By
Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The ancient city of Bauchi was agog with visitors during the Christmas break when top civil servants and some senior members of the judiciary from Bauchi and Gombe States were honoured by members of the Bauchi College of Art and Science (BACAS) Old Students Forum.
They were presented with a plaque of recognition at a well attended maiden edition of their reunion meeting held at Destination Hotel, Bauchi.
In his welcome remarks during the event, chairman of the organizing committee , Brigadier General Umar Yusuf Gital thanked the old students for travelling from far and near to attend the function, describing the gesture and commitment as heartwarming.
He said the main objective of the Reunion meeting was to, among other things, midwife the Old Students Forum, which hitherto, was non existent and also honour some old students that have recently attained certain milestone in their life careers.
General Gital said that being the maiden edition of the reunion, the organizing committee had set a certain baseline for the selection of awardees to be honoured.
“The committee was faced with the challenge of selecting awardees, especially looking at the fact that some of the old students have reached the pinnacle of their careers and even retired. So, we set the baseline to be 2021. This is what informed our decision for the selection of the identified awardees”, said General Gital.
While appealing for understanding of the old students and invited guests for some of the deficiencies observed during the event, the committee chairman said that such things are not uncommon, especially if it is coming for the first time, promising that that subsequent reunions will be better.
He implore the old students to use the opportunity of the reunion to reconnect, establish new friendships and reminisce fond memories of their yesteryears, amidst banters and fanfare.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the recipients, Bauchi State Head of Service (HoS) Alhaji Yahuza Adamu Haruna, thanked the organizing committee and those that contributed financially for the successful hosting of the event and finding the recipients worthy of the recognition.
Alhaji Haruna, who is also an old student of BACAS, commended the foresight of the initiators of the Old Students Forum. He expressed his hope that the tempo should be sustained.
“Our being in this current positions is by the will of God and so, everyone can be in the same position anytime. Each and everyone of us here is a winner”, said the HoS.
The old students that were honored at the maiden edition of the students reunion were: Alhaji Yahuza Adamu Haruna (Bauchi State Head of Service), Pharmacist Samaila Adamu Burga (Principal Private Secretary to the Governor of Bauchi State), Barrister Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim (Chief Registrar, Bauchi State Judiciary), Alhaji Balarabe Shehu Ilelah ( Director General, National Broadcasting Commission) and Saleh Yakubu Ningi (Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Civil Service).
Others are Shehu Yahaya Jalam (Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Civil Service), Umar Mohammed Kalshingi (Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Service), Jibrin Mohammed Yusuf (Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Civil Service), Barrister Obel Yaji (mni) (Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Civil Service) and Mrs. Hannatu Iliya Mantau (Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Civil Service).
Also honoured were Barrister Fatima Abubakar (Deputy Chief Registrar, Bauchi State Judiciary), Mallam Danjuma Garba (Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Civil Service), Barrister Binta Umar Faruk (Deputy Chief Registrar, Bauchi State Judiciary) and Alhaji Yakubu Jibrin Abdullahi (Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Civil Service).
Some of the lecturers of the institution that witnessed the event includes: Mr. Ahmed Yaro, Mallam Umar GM (Ojukwu), Mallam Umar Umar, Mallam Faruq Umar and Mr. Idris Ahmed Hardawa.
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of plaques to the recipients by their former lecturers and adoption of the organizing committee members to serve as executives of the old students forum.
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