Speaking at a colourful reception held in honour of one of their own, the Emir of Lafia Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed, JSC retired, who clocked 5years on the throne as the 17th Emir of Lafia.
The President of the Old Students Association, DR Faisal Shuaib disclosed that the Association is target a 400 capacity CBT Centre in the school.
He further disclosed that the Association is determined to reposition the School as envisioned with its founding fathers as well as in line with the current academic reality.
On the challenge of deregistration and subsequent fine by WAEC, he said the Association was settling the fine of N350, 000.00 immediately.
He further said that the current leadership of the Association is made up of men and women of impeccable character who can judiciously manage the N1Billion to equitably address the infrastructure challenge facing the school, established in 1965.
Speaking on the on Emir, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (JSC retired), Faisal said members of the Old Students are extremely proud of the leadership quality imbued in the Emir, adding that they are happy with success and humility.
He said the Emir is a mentor and role model in leadership and revealed instance they Emir had exhibited humility where he travelled to Lagos just to support the fund raising in aid of the Alma Mata, stressing that leaders like the Emir are very rare find.
He said the traditional ruler who is Chairman Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs remains a pillar and beacon of hope for the Lafia Old Students and pledged support and loyalty to the Emir as well as wish him well on the throne of his fore fathers.
Dr Faisal used the forum to thank the Emir for his immeasurable support while he served as the Chief Executive of the National Primary Health Agency, saying the support of the Emir attracted so much goodwill to the agency and Nasarawa State.
Earlier one of the Emir Classmate of set 74, Mr. Timothy Anjide while congratulating the Emir for clocking 5years on the throne, commended him for his exemplary life style, saying it is a manifestation of the quality of the training they all received while growing up as students in GSS Lafia and his early education at Dunama Primary School at the formative age.
He particularly commend the Emir for his nice character as exemplified by his choice of going to celebrate his 5 years in the throne at his Alma Mata with Students and old School and Class mates,
While describing the Emir as an epitome of justice, he said his various contributions to national discourse has attracted goodwill to Nasarawa the state.
The sole Administrator appointed to oversee the affairs of the school pending the appointment of a School Principal, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim Ewa Kana thanked the Emir and the Old Students for finding it worthy to go to the school to celebrate his 5years on the throne of his ancestors, saying that doing so was inspiring to the younger students of the School.
He used the forum to outline some of the challenges bedeviling the school which include lack of adequate infrastructure, science laboratory equipment and lack of quality science teachers to teach science subjects.
The School administrator also inform the Old Students due to infringement, the School WAEC centre was deregister and fined N350, 000.00 and that the school had to borrow to pay the fine and got the WAEC Centre restored.
According to the school administrator, the school has been reclassified by the State Government as part of ongoing efforts to restructure the secondary school education, saying going forward the school will no longer be running the JSS classes.
While responding to the speeches and encomium showered on him by the Emir described the day as memorable in life as it afforded the opportunity to see some class and school mates he has not seen them for decades.
He commended the leadership of the Lafia Old Students making it happen, saying the President of the Association, Dr Faisal Shuaib is not veritable State and National waiting for time to avail.
He spoke glowingly of Dr Faisal, saying he is very proud of him, promising to stand by him in his future endeavours and asked the Old Students to do should there be the need in future.
On the challenges facing the School, the Emir promised to mobilize financial support from friends and Associates out the Old Students, especially to see the challenge posed in science.
The Emir donated for the cause of Science education in the school the sum of Five Million Naira, (N5,000,000.00) and charged the students to work hard to achieve their dreams in life,
Krestnews.com reports that the short but impressive ceremony witnessed the presentation of gifts and souvenirs by the national leadership of the Old Students and branch leadership from Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa State while the renowned Isa Kungar cultural troupe thrilled the audience.