First Centenary Celebration Report of General Murtala Muhammad College, (GMMC) Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

FIRST Centenary Celebration Report OF GENERAL MURTALA MUHAMMAD COLLEGE, GMMC YOLA.

BY

SA'ADU ABUBAKAR GAMBE.

  Chairman Adhoc Committee for the Centenary Celebration of the National Tiddo Yo Daddo Alumni Association of General Murtala Muhammed College, (GMMC) Yola. 

PREAMBLE 

General Murtala Muhammed College, GMMC, Yola is one of the oldest grammar schools in Northern Nigeria. It started in 1920 as Elementary School than later upgraded to Middle School Yola. It metamorphosed to Provincial Secondary School, PSS, Yola, a grammar school, with the enrolment into form (year) one of a six years secondary education system then, of the Ibrahim Alfa, Hassan Adamu, Alhaji Natiti, Sale Michika and others in January 1955. In 1976 the school was renamed Government Secondary School, GSS, Yola in memory of the slain Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, who was assassinated during a failed military coup in February 1976. The school curriculum fashioned in 1920 was to suit the needs of the local administration of the Emirate. Admission into the school then was restricted to the children of the administrators, the alkali court judges, teachers, District and Village Heads who were serving the Native Authority, (NA). The curriculum was geared to produce manpower for the Native Authority, NA administration. However, as Nigeria was preparing for independence from the colonial master, Britain, the curriculum was upgraded to Secondary School curriculum which included physics, chemistry, mathematics, further mathematics, woodwork and technical drawing in the science and technical department. The traditional arts subjects such as English, History, Geography, Literature, Arts and Crafts were fortified by the availability of more expatriate, mainly British teachers. By 1960, the graduation year of the 1955 enrollees, there were about 13 expatriates and about 4 to 6 Nigerian teachers in the school.

The first generation sets of 1920 to 1950, who fulfilled the aims and objectives of establishing the Elementary/Middle School Yola, at the native Authority level. Some of them went on to make significant contributions to national development as political leaders and civil servants, such as the first minister of defense, Muhammad Ribadu, Administrator Mormoni Bazza, Supercop Gambo Jimeta, top administrators; Ahmed Joda, top academics; Professor Iya Abubakar, Hamidu Alkali, Professor Jibrin Aminu, professor Mahmoud Tukur, business moguls Bamanga Tukur etc. all products of the first generation 1920 to 1954 Middle School Yola.

The next generation, the first of the Secondary grammar, Provincial Secondary School Yola, of the Ibrahim Alfa, Hassan Adamu, Alhaji Natiti, Abubakar Barde, Sa'adu Abubakar Jalingo, P. C. Tarfa, Dan Suleiman, Murtala Nyako, Dr Mahmoud Modibbo Tukur, Professor Kharisu Chukkol, Aliyu Kama, etc up to 1970 sets have made their marks and contributed not only at the local level but nationally as top administrators, academics, security experts, business moguls and political leaders. At a stage, the products of the Provincial Secondary School Yola, 1960 to 1970 sets dominated the Nigerian military in Government era, 1966 to 1990.

The next generation of the Tiddo Yo Daddo, TYD products of the great school, now known as GMMC Yola, came out in large numbers, especially with the expanding of the school to have three schools; the High School, HSC, offering 'A' level courses, the grammar school offering 'O' level courses and the Commercial Section offering Business Education at 'O' levels. The products, mostly of affluent parents dispersed to all available trades in the new independent Nigeria. They became Chief Executive Officers, CEOs of new Federal corporations and agencies. They exerted a lot of influences in Nigerian boardrooms decisions. That marked the glorious era of the TYD products in government till date, in almost all spheres, military and civilian dispensation. In the Federal , State and Local Levels, they are there in full force.

