A class of journalism students from the year 1993 at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has reconnected after 27 years, and is looking for ways to enhance society as a nongovernment organisation.
The 1993 class of Association of Journalism Students at ABU, comprising 153 students, was a two-year diploma programme in journalism but the students dispersed to degree programmes and masters over the past 27 years.
They reconnected on social media and met physically for the first time in Abuja in a “meet and greet” to signal the start of a formal association of old students.
Lilian Dizo started a WhatsApp group with three old students, and each added in contact of fellow students, growing the number to 40 presently.
“We are still connecting. we were just eager to meet. it has been along time,” said Dizo.
“We decided to establish the fact that this thing has come to stay. the next time you hear about us, it will be a larger.”
The meeting underscores a need for old students to reconnect and find ways to give back to society.
“ABU is not an institution; it was a community. We were happy to be a part of it. And whenever we see each other, we reconnect,” said Ebiloma Hillary.
The “meet and greet” in Abuja is the start of formalising structures for old students of the 1993 class and their move toward becoming a charity. They plan to begin visiting orphanages this October.
“This reunion is a rebirth. When we met 27 years ago, we were like children,” said Tony Ninkai.
“Today, we are full-blown adults, grandfathers, fathers, mothers, grandmothers. I thought I was alone and had nobody until the platform came up, and today I am meeting people. I believe in a society of connection and reconnection.”
Classmate Hauwa Kwambo has kept contact with larger classes of former ABU student groups but the bond of alums holds special place in past and present life.
“Some of us are made, some of us are still trying to get somewhere. We can come together and help each other, offer a hand of fellowship,” she said.
“We reconnect to help each other. This reunion of alumni should be something we should encourage. Through this, you see a lot of schoolmates you haven’t seen, someone who is mentally ill, has been sick for years; whichever way you can assist, you lend a hand.”
“We look forward to this going forward to an NGO where we put heads together and see how to help society,” said Adah John, who was class rep back in 1993.
“Some of us are privileged to connect on social media. The bond we had over the years is what we have maintained till now. That bond is like no other. We want it to metamorphose into an NGO. We are from different ethnic backgrounds: we see this as a unifying factor.”
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