Tiddo yo Daddo Press Conference on Centenary Celebration

 

Tiddo Yo DADDO National Alumni Association, General Murtala Muhammad College Yola.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF GMMC YOLA BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADHOC COMMITTEE. 

Preamble.

The Adhoc Committee of the Tiddo Yo Daddo, TYD,  National Alumni Association of the great school, General Murtala Muhammad College Yola, was inaugurated  by the Congress on the 16th of November 2019, barely a year ago. The National Congress of the Alumni Association, the general body made up of all the old students from the 1920 to the most recent, 2019 sets, who are alive, were summoned to a meeting at the College by the Principal then, Adamu Bello, who earlier along with other concerned alumni members realized that the college would be 100 years old, just the next year 2020.

While in other climes such the case of FGC Sokoto celebrating 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee. Preparations for it started in 2005, clear ten years tithe Golden jubilee. But six months to 100 years celebration of GMMC Yola, no news was herd about it. Not many knew the existence of the National Exco of the TYD Alumni Association of GMMC Yola. With the impending celebration six months to the year 2020. My trigger article in the Daily Trust paper of 5th August 2019 elucidated barrage of responses. The Principal of GMMC then, Malam Adamu Bello and his staff made spirited efforts to bring the old students association aboard the idea of celebrating the centenary of the College. He came to my house and we recommended the summoning of the Congress of the TYD to a meeting in the college on the 16th of November 2019 for parley on the celebration. ,The attendance of the meeting was scanty, with about 14 or 15 sets of the nearly 80 active sets. However, considering the closeness of the centeny year 2020, less than six months, the Congress members in attendance decided to set up the Adhoc Committee with specific blanket mandates; to prepare, sensitize, mobilize and organize the centenary celebration of the  Great College's Centenary in the year 2020, in lieu of the unnoticed, comatosed National Exco, whose leadership was then not known. The Congress insisted on having  an Adhoc Committee to initiate and midwife the Centenary Celebration of GMMC Yola in face of the limited time. Thus the committee came into existence when the National Exco did  not appear six months to the centenary celebrations year, 2020. So the Adhoc Committee derived legimacy and powers from the TYD National Association that form the National Exco through elections.

The centenary celebrations year of the great school is Special to all the alumni of the school Alive. It is once in a lifetime event that no member alive would want to miss, 

The impact of the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic is global and the pandemic is still resurging to further confirm its pervasive impact in changing aspects of human life styles. Nigeria was and is affected by the first wave and now the second phase. TYD Alumni Association's preparations and plans were rudely affected at every step of the Adhoc LOC to realize the final phase of the celebration in 2020.

Brief History.

General Murtala Muhammad College was established in 1920 as Elementary School in the then Provincial headquarters, Yola, with a simple curriculum of giving Western education to the children of the traditional rulers and their associates, even with attendant hesitations. The colonials had different ideas. The curriculum of the School was upgraded and the school status too was changed and named the Middle School Yola, admitting broader spectrum of students. At the approach of Nigera's independence, the curriculum was further enriched with the introduction of pure sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, further maths, the arts, languages and technical subjects; metal work, woodwork and technical drawing. Thus, effectively, transforming the Middle School into full secondary grammar school with the name Provincial Secondary School, PSS Yola in 1955 with the first intake of students across the old Adamawa Province; Numan and Muri Divisions,  the Trust Territories divisions of Mubi, Jada (Ganye) and Mambila. After the abrogation of the Provinces by the Aguyi Ironsi regime in 1966, all the Provincial Secondary Schools in the country then, were renamed Government Secondary Schools. Thus PSS Yola became GSS Yola. The school assumed the present nomenclature, General Murtala Muhammad College Yola in 1976 when the then military Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammad was slain in a brutal military coup on Friday morning in a traffic jam along Ikoyi Road junction in Lagos, 1976.

