Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The sum of N500 million has been earmarked by the Bauchi state government in the 2021 budget and is to be spent for the rebuilding of Government Secondary School, Bauchi popularly known as Garu, the Alma Mater of governor Bala Mohammed.
The governor who graduated in 1976 disclosed this at the joint 50th and 40th anniversary celebrations of the Garu Old Boys Association, GSS Bauchi 1970 and 1980 respectively and Public Lecture held at the Double Four International Conference Center on Saturday.
Though the Governor said that the Ministry of Education has expressed fear that successive administration may convert the edifice into a higher institution or even sell it out to the Federal Government, his administration is determined to embark on the project as a Model Science Secondary School meeting all the requirements of suchlike schools in the North East subregion or the county at large.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Projects, Arch Baba Mohammed Dadi, the Governor lamented that, “our former school was debased because the school had no vanguards to defend its continuous existence. Protecting this institution once rebuilt is now the role of all members of this Association to be led by our national body”.
“I will rebuild it and will leave you with the challenge of its continual survival till we pass on and the baton will be carried on by those that come after us”.
He said that the debasing of his Alma Mater by past administrations in the state was a source of concern to many assuring that “this worry will soon be a thing of the past.”
He said that when he mentioned in March, his plans to rebuild the school, his classmates from the school who are now professionals in the building industry, offered to produce the preliminary designs and made presentation to him.
The governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Projects, Arc. Baba Dadi: “What I saw was a marvelous edifice befitting of a school all of us will be proud to be associated with. Discussions are now on between these professionals and the staff of the State Ministry for possible of Education for possible inputs by the Educationist.
“It is my resolve to rebuild our Alma Mater under this administration by the grace of God. The sum of N500 million has been included in the 2021 budget in order for the school project to commence immediately the budget is passed by the State House of Assembly and signed into law.
“A piece of land of 20 hecteres has been identified in Miri district for this project.
“Concerns coming from the Education Ministry are that if this is built and designed, the next succesive administration will convert it to a higher institution or even sell it to the federal government because of its beautiful setting and facilities.
Mohammed added that: “Our former school was debased because the school had no vanguards to defend its continuous existence. Protecting this institution once rebuilt is now the role of all members of the association to be led by the national body.
“I’ll rebuild it and leave you with the challenge of its continual survival till we pass on and the baton will be carried on by those that come after us,” he added.
The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Gambo Magaji in his speech, called on the government and private sector to invest in education because according to him quality education is the best inheritance a child should be left with.
Magaji, one time Secretary to the Military Government of the defunct Bauchi State, challenged members of the Garu Old Boys Association to ensure that they embark on programmes that will enable them give back to their alma mater.
In a welcome address, the Interim National Chairman of the Association, Mohammed Kari, called on all sets of the school to organise and affiliate with it, for the bond of comradeship will always be stronger at the set levels.
He said that the Association will in due course, organise a grand convention, at which elections will be held to all the offices in the Constitution and hopefully, see to the launching of an endowment fund that can support the Institution.
Kari said: “For an institution established as far back as 1915, we can in someway be proud of keeping the flag flying but in so many ways be sad for the lack of the womb that has nurtured these great personalities.
“Our institution has virtually been wiped off the face of the earth but for some few relics that still exist. It has been the prayers and dreams of all to again have a home we can call our own.
“The efforts and struggles of past members in the systems who had fought to keep the institution alive must be acknowledged and celebrated. It is their resilience that has brought the members together as a group, where we are today.
“As we celebrates this anniversaries, we have a member of Garu Old Boys Association in the helm of affairs that we believe, with God’s help, will take as to the promised land.
“He is a member that has provided selfless service to his set and was an active mover to the formation of the National body, the Garu Old Boys Association. This member had been conferred with the title of the “pillar” of his set and the Grand Patron of the Association. I am talking of non other than His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State.”
The Interim Chairman added that: “We have dreamt our dreams and have prayed our prayers to God for the realisation of our one desire, the rebuilding of our great institution of past glory. Your Excellency, we have read snippets of stories associated to you and the Institution and we hope today we shall hear the full story from your mouth”.
“The case of our institution has shown that the political bureaucracy is not a respecter of historical establishments, it is always a concern that if re-established, our institution can be debased again and again.
“Your Excellency, the Garu Old Boys Association and its members has promised to do everything humanly possible to protect such institution if re-established, until the end time, God’s Willing.”