HISTORY 

Moving on in Nigeria and the school, General Murtala Muhammed College, GMMC Yola, things began to take different dimensions. The school did away with the expatriate Teachers and Principals; Mr. David West, Mr. Pollack, Mr. Macneani all of them principals at various times, Mr and Mrs.Firth, Mr. and Mrs Stride, Mr Thomson, Mr. Cox, Mr. Fewster, (first American Peace Corp 1962), Mr. Larson (first American Peace Corp 1962), Mr. Keatley etc. They were replaced by Nigerians, first, on secondments from the Federal Ministry of Education but later by State indigenous Teachers and Principals. The fortunes of the school began to dwindle. The school was renamed Government Secondary School, GSS from it's former Provincial Secondary School. The military in power decided to name all public funded secondary schools across the country as Government Secondary Schools. The great school was later in 1976 renamed General Murtala Muhammed College, GMMC Yola in memory of the slain Military Head of State, General Murtala Muhammad. The school at the same periods was expanded and upgraded to large institution of three schools; 1. The basic secondary grammar school offering WAEC 'O' level courses. 2. The Higher School Certificate, HSC wing offering WAEC 'A' level courses. 3. The Commercial Section, offered WAEC Business Education Courses at 'O' levels. The enrollment figure hovers about 2000 students making the college one of the largest below the tertiary institution in Northern Nigeria. As the school was expanding and upgraded so also the staffing profile. While more expatriate staff are leaving the school more Nigerian staff are posted to the school on secondments from the Federal Ministry of Education and the State Civil Service Commission. At a stage the school had its highest, adequate best number of teachers in all the various courses offered in the school about the 1970 and 1980 era. The school also witnessed generational corporate life transitions when in the early 1970 the students agitated for a change in food manure of the arcake guinea corn tuwo and kunu to a more modern manue of bread, tea etc. The students' sustained protests with attendant consequences on both staff and students ended with the food manue changed in favor of the students palate. Discipline suffered set back in the school as a result of the altercations and quick turn over of teachers and Principals during the trying period. Even with the engagement of the aclaimed international disciplinarian Principal, Mr BRR. Kimmit, who was employed by the North Eastern State Civil Service Commission after an international hunt for the right principal, the school was far from recovering disciplined atmosphere. The same period, 1970 - 1980 also witnessed the change in the school calendar. A set spent only 4 and a half years and took the qualifying WAEC external examinations in May/June instead of the hitherto November/December period. It was a monumental shift in the then five year secondary education calendar before the New National Policy on Education changed it to six years, 3 years Junior and 3 years of Senior secondary education policy. These were the settings when indiscipline reached its lowest levels and turnover of principals became too high for any meaningful administration. That was when an international hunt for Principal was embarked upon by the North East Civil Service Commission to recruit an experienced school administrator, Principal who could salvage the sinking school. That was when Mr. BRR Kimmit was engaged. Mr Kimmit, a retired British educator, who returned home to Britain from South Africa, took over as Principal GSS Yola 1969/70. He made intimidating arrival in Yola with his personal aircraft and quickly became friends to most influencial people in Yola; His Royal Highness the Lamido Adamawa, Aliyu Mustafa, the Provincial Secretary, Godowoli and others were his instant friens. Through unethical methods, he was able to bring some uneasy calm to the beleaguered school. He carried a pistol around with his aparthyd aura in him and so he fell out with his friend, the Provincial Secretary, Godowoli, when all the eighteen or so Nigerian teachers reported his racist actions on Sa'adu Abubakar to the Provincial Secretary, Godowoli In 1972,. The North East Civil Service Commission refused to renew his contract but a lobby by some of his friends to FME landed him employment and he was posted to Port Harcourt to open a new FGC.

General Murtala Muhammed College, GMMC Yola continued to descend fortune wise as teaching and learning suffered administrative neglect and government patronage. Results of external examinations of WASSCE declined year in year out down to less than 5% passes in five subjects including English and Math. School administration became poor with the appointments of less experienced or less qualified Principals over their more qualified subordinates staff.

The boarding institution suffered inadequate teaching and learning deliverables as most subjects lack the appropriate number of teachers and teaching materials. Corporate life of students degenerated as feeding became pitiable, hostels inadequate, beds hardly available. Water and sanitation issues were beyond care.

The Mid Century sets of 1980 - 1990

Meanwhile, the Centenary year of the dying school was approaching fast by 2019. Two months to the year 2020, to mark the 100 years existence of the Great School that has produced the good the bad and the ugly, a trigger article was published on 5th of August 2019 to remind the living old students of the famous school not to let the epoch occasions pass by without a mention of it.