The College has produced Nigera's greats right from the products of its 1920 intake such as the great iconic Muhammad Ribadu, frontline politician, first minister of defence, the architect of the Nigera Airforce and Nigera Navy, Mormonni Bazza, top Administrator before and early independence, Professor Iya Abubakar, erudite mathematician, second indigenous Vice Chancellor of the iconic Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Ahmad Joda, Top Administrator, Super Permanent Secretary, Professor Jibrin Aminu, former VC University of Maiduguri, former Minister of Education/Petroleum Resources, Bamnga Tukur, former Governor Gongola State, Top Politician, Business Mogul, Gambo Jimeta, Top Cop, former Inspector General of Police, Air Marshall Ibrahim Alfa, first Chief of Air Staff, A Marshall of the Nigeria Airforce, Air Marshall Natiti, a Marshall of the Nigeria Airforce, Professor Peter Lassa, too Educationist, Professor Sa'adu Abubakar, an erudite historian, Air Commodore Dan Sulaima, former Military Governor Benue Plateau State, Abubakar Barde, former Governor Gongola State, General PC Tarfa, former Military Governor old Oyo State, Dr Mahmoud Tukur, first ASSU President, Professor Kharisu Chukkol, erudite professor of Law, member Nigeria Law Reform Commission, Major Gen. Aliyu Kama, former Governor Plateau State, Timaus Mathias, top Journalist, Abubakar Jijjiwa, top Journalist and hundreds of other high profile alumni members spread across various fields too numerous to mention by names across Nigera.

With this history and array of distinguished products of the College, the Adhoc Committee made of perceived and actually committed alumni cutting across wide spectrum, 1964 to 2000 set, bringing together the old and the young generations of the old student members in a jolly mix, decided in its meetings the most befitting celebrations for the grand iconic school. The Committee first toured round the school and was appalled at the state of dilapidation and rot the school was reduced to. Parents and visitors including alumni members commented severally on the poor state of maitainance of the boarding school. The Adhoc Committee decided, after thorough examination of the school infrastructure, that it would not be proper to celebrate the visible rot, dilapidation and glaring inadequacies observed in the school. The celebrations should reflect the mood century celebration and the status of the school in the state and indeed the country. High profile invitees are expected during the centenary celebrations. The committee decided to have a two phased celebration; phase one, for short listing, slotting into lots for alumni sets and philanthropists to pick lots for repairs, renovations and supplies in order to upgrade the school facilities and infrastructure beyond the centenary celebrations. Phase two , the merry making, physical contact partying phase, where dignitaries would be invited, speeches and feasting would feature.

In reality, the phase one, which is considered very important aspect of the celebration has been a huge success where the committee slotted over 130 lots estimated about N700,000,000:00 naira of which many intervention projects have been picked by year sets and individuals, completed and handed over to the school which has  put them to use successfully. For the Adhoc Committee turned to the Local Organizing Committee, LOC, the centenary celebration's most important aspect had began and may continue even after the grand party aspects in phase two.

It is worthy to note that in crafting the phase one lots, there are the renovations/repairs and supply part which demand immediate interventions. There is also the Special Needs list which includes ventures and long term needs of the school community. These are the Modern School Gate, School Auditorium, Staff Primary School, Commercialization of the School Fence, School Shop, School Mini Stadium, etc. Here too, projects estimated over a billion  and some of them worth over a hundred million naira have been picked and work started; contract for four classroom blocks plus furniture has been awarded for the staff school at over N70,000,000:00 naira by UBE for the celebration. The school gate has been picked by 1989 set for the design and construction. The drawing was submitted to Adhoc Committee which was approved and work may start anytime soon. Modern Public Toilet block  has been completed in the school by an alumnus as his contributions to the centenary celebrations projects.

The Adhoc Committee, before the Lockdowns to prevent the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, had undertaken several preparations, sensitizations, mobilizations and collaboration efforts by opening some social media platforms and deepening/collaborating with other platforms. About four TYD Platforms are very active before the covid19 pandemic struck in March 2020. 

Adhoc Committee visited media houses in Yola seeking collaboration. They are the Gotel Communications, FM Fombina Radio, Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation, ABC and Tbbital Pulaku Radio. All of them were happy receiving the Committee and they all promised to collaborate and assist when requested to assist.

The Committee also visited high profile alumni members to sensitize, seek collaboration, corporation and assistance. His Excellency former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa who was not happy with the performance of TYD Exco that was comatose but promised to assist when the time comes.

The Hon. Commissioner of Education was also visited and was intimated on preparations for the centenary celebrations. The Ministry being the proprietor of the great school is a major stakeholder whose roles in the celebrations will be crucial.

In similar veins, Gen. PC Tarfa, Chairman North East Development Commission, Alh. Muhammad Mubi, former Principal of the College and Chairman of Board of Trustees of the current TYD Exco, Alh. Musa Bello, current Treasurer of the TYD Exco, Alh. Saidu Audu, current PRO of the TYD Exco. Alh. Abubakar Hamid Girei, former teacher and top administrator.

Some Corporate Organizations were contacted with same mission; Dangote Group, the BUA group etc were contacted.

