By ANGELA ATABO

Former Kebbi State Governor, Sen. Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and former Bauchi State Governor, Alh. Ahmadu Mu?azu, have donated 40 million naira to rehabilitate some facilities in their old school.

The duo announced the donation at the maiden reunion of their Alma Mater, the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (SBS ABU Zaria 1976/1977) set in Abuja.

Aliero, who made the donation, acknowledged that times had changed, noting that government was now facing numerous challenges, including educational funding constraints.

?The contribution I made is towards the rehabilitation of some of the educational structures we have at ABU, our alma mater.

?This is because the chairman said he went round and saw a lot of dilapidated buildings.

?For that reason, I suggest that, before we leave here, we should contribute something, no matter how small, towards the rehabilitation of such structures, he said.?

The former governor explained that his own personal donation was N20 million, while Mu?azu would match it up with N20 million.

He called on other classmates to also generously contribute toward the project.

Aliero recalled that in the old good days when they were students, government support for their education, was quite extensive, and covered free tuition, transportation allowances, and even laundry services.

He, however, said there was hope for reviving education with President Bola Tinubu?s current student loan scheme.

According to him, indigent students will be able to access loans from it to fund their education.

?Over 500 billion Naira has been set aside for that purpose.

?Even the Tax Reforms Bill that the National Assembly passed, have incorporated that request and it?s going to continue.

?So, I am very optimistic that government will be able to continue funding education, though not like it was before,? the senator said.

Aliero further said that the SBS ABU Zaria 76/77 set had contributed a lot to national development by bequeathing indelible legacies, which they were very proud of.

Also speaking, Mu?azu said the set had produced governors, ministers and senators, among others, and challenged youths to take up leadership positions.

?This is your ball. This is your generation. A lot of you refuse to offer yourselves for public service.

?At the end of the day, we end up getting half-cooked, uneducated people to lead us.

?That is not good. ?I want to still pass the ball to all of you. You must take up the banner,? he said.

The traditional ruler of Karshi, the Sarkin Karshi, Abuja, Alh. Mohammed Ismaila, also an alumnus, called for a more structured alumni network and to leverage them to support schools.

?These public institutions will continue to decay unless and until they do two things, one of which is to engage the alumni.

?If you see all the great universities in the world, they engage the alumni. But here, most of the time, the university authorities don?t reach out to us.

?They should also have a large alumni office and have a database, especially at this age of internet to reach for support for projects,? he said.

The President of the association, Rabiu Dagari, while delivering a keynote address, expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to reconnect.

?It is with immense joy and profound gratitude that I stand before you today as the President of our Alumni Association, on this truly historic occasion, our very first reunion party after 48 remarkable years,? he said.

Dagari said the reunion was more than a nostalgic gathering, and was a celebration of unity, which was forged at their old school.

?Tonight is not just a celebration of nostalgia but a testament to the enduring spirit and unity which the School of Basic Studies, ABU, Zaria has made possible,? he noted.

According to the alumni president, the set has accomplished great feats, having produced governors, ministers, professors, military generals, and a reigning Emir among them.

He particularly referenced the renowned Prof. Iya Abubakar as a source of inspiration for younger generations.

Dagari urged the President Tinubu to tap into the wealth of experience and expertise within the class of 76/77 by appointing some of their distinguished alumni to key government positions.

He said the EXCO was working on a proposal to identify areas that the members of the class of SBS 76/77 would address as their contribution to their alma mater.

The president also called on members to contribute both financially and intellectually to ongoing restoration efforts.

He also called for a minute of silence to honour the 114 deceased members of the set, and extended condolences to their families.

The alumni association president further urged his classmates to reconnect while time still permitted. (NAN)

? PHOTO: 3rd from left, Aliero, 2nd from left, Mu?azu, and other alumi at the maiden meeting of their association after 48 years since graduation (NAN)

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