Phase two of the 100 Years Celebration of General Murtala Muhammad College, Yola.

ATTENTION:

PHASE TWO OF THE 100 YEARS CELEBRATION.

The Phase two of the centenary celebration of the iconic school, (for the benefit of the elder alumni), the former Elementary School,  the Middle School, the Provincial Secondary School, PSS Yola, then the Government Secondary School, GSS Yola and now General Murtala Muhammad College, GMMC Yola, which will be the crowning series of activities to mark the 100 years of the great school, is scheduled to be held in the last week of December, 2021. The Congress fixed the December period by voting during the general meeting held in the college in mid 2021. That decision cancelled AD-HOC suggestions for an earlier date for the celebration.

Image 1. Billboard design for TYD @ 💯

INTRODUCTION

1. Adhoc Committee was created on the 16th November, 2019 by the Congress in lieu of the TYD National body that was not traced two months to the Centenary year 2020. Adhoc Committee was mandated amongst other things to prepare for the Centenary Celebration of the school coming up in the year 2020.

2. Adhoc Committee first, inspected the school and concluded that no meaningful celebration could take place when the school was in squalor, total ruins, unacceptable level of decay in its corporate and administrative life. Celebrant would be appalled and be ashamed to merry while what is celebrated is gusping for survival. So Adhoc Committee sought collaboration, cooperation and support from the range of stakeholders including the school authorities and the comatose TYD Exco. The then Principal, Mr Adamu Bello, now retired, took Adhoc Committee members round the school on inspection tours of Boarding House and Corporate life facilities. Then curriculum and Co-curricular facilities were inspected. Special needs areas were similarly inspected. In all, shortlist of areas of dilapidation, rot and inadequacies were recorded

3. Meanwhile, the then Principal, Mr Adamu Bello, from records in the school, revealed the current Exco and BoT membership:

a. The TYD National Executive Committee, Exco, elected in 2007, whose four-year tenure ended 2011 did not hold any elections for another regime till date, ten years after its tenure elapsed. Understandably, the elected President of the Association, who was also elected the Governor of Adamawa State in 2007, His Excellency Vice Admiral Murtala H. Nyako, did alot of facelifting work of general renovations of corporate and curriculum infrastructures of GMMC Yola along with those of some schools in the state. After leaving office as Governor he relocated away from Yola. Several members of his TYD  Exco passed away; Aliyu Iya Jada, Bapetel and recently, Saidu Audu Gemu and Justice Adamu Aliyu. Others could not be traced while many became too weak and could not reach out nor could they be reached.

b. The Adhoc Committee sought to parley with the identified and traceable members of the comatosed Exco through the efforts of Mr Adamu Bello, the then Principal. Though Mr Adamu Bello is not an alumni but his efforts paid off and he brought Adhoc Committee, TYD Exco and BoT members in a parley. Those who attended the meeting were:

i. Secretary General of TYD, Mr. Harold Mirchalam.

ii. BoT Member, Mr Saidu Babikkoi

iii. BoT Member, representative of HRH Mr JJ Fwa, the Murumbula.(late)

iv. BoT Member, Alhaji Sa'adu Maliki, 

v.. BoT Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Mubi.

vi Treasurer, TYD Alhaji Musa Bello.

vii. TYD PRO, Saidu Audu Gemu (late).

viii. All the Adhoc Committee members present.

4. With the understanding, collaboration and support promised by Exco and the BoT, the Adhoc Committee went ahead, to reactivate TYD domant bank account with great input from Mr Harold Mirchalam, TYD Secretary General, who was added as a new signatory, Alhaji Musa Bello, TYD Teasurer, a signatory to the dormant TYD account and Alhaji Saidu Audu Gemu (late), TYD PRO, also a signatory to the account. It was painstakingly done, the account was reactivated to ensure Adhoc Committee is on right course.

5.Adhoc Committee, listed about 139 areas requiring interventions on the facility tour inspection list. These were painstakingly crafted into the Needs Assessment Charts which was slotted into lots of moderate cost for alumni association members to pick for repairs, renovations and supplies. The estimated cost was N700,000,000:00 for corporate and curriculum areas (refer to the Needs Assessment Charts). For Special Needs, a moderate estimate of between N1.2 billion to N1.5 billion was made on the projects, some are long term, long after the Centenary Celebrations. 

6. The Adhoc Committee was upgraded to Local Organising Committee, LOC in preparations for the final phase of the celebration which was initially schedule for April 2020 was cancelled when the covid-19 pandemic has swept through the world and the nations were locked down in March 2020, the centenary celebration year. It was obvious that we could not have the phase two celebration of get together in the centenary celebration year 2020.

Image 2. The Adhoc LOC during a press conference.

