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BSS at 70: Gen. Temlong praises Sudan missionaries for educating Nigerians
The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of Boys Secondary School (BSS) Gindiri, Gen. Jonathan Temlong said the missionaries that came from Sudan United Mission who founded Boys Secondary School Gindiri, Plateau State in 1950 didn’t only bring hope to hopeless Nigerians, but sacrificed their lives to educate children of the poor.
Gen Temlong who is among the 71 set of BSS stated this during a press conference to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Boys Secondary School Gindiri organised by the Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA), which held at the weekend in Jos, Plateau State Capital.
Temlong said the 70th Anniversary celebration of GOSA is to give thanks to God for the sacrifice of the Missionaries which have produced great Nigerian leaders who have and still occupying high positions of responsibilities.
He also noted with gratitude the immense contribution of the Boys Secondary School’s alumni in fostering peace, unity and development in Nigeria.
“The Gindiri Old Students Association is made up of respectable Nigerians from different parts of the country; some of who were expatriates and children of missionaries were our classmates.
“We praise and thank God for the unique opportunity that the missionaries gave us despite all the fears, although Africa was called the White Man’s grave, the first four missionaries that came, one of them almost died and was sent back.
“The three continued and at the end, the mustard seed was planted. Gindiri has blossomed into a giant master tree. The missionaries came and brought hope to the hopeless and made Christ known to those who didn’t know Christ,’ he said.
Gen. Temlong explained that due to their high academic performance, most of the students graduate to pursue higher learning in Universities, Polytechnics and colleges of education.
“After graduation, students of the school gain employment in government and the private sector and are contributing their quota to nation-building. BSS has produced governors, vice chancellors, ambassadors, clergymen, top military and police officers, politicians, administrators, engineers and sportsmen amongst others”.
“Thus, the school has achieved a lot in 70 years, which deserves to be celebrated despite the current challenges plaguing it. The celebration is also aimed at giving back to the school by renovating some old structures and providing learning facilities.”
He explained that the programme will commence on Sunday, October 31, with spiritual outreach and culminate on Sunday, November 7 with an anniversary thanksgiving and reunion service.
Gen Temlong noted that GOSA will also offer free medical outreach to the Gindiri community on Wednesday and the new GOSA secretariat would be commissioned at Dogon Karfe.
According to him, other activities include courtesy visits on the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, The Gbong Gwom Jos, Chairman Plateau State Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emirs and the COCIN President who is also the Proprietor of the School.
“There will also be an anniversary lecture (DCJ Foundation), commissioning of projects (modular labs, assembly and dining hall/kitchen) and national convention, election, anniversary dinner and launch of anniversary book among other events.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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