GSC Kagara old students tax selves N500m to rebuild school

Old students of Government Science College, Kagara, where bandits kidnapped 27 students and staff in February, are taxing themselves to rebuild the school, which could cost as much as N500 million.

The mass abduction brought the school into headlines, baring its dilapidation and state of disrepair.

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It showed rundown buildings, degrading walls, broken windows, leaking roofs and broken ceilings.

Former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani is among old students of GSC Kagara who met in Minna.

He said the school would require no less than N500 million to rebuild.

“Rebuilding the school will cost about N500 million at a modest cost. What we are doing now is to task ourselves because we cannot do it all,” he said.

“We are also seeking an appointment with the governor to see how we can discuss with him so as to rebuild the school,” Sani said.

The old students are working to update their rollcall going back to students who graduated from 1973 till date.

Each old student is to pay N500 in annual dues from their year of graduation.

The money is to fund the school project, said Idris Lego, president of the Kagara Old Students Association and presently permanent secretary for planning, research, statistics and document in Niger’s office of the head of service.

“We are working hard to unite the old students from 1973 till date to foster unity and see how to give back to the school and the community to regain the lost glory of the school,” he said.

“We are tasking all our members to pay N500 annual dues from the year of graduation till day and we also plan to raise fund for the school project. We have also contacted the government to see how they can renovate the school and it is already in the 2021 budget.”

Nationwide disrepair

Sani tweeted photos of the dilapidated school building in February at the height of the kidnap, calling it a “sitting duck” for bandits.

Dear @abusbello ,@GovNiger,Sometimes it takes tragedy for things to change.Use this opportunity to rebuild GSC Kagara,after decades of utter neglect.Absence of perimeter fence made it easier for the Kidnappers.Public schools must not be sitting ducks for Bandits and terrorists. pic.twitter.com/zoKNNLK7Hv

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) February 18, 2021

Speaking during the meeting of the Kagara Old Students Association in Minna at the weekend, Sani noted that the situation in which the Kagara school found itself is same with all schools in Northern Nigeria.

“Bandit and terrorists are destroying public schools in Northern Nigeria and all the schools are now in perilous state. It is sad that those who benefitted from public education have neglected it. If we don’t wake up from the reality, we will be growing generation of uneducated youths.

“We have visited the school and as association we are making some contributions to renovate some things in the cool because it is completely in ruin, it can’t be renovated but rebuilt completely. We are making financial contribution to see how we can pick up some things to rebuild because the school has to be rebuilt from the scratch.

He therefore called on the government to know the importance and significance of old students association and engage them.

“A section of ministry of education should dedicated for the old students association with a desk officer to ensure free flow of communication between old students and the school. It shouldn’t be just an association but a cooperative to give back to the schools,” he said.