7. Through contacts Adhoc Committee made to media houses, Distinguished alumni members and with visible interests and enthusiasm of the old boys of the great school, pace setter members, classmates or individuals like Prof Bashir Aliyu's set of 85 on Adamawa House renovations, Ismaila Abubakar Alhassan singular renovations in Wazirawa House thus setting the pace that set the ball rolling for many volunteers to compete in renovations particularly the corporate and curriculum sectors, mainly the dormitories, overhead tanks and boreholes and recently classrooms. By the end of the first lockdown, it was realised that the facelifting efforts was a long way to be completed. So Adhoc jettison its own proposal for Celebration in the year 2020 and called on the Congress meeting to fix celebration time. Congress eventually voted for December 2021, making it the final date.

8. The Adhoc Committee LOC, made up of the old and the young alumni association members is a mix of so many colors, retired, serving and privately engaged individuals, active and partisan politicians to non partisan folks including professors from Universities. I am greatly honored to be selected to be the chairman of such an important Committee. The members of the Adhoc LOC are:

i. The Chairman, Sa'adu Abubakar Retired Deputy Director Federal Ministry of Education.

ii.The Vice Chairman, Ahmed Abbo former Commissoner in Adamawa State government

iii. The Secretary, Prof. Bashir Aliyu, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor M. A. U. Yola.

iv. Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf Basarki, retired ES, PPSMB, Yola. Chairman Technical subcommittee.

v. Alhaji Babalau Hassan, former Commissoner Adamawa State Government. Chairman Contact/Mobilization subcommittee.

vi. Prof Anthony Augustine of the Modibbo Adama University Yola. Member

vii. Dr. Abubakar Sambo of Kashere Federal Chairman History/Heritage & Monument subcommittee.

viii. Alhaji Salihu Baba Ahmad, reputable journalist. Chairman Media/Publicity subcommittee.

ix. Abubakar Abbas, the Principal Senior Secondary section.

x. Mr Geoffrey Garba, Retired Perm Sec. Chairman Finance subcommittee.

xi. Yushau Elgawi, member Media & Publicity subcommittee

xii. Ismaila Gambo. Member of Finance subcommittee

xiii. Akila Ubah, Maintenance Officer/member Technical subcommittee

xiv. Mr. Efada Udoh, Member HHM subcommittee

xv. Auwal Ahmed, Co-opted member

xvi. Halilu Isah, Co-opted member

xvii. Chairman Games and Sports subcommittee

xviii. Others

The tolerance, respect and cooperation I receive from the Adhoc LOC team is wonderful, we have been together for the last two years achieving most of our major decisions. I am ever very thankful and grateful to the Almighty Allah for cooperation and support I get from the Adhoc LOC members.

9. Adhoc LOC activities in the interim are mainly::

i. Creation of several platforms to contact alumni members

ii. Visits to media houses in Yola seeking their cooperations and support. Gotel Communication Fombina FM Radio, ABC Yola, Tabbital Pullaku Radio Yola and The Scope Newspapers we're visited. They all pledge to support the committee.

iii. His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa former VP Federal Republic of Nigeria, Founding President of TYD Alumni Association of GMMC Yola received Adhoc LOC on a courtesy/condolence visit in his Yola Residence in 2020. He was also recently visited on the 17th of July 2021 were he requested for the Needs Assessment Charts showing lots executed and those not executed.

Image 3. Ad-hoc LOC with His Excellency Ahaji Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa.

iv. Distinguished alumni were similarly visited in Yola south including Alhaji Abubakar Hamidu, former teacher top Administrator and late Ahmad Joda, super Perm Sec, top Administrator. While in Yola two members of the committee were delegated with a letter to HRH Lamido Adamawa Dr. Muhammad Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa who referred the delegation to the Wakili Adamawa Alhaji Hassan Adamu who has not responded till date.

v. His Excellency, Admiral Murtala H. Nyako, former Governor Adamawa State, current President of TYD Alumni Association of GMMC Yola was visited in his Abuja Residence.  early this year, 2021.

 

Image 4. Ad-hoc Committee at the Residence of TYD National President His Excellency Vice Admiral Murtala H. Nyako.

vi. His Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri received the Adhoc committee members in the Government House on a courtesy visit February 2021.

 image 5. The Ad-hoc LOC during a courtesy visit to the Governor Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, at the Government House Yola.

vii. Adhoc LOC held defered Congress meetings twice in order to chart way forward to realise the finals of the centenary celebration.

viii. Adhoc LOC appealed to General Alumni members to avail themselves for engagement into subCommittees, the LOC and other sundries, contacts and mobilizations across the country. Covid 19 always had a way of distrupting some of LOC's programs.

ix. A subCommittee was established for monitoring and supervision of all intervention work going in the first Phase of the Centenary Celebration. Other subcommittees established are Finance, Media/Publicity, Contact/Mobilizations, History/Heritage/Monument and Games/Sports. We thank the Almighty God for the journey so far.

x. Projects executed include:

•Special Needs Projects

 6.