The spark from the trigger article touched the hearts of the great products, many not alive, many in retirement and the high flyers, the movers and the shakers of the country began.n to realize the Centenary of their Alma mater. First to react with the sense of concerns and urgency, having been involved in efforts to form the TYD AA for sometime, Arc. Ibrahim Mahmoud responded. Along with his friend, Engr Hassan Suleiman, so the spark for awakening of the old students to the Centenary Celebration of General Murtala Muhammed College, GMMC, Yola took off. The Principal then, Adamu Bello, who is not an alumnus, picked up the gauntlet and came to my house with some of his staff on the advice of Prof. Akiyu Bashir of MAU, to parley with me. He was advised to call for Congress Meeting in the absence of any functional TYD AA EXCO. The Principal called for Congress Meeting on the 16th of November 2019 which established the Adhoc Committee with 13 members.

INTRODUCTION 

The Adhoc Committee was inaugurated on the same day, 16th November, 2019, two months to the Centenary year 2020. It was given the blanket mandate to prepare and conduct the Centenary Celebration of the Great School when efforts by some of us and the then Principal, Adamu Bello, failed to find any existing TYD AA.EXCO. Not until the Principal Adamu Bello, who was member of the Adhoc Committee by virtue of his been the principal of the school, made intensive search and finds from records in the school. He revealed the Admiral Murtala Nyako TYD AA Presidency, which expired in 2011 as the last known regime. Checks later revealed some members of the Nyako regime who were alive and active. With the assistance of the then Principal Adamu Bello, the living members were contacted, alerted and informed of the impending epoch centenary celebration of the school by the Adhoc Committee. Meastwhile, EXCO members of the TYD AA Nyako regime, were invited by the Adhoc Committee and the Principal to a meeting of the Adhoc Committee Secretariat at the GMMC Yola. The TYD AA EXCO members who attended were 

1. Mr. Harold Mirchalum, the young active Secretary General of the Nyako regime, 

2. Musa Bello, former Adamawa State Auditor General, Treasurer TYD AA EXCO. absent

3. Saidu Audi Gemu, PRO of TYD AA EXCO of Nyako regime. absent

4. Malam Ibrahim Mubi, former Principal GMMC, Chairman BoT of TYD AA Nyako regime. absent 

5. Saidu Babikkoi, member BoT of TYD AA Nyako regime 

6. Richards J Fwa, Representative, HRH J J Fwa. Member BoT of Nyako regime 

7. All Members of the Adhoc Committee present.

Speaking on behalf of the TYD AA EXCO, Mr Harold Mirchalum, Secretary General of the TYD AA EXCO, commended the Adhoc Committee and went ahead to pledge cooperation, collaboration, support and participation with the Adhoc Committee and the Centenary Celebration of the great school. ( See appendix I. Extract from the minutes of the parley meeting.)

ADHOC COMMITTEE AND THE MANDATE OF THE CONGRESS OF THE TYD AA OF GMMC YOLA. 

Alhaji Adamu Bello, the Principal SS of GMMC played pivotal role in the convening of the Congress meeting on the 16th on November 2019 when the school realized it had to get other stakeholders to have any meaningful centenary celebration. The most important stakeholder after the school itself is the Old Students Alumni Association. Concerned Old students and the Principal decided to call on Old students whose association was not found to a general meeting, the Congress for a way forward to centenary celebration. Enthusiastically, many old students, especially those social media enthusiasts together with the up mobile, professors, lawyers and chief executives from across attended but attendance was below the quorum of ten sets. There and then, a decision was taken, not to miss such gathering, the Congress established the Adhoc Committee and gave it a blanket Mandate, meaning to do all you can to ensure success of the main mandate; in this case, the gala centenary celebration finals, where alumni meet and interact with each other probably for some, after 50 or 60 years!.

For most of our people in the region, Adamawa, celebration connotes meeting, interacting, dancing, eating, joking, slapping the backs, laughing and exchanging pleasantries. When the idea of the Centenary Celebration hits the news stand that was all in the minds of most of our alumni. It was a task to refocus the minds of most of our members including even some of Adhoc Committee members charged with the task. Having witnessed Golden Jubilee Celebration of FGC Sokoto as it's former Principal from ten years to the Golden jubilee celebration preparation to the final gala events after I retired from service, I had clear idea of what is all about. It is painful to convince some people to understand. Adhoc Committee, through series of meetings to strategize, came up with the two phase centenary celebrations. Phase one, Facelift of the school infrastructural decay and degradation. Phase two, the final gala celebration, what the majority expected to be done in a week and be gone.

