It was a gathering of the crème de la crème of the womenfolk from all over the federation who converged on Kano recently for a grand re-union of the Women Teachers’ College (now Government Girls College) Kano.
The gathering was to mark the 73rd anniversary of the institution.
The venue of the opening ceremony of the 2-day grand re-union, the assembly hall of GGC Kano, located at Kofar Famfo within the old Kano City, could not contain the alumnae who came in their hundreds from different parts of the country and beyond.
In her welcome address, the President of Women Teachers College Old Students Association (WOTCOSA), Professor Fatima Muhammad Umar, said the glamour and grandeur of the gathering was a great testimony of the importance of girl-child education.
“Education is central to development and improvement of a nation,” she said.
“It empowers people and strengthens nations. It is a powerful equalizer, opening doors to all to lift themselves out of poverty.
“Education of the mother is a significant variable that determines the possibility of children getting educated. An educated mother is more likely to send her children to school,” she said.
Hajiya Fatima added that women education reduces poverty, promotes gender equality, lowers child mortality rate, protects against disease and enhances environmental awareness.
The alumnae association president traced the history of the school which was established in 1947 at the emir’s palace and the Gidan Makama Museum, as the first Women Training College in the Northern Protectorate, adding that it was later moved to the present Bukavu Barracks on Airport Road.
She said the college metamorphosed from a Grade III Teachers Preparation Programme institution to a Domestic Science and craft Education school and was renamed GGC Kano in 1996.
“The college has been a unity school with students from all over Nigeria but gives more emphasis on the northern part of the country. It continued to produce competent, resourceful and determined teachers for the primary/basic level of education for the entire nation.
“Over the years, the school has produced some very notable women in Nigeria who have attained great heights in their chosen careers. Our association is very proud of their individual and collective achievements. It is our hope that their determination and successes would inspire other old girls and the current students of the school.
“Some of our old girls have become ministers, professors, chief justices, commissioners, provosts, general managers, permanent secretaries and politicians. We celebrate the achievements and successes of our students. We are indeed very proud of them and wish them greater achievements and good health to continue to serve our state, nation and the international community,” Prof Fatima said.
She said WOTCOSA within the last one year had provided enormous support for the school, including 460 three-seater desks and chairs for 23 classes; new boreholes and also repaired faulty ones.
She said they also provided computers for the students, renovated the school’s mosque, constructed a new main gate and provided the students with drugs, food warmers for the school kitchen, dustbins, kettles and water tanks.
Major contributors among WOTCOSA members were the wife of the governor of Kano State, Dr Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and her Jigawa State counterpart, Hajiya Asmau Badaru Abubakar; Professor Fatima Muhammed Umar, Hajiya Binta Lawan and class groups of the school.
Others who made contributions were Alhaji Aminu Dantata who donated N5m, Alhaji Magaji who gave N3m and Alhaji Ibrahim Yaro Yahaya who donated 40 three-seater desks.
Kano State government also renovated the school while the Ganduje Foundation renovated the staff room and provided furniture for teachers.
In the evening, WOTCOSA members paid homage to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II at his palace where they reminded him of the long lost tradition of the palace hosting the students of WTC during Sallah and other festive days and urged the emir to revive the practice.
In his response, Emir Sanusi assured them of the revival of the tradition and also donated two bulls, 50 cartons of biscuits, 50 cartons of soft drinks and 50 cartons of table water to the association.
Other events held by WOTCOSA included sporting activities at the Bayero University Kano Sports complex and a grand dinner which was also attended by prominent women such as the wife of the Emir of Dutse, Hajiya Gaje Nuhu Sanusi.
The association also gave awards to the wives of the governors of Kano and Jigawa states among others.