  7.

images 6 & 7. UBEC HQ. Intervension 4 Blocks of 2 Classroom with an Office and Solar Power

•Boarding House and Corporate Life Projects

8.

9.

Images 8 & 9 are some of the on-going hostel renovations carried out by the Keystone Bank Plc in Limawa House.

FUNDING THE PHASE TWO

After the successful performances of TYD Alumni members to volunteer and intervene in the renovations and repairs of the dilapidated school in phase one, thus giving it a commendable Facelift, the Adhoc Committee is now focused on how to get funds to prosecute the final phase of the centenary celebration. Adhoc Committee decided on this mode.

i. To have Fund Raising activities such as Fund Raising Dinners, Raffle Tickets, Novelty games etc to garner enough funds from state chapters and headquarters in Yola in October 2021.

ii. Earlier membership contributions was suggested and implemented. Many members have paid contributions into TYD account and would be acknowledged at appropriate time. But option is not fine tuned yet to be source of regular TYD funding.

iii.  Some enthusiastic alumni members donated some money, acknowledged but not many donated. Funding from this source is not exhausted and Adhoc LOC urge those who pledge to support to now fulfill their pledges.

iv. Their Excellencies  and other Distinguished alumni association members were written letters during the first lockdown but we are looking up to their Excellencies as well as other Distinguished alumni, endowed souls to now show commitments and cooperate with other stakeholders to honor our alma mater. The list is not exhaustive:

His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa former Vice President FRN, Founding President TYD AA.

His Excellency, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako, former Governor Adamawa State, President TYD AA.

His Excellency, Gen PC Tarfa, former Gov Old Oyo State, Chairman NEDC.

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, former Gov Adamawa State, Business Mogul, former National Chairman PDP.

Professor Iya Abubakar, Top Academicians, 2nd indigenous VC ABU Zaria, Too politician.

Professor Jibrin Aminu, Top Academics, Top politician. former Minister FME and Petroleum Resources.

Professor Peter Lassa, Top Academician.

Col Andrawus Sawa, Nigeria Army officer, Too Politician, Presidential Candidate.

His Excellency, Commodore Dan Sulaiman, former Gov old Venue Plateau State.

His Excellency,Maj Gen. Aliyu Kama, former Gv Plateau State.

Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Wakili Adamawa, Business Mogul, Top Politician.

Hundreds of Distinguished alumni members in the Top Administrative, Finance, Security , Engineering, Medical, Teaching and Business professions throughout Nigeria. Civil Servants and Private Organizations who time and space cannot allow listing here, 

ARE CALLED UPON TO NOW SHOW LOVE, SOLIDARITY AND THE SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE AND HONOR THE SCHOOL THROUGH PARTICIPATING/CONTRIBUTING IN THE FINAL PHASE OF THE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. ALL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS SHOULD BE LODGED INTO ZENITHN BANK ACCOUNT NO:1211640674. ACCT NAME: GMMC CENTENARY CELEBRATION.

NOTE: THE CELEBRATIONS THAT BEGAN IN EARNEST IN 2020 THROUGH THE FACELIFT ACTIVITIES, AS OF TODAY, HUGE INTERVENTION WORK HAS BEEN EXECUTED, SOME OF THEM ON-GOING BY KEYSTONE BANK IN DORMITORIES AND CLASSROOM AREAS. ABOUT N400,000,000:00 CORPORATE AND CURRICULUM INFRASTRUCTURES HAVE BEEN RENOVATED OR ON VERGE OF COMPLETION, SOME PROJECTS HAVE BEEN HANDED BACK TO THE SCHOOL. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PHASE OF CENTENARY CELEBRATION.

The Congress is urged to make additional suggestions for funding now that we want funds to cap it up WITH THE GALA ACTIVITIES AND AWARD PRESENTATIONS IN DECEMBER 2021 AS DECREED.

The LOC requires funds to put in place arrangements, purchase items of gifts and honors to deserving alumni and worthy individuals like the family members of Gen. Murtala Muhammad, after who the college is renamed and many top contributors to the development of the school from 1920 to date.

CHEER! CHEERS!! CHEERS!!!

OUR ALMA MATER, GENERAL MURTALA MUHAMMAD COLLEGE, GMMC, YOLA.

Sa'adu Abubakar (Gambe).

Rtd Deputy Director Education Former Principal FGC Sokoto. Chairman Adhoc LOC, CC, TYD AA, GMMC Yola. 1st October 2021. 2:35 am.