By Daniel Tyokua
Izom Old Boys Association (IZOBA) made up of former students of Government Science College, Izom, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger state, has called for more support from its members and spirited individuals to sustain the school’s vision.
Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the college, held in the school over the weekend, the alumnus in their separate submissions, said urgent steps are needed to support the alumni’s efforts in restoring the school’s glory in science.
The national President of IZOBA, Professor Abdulkadir Abubakar, said the decay state of the infrastructure was a worrisome situation that motivated the past students to mobilised themselves to rescue the school by providing some infrastructure and other materials.
He pledged the Association’s commitment to assisting the school achieve its essence of coming into existence since 1975.
Abubakar said, “The school is in a decay compare to the infrastructure we used several years ago, so we have come to together as old students to assist the institution to get better infrastructure.
“Each time we come around here, we feel sad because of the infrastructure, We have executed projects that are beneficial to the school.
“We have constructed toilets, refurbished and constructed classroom desks, boreholes, donation of textbooks to the library, and supplying chemicals and reagents for the chemistry, physics, and biology laboratories” Abubakar said.
One of the foremost old students, Umar Shuaibu said the golden jubilee anniversary was to give back to the school that made them stand out in the society.
He advocated for the establishment of four science schools in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to promote science education.
Shuaibu, who was the coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), under former president Muhammadu Buhari, noted that the school has made a name for good not only in Niger state but across the country and beyond.
He said the idea of establishing the college was to ensure that science education is encouraged at the secondary level.
He revealed that most products of the school had gone to different countries of the world to study and have deep knowledge of science.
According to him, developed countries have been doing well because of their background in science education.
He said upgrading science would only be possible through science education, saying because of importance of science in national development there was the need for concerted efforts to encourage students to go into science.
Shuaibu said despite the lost glory, IZOBA will ensure that the previous standards is brought back
“We can’t upgrade science without science education, therefore I urge the federal government to make a policy that will ensure setting up four post science schools in each state of the federation”
Umar Farouk of set 1992, commended government efforts in funding education, especially science, but appealed for more support.
“When you look at Niger state or Nigeria, how many secondary schools do we have ? How many primary schools do we have? There was a time I went round some schools and I shed tears, most of our schools have no windows and chairs. I am not happy with the structure of the school. But there are rooms for improvement
“Govt can not do it alone, old students and stakeholders should always think of what to give back to the place (school) that made them.
“I am happy with the initiative, whatever you see in the school is the brain child of IZOBA, I, therefore urge other schools to also form associations comprising past and current students so that they will come back and support the institutions that made them” Said Farouk.
