BACAS Old Students Class of 84 Reunite in Bauchi after 38 Years

By Abbas Shehu Gungura

After close to 40 years, 1984 set of old Students of Bauchi College of Arts and Science popularly called have held their 1st Reunion meeting amid banters and pleasantries and nostalgia, with a resolve to contribute their quota towards resuscitating education system in public schools in Bauchi State and the country at large.

Speaking during the event held recently at Zaranda Hotel in Bauchi, the Chairman of the occasion, Balarebe Shehu Illela, said the aim of the Re-union was to foster unity and reconnect with old students of the college as well as give everyone a sense of belonging.

He described the reunion as a thing of joy, saying that the old students association was holding it’s first general meeting of the 1984 set, which is almost 40 years now.

“This particular event is the initiative of some of our classmates who incidentally met in Gombe state at social event and realized that they have not met in a long time. They felt that if those of them who are within the axis of Gombe state could meet and not recognize themselves, there was need for the old students to reconnect and they initiated this event”

“When the wassapp platform for this association was created , I am proud to say that the response was impressive. In the first few days, the number of people that were added on that platform was big, it was over 100 members. We were saddled with the responsibility of organizing this event in Bauchi state, it was essentially to re-unite our members” he said

While presenting a paper titled “The Role of The Old Students Association Rekindling the Spirit of Unity and Reviving Education in Nigeria”, an old student and University Don, Professor Mohammed Inuwa Musa lamented that public schools in the country have been neglected, a situation he noted have resulted to a surge in private schools from primary to the university level.

“I was part of the team set up to inspect a school approval and in the course of the process, I saw the decsy of the public school system in Nigeria. In a situation where many teachers are no more than certified illiterates, what can such a system breed?

“Even though many Nigerians opt to send their children to private schools, we must never forget the fact that most of us are products of public schools. In the peculiar case of our country, the hope of a functional and effective society is largely dependent on public schools, the decline of public education sector cuts across all levels of education”

“Nigeria’s yearly budgetary allocations to education constitute an average 10 percent of our national budget over the years. This pales in comparison to many other African countries and falls short of the UNESCO’s recommended standard of at least 26 percent. South Africa allocates an average of about 25 percent, Cote D’Ivoire 30 percent, Kenya 23 percent and neighbouring Ghana 30 percent” he said.

The Old students of BACAS later visited the tomb of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu where he commended them for sustaining the unity of the association, urging them to carry all other members of the association along in conducting their affairs.

Earlier before the commencement of meeting, a minute silence was observed in honour of some old students who had passed on and prayed for those who were challenged in their health, asking God to grant them speedy recovery.

The old students thereafter treated themselves to assorted drinks and sumptuous meal and danced with music provided by cultural groups in the state.

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