St. Finbarr’s College Class of ’85 Marks 40 Years After School

The St. Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association, Class of 1985 (SFCOBA ’85), has planned to reunite after 40 years of leaving the school to build a future for themselves.

The reunion celebration scheduled to be held on Saturday, 13 December 2025, at the school premises, will mark forty years of friendship, growth, development, and service of yesterday’s school boys to today’s credible men.

For the Class of ’85, the reunion is not only a milestone, but a reflection on the journey from the school classrooms of the mid-1980s to the diverse professional fields their members and classmates now walk – from medical practitioner, legal practitioners, engineers, educators, journalists, to business leaders and public servants.

According to a release by Gracious Akintayo, the PRO of the SFCOBA 1985 set, the Chairman, anniversary planning committee, Kayode Adesiyan said, “We’ve come a long way, while some of our classmates have sadly passed on, many are thriving in different fields of endeavours. This anniversary is therefore both a reunion and a remembrance”.

Adesiyan further said, the celebration will relive the vibrant memories of Akoka in the mid-80s, when St. Finbarr’s College, a.k.a Akoka Conquerors) was the must be at school during the principal cup football competition among secondary schools in Lagos state, when transistor radios played Sonny Okosun, Onyeka Onwenu, and Fela, with the Literary and Debating Society helped shape confident young minds. The inter-house sports competitions between Fitzgerald, Clarke, O’Rourke, and Slattery Houses – were a highlight of school life, as well as the friendly connections with Our Lady of Apostles Girls’ Secondary School, Yaba (a.k.a OLA), during joint cultural events.

Many alumni still fondly recalled their long-serving principal, late Mr. Anthony Kpotie, who personally taught Biology and inspired discipline and excellence in the lives of the students. Among the unforgettable teachers in the school was Bembela, a tall and playful teacher known for his sense of humour – and his ever-present long cane.

The Class of ’85 will also pay tribute to the founder and first principal of the school, Rev. Father Dennis Slattery, an Irish missionary who founded St. Finbarr’s College and in his lifetime, instilled an enduring values of faith, discipline, and hard work – a significant traits of those who passed through the school.

Over the years, SFCOBA’ 85 has supported numerous initiatives to ensure the school’s facilities do not deteriorate beyond repair. Members have contributed to the resurfacing of the basketball court and the ongoing maintenance of school infrastructure. As part of the 40th anniversary, the group will donate educational furniture to improve classroom comfort and also visit a charity home as part of their community outreach.

“We want current students to see that being a Finbarr’s boy means carrying a lifelong responsibility to give back,” Wale Akinolu, the set president added.

Four decades on, the Class of ’85 remains as close as ever through a vibrant WhatsApp group, where members share fond memories, laughter, ideas, and plans. It serves as a digital extension of the camaraderie first built in those classrooms and corridors of the school building in the ’80s.

The St. Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association, Class of 1985 (SFCOB85), is a group of alumni dedicated to preserving the legacy of St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka. The association promotes fellowship, supports educational initiatives, and contributes to community developments in honour of the school’s founding values.

Among the expected dignitaries at the reunion celebration are the SFCOBA National President, Mr Patrick Doyle, the school administrator, Father Babalola, and some distinguished conquerors.