Old Boys Association of Government College Kaduna (KADOBA) has called Governor Uba Sani to discontinue the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) orientation camp within the school premises.
The association lamented the dwindling number of students in its annual intake, blaming the sad development on a lack of space, classrooms, and other vital facilities required for smooth learning due to the conversion of some parts of the school to NYSC and civil defence training camps.
The Chairman of KADOBA (Class of 2004), Engr AbdurRahman Musa, appealed at a press conference marking the 20th anniversary of the set’s graduation at the school premises in Abakpa, a few kilometres from Kaduna State Government House.
Engr. Musa commended Governor Sani for the improved security in Kaduna since the assumption of office.
However, he urged the governor to investigate the issue of former Governor el-Rufai’s relocation of the corps members from the NYSC permanent orientation camp along Kaduna-Abuja Road.
“The primary reason for turning our alma mater into NYSC and civil defence training camp was due to prevalent cases of kidnapping, mainly around sparsely populated areas.
“But now that the present governor, with the intervention of God, has been able to make significant gains in fighting insecurity and the state is enjoying peace, we want him to take back these corps members to their natural place where they will feel at home for their mandatory call to serve the country.
“We have always known Governor Uba Sani as a listening leader with a passion for education for our children who would not be happy with the current situation of our kids having their dormitories taken over by corps members and other paramilitary agencies,” he said.
Similarly, the National President of KADOBA, Yusuf Muhammad, decried the psychological effects of schoolchildren having virtually all their learning, instruction, and residential facilities converted and occupied by others for different purposes.
“Government College Kaduna used to be a great institution and the best amongst her peers with prominent alumni from governors, senators, military officers, captains of industry, engineers, professors and others.
“It will amaze you to discover that the late President Umaru Yar’adua was a product of Government College Keffi, an offshoot of Government College Kaduna.
“It is sad having less than 300 students as an overall number of learners across all classes. In the past, 300 students were insufficient in a single form, for example, science, technical, commercial, and art or business specialisations.
“The present obtainable reality on the ground, where 70 to 80 per cent of the college facilities have been taken over by corporations and preventing our children from learning, should give us sleepless nights.
“Senator Uba Sani is an accessible governor with keen interest and regard for the plight of his subjects.
“We strongly believe our SOS will receive the needed attention and our kids’ learning conditions will improve.
Meanwhile, the Organizing Secretary of the KADOBA Class of 2004 disclosed that large chunks of the school premises had been sold and developed for purposes other than students’ educational pursuits.
He urged the Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamalli, who he said was a student of the prestigious college, and other influential school alumni to lend their voices to restoring the lost glory of the once great secondary school.
