"The government will play its own role; even in those days when things were good, it was government that would pay teachers and do some other things.

"But now it appears that what the government was doing in the past had diminished greatly," he said.

Ogundeji, a former student of Igbaja Teachers College, however, gave an assurance that proprietors of mission schools would continue to work hard to restore the lost glory of such institutions.

The Chairman of the anniversary committee, Mr Olaitan Makanjuola, said the development fund would be used for "the reclamation of the school's deteriorating and dilapidating infrastructure and facilities."

He also said a book, "A Worthy Heritage-The Story of SIM Igbaja Teachers' College," would be launched as part of activities marking the anniversary.(NAN)