By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
A former Minister of Information, Mr Frank Nweke Junior, has decried the deteriorating condition of the 104 unity colleges across the federation.
Nweke Junior stated this in an interview with journalists yesterday in Maiduguri, as part of the activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Federal Government College, Maiduguri, in Borno State, where he had his secondary education between 1977 and 1982.
He said even though the main objective of establishing the unity schools, which is fostering national cohesion, unity and diversity have been achieved, he must confess that he is not unaware of significant drop in standard, not only in his alma mata, the FGC, Maiduguri, but in all unity colleges across the federation.
He said that for this reason, various sets of the old students under the umbrella of the Old Students’ Association of the FGC, Maiduguri have been coming together with different projects to assist the management of the school in tackling some of the challenges facing the school.
The former minister said that during the 50th anniversary, coming up between October 18th and 22nd, old students from as far as the United States, Canada, England and others coming from across the federation will converge in Maiduguri and discuss on how to further develop their former school.
The President of the alumni association, Suleiman Muhammed Dikwa, said that the anniversary will serve as a message to the world that Maiduguri is back as a center of education.
Suleiman recounted some projects which the association have executed in the FGC Maiduguri through the state and individuals, part of which include donation of vocational equipment by one its members, facilitation of e-libary and, ongoing installation of solar electricity in the dining hall, music equipment and construction of sport complex with modern sporting equipments.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, FGC Maiduguri Old Students Association, Engineer Abel Imonighavwe, recalled that when he was admitted to the FGC Maiduguri then, each state of the federation was represented in the school despite being in Borno State.
He said that a lot of activities have been lined up for the 50th anniversary, adding that the old students will use the occasion to further tour the school and come out with more interventions to make the college one of the best in the country.
