advance the quality of education in Nigeria by providing high-quality broadband Internet access to public secondary schools within its network coverage at no cost.

Speaking, President of the GCIOBA, Wale Babalakin, said the partnership was part of the Old Boys’ commitment to ensuring that students of the school were equipped to compete globally.

Babalakin said, “Government College Ibadan has always stood as a symbol of outstanding scholarship, professional competence and remarkable discipline.

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“Preserving that legacy requires us to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s world. As an association, we are committed to ensuring that every student who passes through these gates has access to the opportunities, tools and learning environment needed to compete globally.

“We found in ipNX a partner that shares this vision and possesses the proven expertise to help bring it to life. This collaboration is more than an infrastructure project; it is an investment in the future of our alma mater and the generations that will follow.”

Group Managing Director of ipNX Nigeria Limited, Ejovi Aror, stressed that digital infrastructure had become a necessity for education; hence, the project was a long-term investment in Nigeria’s future.

Aror said, “Digital infrastructure is no longer optional for education; it is foundational. Our partnership with GCIOBA reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that students have access to the connectivity and technology they need to learn, innovate and succeed in an increasingly digital world.

“This project goes beyond providing internet access; it creates an enabling environment for innovation, collaboration and improved learning outcomes.”

The GCIOBA Lagos chapter meeting also featured the conferment of Posthumous Merit Awards on GCI Ibadan Old Boys, including Late Dr Burian Carew of the 1955 set and Late Dr Blackie Aror of the 1946 set.

The duo were awarded in recognition of their contributions to shaping Nigeria’s technology and educational landscape.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Ejovi Aror expressed appreciation to the association for honouring the legacies of the two alumni.

He said, “These awards are a powerful reminder that true success is measured not only by personal achievement but by the lives we touch and the legacy we leave behind.

“Beyond the personal relations I shared with my father and Dr Burian Carew, who really was my first mentor at work, the two of them were exceptional men who demonstrated that excellence, integrity and service can shape industries, institutions, and generations.”