The highly mobilized and  hyped Congress meeting of April 11th 2020 was trunkated by the lockdown in March. After smarting from the nearly six months lockdown in July/August with renewed vigor and plans, the EndSARS Protests rattled the nation and stopped our attempt to have Congress endorsements on some crucial issues. Not long after EndSARS Protests the Palliative Looting Spree descended heavily on Adamawa and Taraba States where Adhoc Committee scheduled courtesy visit on His Excellency, Ahmad Umaru Fintri, Governor Adamawa State was canceled on Tuesday of Looting Spree. Over hundreds of high profile alumni members representing elders, Royal Highnesses, professors, government appointmentees, young and old alumni, Principal and staff of the College all lined up for the this visit were disappointed. New date is being arranged.

It is also worthy to note that upon all these efforts and steps taken, the Adhoc Committee has been operating on zero budget right from the day of inauguration to date. Except for the N300,000:00 and N100,000:00 cash donations by Yusuf Ribadu and 1965 set, the former VP Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa class set respectively, which came in handy, the Adhoc Committee has been using personal resources and grit determination to operate.

The Adhoc Committee now upgraded to the Local Organizing Committee LOC of the Centenary Celebration by the collaborating Exco members, who are active and abreast with trends, the TYD National Secretary General, Mr. Harold Mirchalum, the TYD National Treasurer, Alh. Musa Bello and TYD National PRO, Alh. Saidu Audu has reached the point where funds for the various events in the second phase of the celebration, the partying, merry making phase where we need to invite high profile Nigerians; the Head of State, President Muhammad Buhari, State Governors, Royal Highnesses from across the country, Special Guest of Honors, Guest Speakers, Cultural Groups, Artists, foreign invitees; former Principals and notable former teachers and all persons who have contributed one way or another to the growth and development of the College. Funds are required to make all these to happen. It is now that the Committee solicits funds to procure soveuniors, documents, monuments etc for gifts and display during the celebration week. The lined up if activities and programs during the grand finale week will involve state protocol interventions considering the caliber of the invitees. It is expected that experienced alumni members will bring their knowledge to bear during the final phase of the celebrations.

The immediate agenda of the LOC are the Fund Raising Events. Team of about six LOC members will move out to centers around Nigeria to seek consent of our high profile alumni members and philanthropists to agree to act as Chairman, chief Launchers, Guest of Honors, Speakers etc of the various events. The Fund Raising Events should be concluded early January 2021. It is the hope and prayers of Adhoc LOC that our great alumni members will come up with renewed enthusiasm and participate in all areas called upon to do so and donate handsomely according to the endowment bestowed by the Almighty God.

The following projections of the funds informed the fundraising requirements.

1. Boarding House and Corporate Life interventions; Dormitory blocks, Toilets, Roofing/Ceiling, Dining Halls, Kitchen etc.

2. Curriculum Overview interventions; Classroom blocks, Laboratory blocks, Workshops, Home Economic, Geography, Library blocks etc

3. Co-curricular Interventions; 

a). Games and Sports: Football Fields, Hockey Pitches, Basketball, Volleyball, Athletic Fields, Indoor Games Facilities, Sports Equipment, Games Stores etc.

b). Clubs and Societies: FCS, MSS, Press Club, Photography, Man O War Bay, Leadership Training, HIV, Young Farmers etc.

The above interventions were slotted into 139? Lots. Total estimated cost of N700,000,000:00.

4. Special Needs/Provisions:

a.. Remodelled School Gate.

b.. Staff Primary School

c. Commercialization of School Fence 

d.  School Auditorium

e. School Mini Stadium

f. School Shop/Market

g. School Assembly Complex

h. etc.

The design of the School Auditorium was submitted. No cost estimate but Adhoc LOC estimated to cost about N300,000,000:00. The total estimated cost for the Special Needs/provision Projects is about N1,500,000,000:00. The Adhoc Committee is looking forward to to bringing on board Private Partnership to develop the Special Needs and Provisions where they are appropriate as an alternative. Most of the Special Provision Projects are going to continue beyond the centenary celebrations.Continuing Projects will be handed over to new incoming Exco of the Association Tobe elected after the occasion.

Grand total estimated Fundraisers is N2,500,000,000:00.

These are but estimates which are open to corrections/adjustments.

Thank you.

Sa'adu Abubakar

Chairman Adhoc LOC. TYD National Alumni Association of GMMC Yola. 08162135920, saadu5070@gmail.com,

29/12/2020. 8:06pm.