By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
United Faith Tabernacle College (UFTC) is located in Jarawan Kogi, Angware, Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The College is about nine kilometers from Rinjin Gani, a village along Jos-Bauchi Road.
The school is sited in a serene, and very conducive environment for effective teaching and learning activities because it is far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
It is one of the outstanding colleges/secondary schools in Nigeria.
The school came into existence on the 15th February, 1982, with a total number of ninety students, all in the Junior Secondary classes.
It began operation under the able leadership of an English man Mr. Derek Joy, the pioneer Principal.
The school was the brainchild of The United Gospel Faith Tabernacle Church of Nigeria.
The birth of the college was not automatic; the school started in a transit camp. It occupied a flat near the PO Boy Ice Cream Factory in Jos, Nigeria which became its campus; from where it moved to Jarawan Kogi the permanent site of the college in Jos East Local Government. The school has also grown both in the “academic and the Spiritual” life.
The philosophy of College, according to its proprietor, The United Gospel Faith Tabernacle Church, was propelled by the desire to provide learning for the School Children in need of Secondary Education, but who were getting it through secular, (Godless) education, leading all too often to a proud generation of school leavers, whose love does not go beyond themselves, their own selfish ambition and their own well-being.
The Proprietor further emphasised that, in going about the aforementioned, there is no discrimination, as every child from whatever background is seen as precious in God’s sight. No handicap is seen as an impediment to learning. And so, every child is given equal opportunity. The handicapped children especially the lame and visually handicapped are trained free.
The Aims and Objectives of the school are reflected in its motto: “Christ in Character, Culture and Craftsmanship”.
For the Proprietor, the education of the child is seen in its holistic perspective; and its target is to develop the spirit, the soul (mind), and the body.
However, more emphasis is laid on character development. Students are taught the ways of a disciplined life and to work together as a community where each member seeks not his own but the good of others.
In its over forty years of existence, the college is faced with myriad of challenges especially infrastructural decay, hence the need for the old students of the college decided to put their heads together and commence intervention in different areas in the school.
During the 2022 graduation ceremony/40TH anniversary of the College, the Old students under the aegis of United Faith Old Students Association (UFOSA), said they have rehabilitated the dining hall, Library and some other buildings at the school.
Acting National President UFOSA, Steve Omale made the disclosure during the aforementioned event, which also coincided with the 2022 Speech and Prize Giving Day celebration of the school.
Omale, who decried the deteriorating state of infrastructure and other facilities in the collegel, noted that UFOSA had plans to intervene in the college.
”As old student UFTC, we were able to rehabilitate the dining hall, Library, which were solely done by our Lagos chapter, donated tables, chairs, writing materials, among others.
”We are doing all this in our own little way to give back to the school that has made us,” he added.
According to him, the event had provided UFOSA the opportunity to reunite with their school mates and garner support towards reviving the lost glory of the school.
”Today’s event is very significant in the history of this school and special to all who have graduated here.
”This institution has made us and many other notable Nigerians out there and it is only logical that we return to pay back and support the growth of an institution that made us.
”We are here today to celebrate with the students, teachers and all those who are working to see that this school is still standing,” he said.
On his part, Pastor Longshik Binat, the Acting Principal of the College, said poor funding has been a bane of the smooth running of the institution.
He said the school, which is not a grant aided institution, had never received any support from government, hence depended on the benevolence of groups and spirited individuals to thrive.
”Our major problems are lack funds and decaying infrastructure; sometimes we hardly pay the salaries of teachers.
”And the insecurity that has bedevilled the state for the past years has affected school enrolment; parents no longer feel safe to bring their children here to study.
”The number of our students have dropped from over 1,000 to 157 and this is not good for us,” he said.
Binat thanked members of UFOSA for their efforts and support towards the growth and development of the institution.
The principal said that 32 students succesfully graduated from the institution in the 2021/2022 academic session.
Also speaking, Mustapha Raji who is also an old student, said that the school was a ”Collage” of students from different parts of the country.
According to him,”I used to come from Zaria to school here; we had many students from
Kaduna, Taraba, Bauchi, Benue and many other parts of this country who studied here.
Raji who is the chairman of Lagos chapter of UFOSA, commended the management of the school for maintaining the academic standard it was known for.
He however, decried the mannner in which insecurity in Plateau affected the enrolment of students in the college.
The Lagos Chapter chairman called on goverment to address the spate of insecurity in the school
vicinity, the state and country in general.
Gifts were presented to some deserving students and graduands of the College by UFOSA.
It is hoped that with the efforts of UFOSA and other well spirited individuals and organisations, the College would return to its pride of place as the once reknown citadel of learning.
