– By FWENJI GO’AR –
RECENTLY, the cream of society gathered in Fwangroi, Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government of Plateau State gathered to pay their last respects, and to bid farewell to the late Engr. Sunday Chong Hyat, mni, FNSC, FNICE who died on Friday, the 8th day of December, 2023, in Abuja.
Placed on his casket were items easily identified as the regalia and flag of the Boys Brigade, but some were wondering what another piece of material was doing on the casket. Those who asked got to realise that it was the national uniform of GOSA, an old students association which has carved a niche for itself as the flagship old students association in Nigeria. The honour of burying a GOSA member with the uniform is an exclusive reserve of GOSA Presidents, past and present.
Hyat was the President of Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA).
GOSA members turned out in their numbers to say goodbye to their dear President, who had served GOSA over the years in very many different capacities.
A lot has been said about GOSA, and how it is that it has succeeded in everything it sets out to accomplish. What is it that they are doing right, which other associations aren’t? Was the school given certain advantages others didn’t get? Many more of such questions are doing the rounds, to the point where GOSA has been tagged a ¨cult¨ in certain quarters.
One thing that stands out for GOSA is the fact that it has an unwavering commitment to the development of the two institutions which make up GOSA.
It is worth noting that Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA) is the umbrella body of old students of Boys’ Secondary School and Girls’ High School, Gindiri. These educational institutions, among others, were by-products of the Sudan United Mission (SUM) evangelical missionary enterprise in Colonial North Central Nigeria at the beginning of the 20th Century.
Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri was founded in August 1950. It is an off-shoot of Boys’ Middle School which was established in 1944. On the other hand, Girls’ High School was established in 1958 and is similarly an off-shoot of the Girls’ Boarding School which started in 1949.
As of that time in the early 1950s, there were only 5 fully fledged secondary schools in Northern Nigeria, which are, Barewa College (founded in 1921), Government College Keffi (established in 1949) and three other mission schools, St John’s Kaduna (Roman Catholic, established in 1949), BSS Gindiri (SUM- established in 1950) and Titcombe Egbe, in present Kogi State (SIM – established in 1951).
The threshold of the Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA) was laid when old boys of BSS Gindiri started the association, Gindiri Old Boys Association (GOBA) between 1955/56, when the first set of boys passed out of the Boys’ Secondary School (BSS) Gindiri. The move to form GOBA was championed by old boys of BSS who found themselves studying at the Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and School of Agriculture Samaru, Zaria. GOBA was formally inaugurated in 1958 at the Cultural Center in Jos and among those who were present at the launch were: Ochapa Onazi, Ayuba Tense, James Lot, David Abifarin, Joseph D. Gomwalk, Benjamin Dusu Lodam, Ezekiel Bot and Edward Aleyideino.
In a similar vein, Girls’ High School, Gindiri started graduating girls with the first set of girls completing the fifth form in 1962. This stimulated the need to restructure the Alma Mater association to accommodate the girls who were products of the same historical process.
J. D. Gomwalk impressed on GOBA to form an association that would include the girls. Following the call for revision of the GOBA structure to accommodate old girls of GHS, representatives of four existing chapters of GOBA; Makurdi (Ezekiel Akiga, A. Kenti etc), Kaduna (A. Mshelbwala, I. Odomah etc), Lagos (Capt. P. Thahal, J. Y. Lot etc) and Jos, met to discuss and approve the membership of GOSA to include products of BSS and GHS. Consequently, they revised the structure and composition of the association to include the girls from Girls’ High School Gindiri. Thus, in 1965, activities of the boys and girls were harmonized. Despite this feat, the harmonization of activities of the boys and girls remained largely to an extent, just in principle. The boys, who were the most active, maintained the organization and operational frame of GOBA. Arising from this, the old boys from all over the country strengthened their bond and activities. Jos branch appointed a committee of seven (O. Ikwuegbu, V. K. Dangin, S. Janfa, S. S. Gofwen, S. D. Makama, J. Arin and L. F. Chundusu) to plan the inauguration of GOSA.
GOSA was officially launched in Jos (Cultural Center) on the 25th November, 1972 amidst pomp and pageantry. The two day event was pioneered by the then Governor of Benue Plateau State, Police Commissioner Joseph Dechi Gomwalk, a first set member and first head boy of the Boys Secondary School Gindiri. The occasion had as special guest and chairman, Brigadier Abba Kyari, then Governor of North Central State.
This background is given so you can appreciate why this write up is centred around GOSA, an association which has given so much to the society.
But what are the reasons why old students associations still matter at this time and age? To answer that we need to look at some of the pivotal roles they play in the advancement of educational institutions.
Educational institutions need support for their growth, and most times the proprietors fall short of these nurturing needs. This is where the Alma Mater can come in and play the role of a backbone for the school. It is commonly said that old students associations are the lifelines that breathe vitality into educational institutions. They contribute a lot to the sustenance of education as a whole. Current students, benefit a lot from activities of the alumni. On many occasions they get mentorship, scholarships, and career guidance, among other benefits.
Old students in most instances serve as ambassadors of the institution, and provide support systems, while fostering togetherness and offering expertise. There are areas where alumni associations can support the Alma Mater, like in the aspects of infrastructural development, provision of essential tools and equipment, support for staff, and embarking on funding initiatives.
GOSA holds an annual convention/reunion in the first weekend of November, and has made sure that these gatherings are not just mere occasions that bring nostalgia, but serve as avenue to project the Alma Mater and revitalise it for greater heights.
Old students associations call for the engagement and assistance of one another for mutual growth. Even though some may not like the sound of it, but, some benefits for alumni members include financial support avenues, inspiration, and opportunities for personal growth and networking, shaping educational excellence and fostering a robust network of support for present and future generations.
In conclusion, allow me to go down the GOSA route to end today’s write up by summing up some key roles GOSA plays that ensures success. GOSA fosters a sense of community among its members. It preserves and promotes traditions and customs learnt from the Founding Fathers. It has a penchant for providing educational support, and serving as a source of pride and connection for current and former students.