The biggest success of the Centenary Celebration of General Murtala Muhammed College GMMC YOLA is in the phase one where contacts were made on social media, philanthropic contributions to the tune of about 700 million naira was executed and the blue print for a functional TYD AA EXCO ADMINISTRATION WAS LAID which should be properly handed over to the TYD EXCO. If others could take ten years to prepare properly to celebrate 50 years, Adhoc Committee should not be crucified for cobbling a successful centenary celebration with blanket mandate for a one hundred year old institution in 3 years. After all what is at stake that my trying to handover formally despite challenges impeded that we have not seen during the comatose periods? As products of the great school we are expecting greater decorum, maturity and higher sense of responsibility than what is rearing it's ugly head after the successful centenary celebration.

History will be on the side of truth, justice and fairness. By the second century celebration, we, now participants will be history. So what is the fuss? I please, on behalf of good, orderly handover to the next TYD AA EXCO, plead for your cooperation, patience and understanding which is required at this tail end of the Adhoc Committee's assignments.

    CHAIRMEN OF SUBCOMMITTEES REPORTS.

1. Finance Subcommittee:

a. Terms of References 

b. Revenue generated 

c. Financial Returns.

2. Media and publicity Subcommittee

a. Terms of References

b. Revenue generated 

c. Financial Returns 

3. History, Heritage and Monument Subcommittee 

a. Terms of References 

b. Revenue generated 

c Financial Returns 

4. Contact and Mobilization subcommittee.

a. Terms of References 

b. Revenue generated 

c. Financial Returns.

5. 

ADHOC LOC CHAIRMAN'S OBSERVATIONS, SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.

1. General Observations 

The Adhoc Committee which later on in the preparations, transformed itself into the Local Organizing Committee, LOC, for the purposes of accommodating other stakeholders in the final phase two of the Centenary Celebration, wore a new look with other stakeholders on board some subcommittees as members. Together with the members of the Adhoc Committee several high profile contacts were made on the Proprietor, His Excellency Governor Adamawa State, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to inform him of the up coming Centenary Celebration of the iconic school, GMMC Yola, a pioneer public school. The cooperation, collaboration and support of the government were solicited. Governor Umaru Fintiri, who was visibly excited, pledged the government's cooperation, collaboration and support during the celebration. Governor Umaru Fintiri was visited twice during which he affirmed his administration's commitment to support the ADHOC LOC during the Celebration. 

Similar delegations of the LOC were sent to the very high stakeholders in Yola; HRH Lamido Adamawa, Dr. Muhammad Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa, Super Perm Sec, Ahmed Joda, top administrators, Abubakar Girei, Galadima Adamawa, Wakili Adamawa, Hassan Adamus, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, former Vice President FRN, Founding President & Life Patron TYD AA, here in Yola and in his Abuja residence. Indeed real contact and serious Mobilization of the alumni for the gala events was on top gear.

   At the same time funding that has been difficult for the Adhoc LOC was being solicited and received from endowed members from across the country. The first 200,000 naira donation was made into the TYD AA UBA account by ......, the pioneer donor. Others followed suit by donating various sums of money ranging from few thousand naira to millions. The founding President and Life Patron of TYD AA, H. E Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, former Vice President FRN, PDP Presidential Candidate in 2023 Elections donated the highest amount of 10 million naira. His Excellency, Admiral Murtala Nyako President TYD AA EXCO, donated 5 million naira. The Adamawa State Government accepted Adhoc LOC request for funds, which the government asked LOC to pruned down from 90 million naira down to about 30+ million naira only. The government's assistance was not officially received yet during the final gala celebration.

Long before Adhoc LOC started receiving actual funds for expenditures, the human weaknesses in money issues was foreseen from the body languages of many of our Adhoc LOC members and so the ground rules notice was circulated to form the bases for our funds transactions. (Appendix ii - Ground Rules).

At a stage, when the funds transactions reached the peak, I was instructed to only append my signature after a newly formed Subcommittee that I was not privy to and whose actual members were not spelled out has approved funds request for expenditures. Coming at that delicate trying period I didn't object so as not to derail the phase two gala celebration.

Earlier on, as the Chairman Adhoc LOC, I was never a signatory to any of the TYD AA EXCO UBA reactivated account or the dedicated Adhoc LOC Centenary Celebration account. I had to request the chairman Finance subcommittee to see all the accounts and how things are going just like another member of the Adhoc LOC. At a stage the chairman Finance subcommittee, Mr. Geoffrey Garba stopped attending Adhoc LOC Meetings ... To be continued ...