By Abbas Yahaya.
More than 100 former students of FOAMWAN Nursery and Primary School Lokoja gathered at Kewon Hotel for their biggest reunion over years of meeting.
They returned to the school that gave them a sound education to provide the school with White Board and Marker to change the system of writing for pupils, while recognizing teaching and non-teaching staffs, and reminisce about their time at the school.
Having gone their different ways for many years, they converged at Kewon Hotel to reunite with themselves and with some of the teachers that have impacted their lives.
The Amir of the Alumni, Ahmad Abubakar Datti, said it was worthwhile old students come together to give back to their alma mater. “This is why we have taken it up to embark on significant projects in the school apart from thanking God for keeping us alive till date.”
While thanking the management for keeping the standard of the school high, Ahmad Datti noted that the school still needs the support of old students for sustaining the standard of education for the past decades of its existence.
The old students promised to organise periodical mentorship programme for the students as a means of encouraging them as well as preparing them for the future
Meanwhile, Fosan had journeyed through their primary school years together and were later split into different secondary schools in Lokoja and other part of the states.
Although it had been decades since they parted ways, getting everyone together did not prove to be a challenge.
“It only took us about two months to plan this grand gathering.
“Social media was the key to sending out the invitation and getting in touch with as many ex-schoolmates as possible,” said Datti
He added that most of the planning was done over a FOSAN WhatsApp group chat which had become more active while planning the reunion.
“The notifications became too much to bear that I had to get a different number just to accommodate the overwhelming response to the group,” he said with a laugh.
Another alumnus, Liman Omotolani Ruqayyat said she had been excited about the reunion from the moment she received the invitation.
“I was looking forward to this day and could not wait to attend this reunion.
“The food is good too, but what’s more important is that everyone is just so happy to meet each other again after all these years,” Omotolani said.
While most of them were still living around Lokoja, there were a few who came from Abuja, Kano, Sokoto, Kwara and Ilorin just to reunite with friends.
At the reunion gathering, which was also a celebration, the guest were treated to a sumptuous buffet and some even took part in inspiring others.
“Growing up, there was no discrimination. We were all friends regardless of race and religion and I am glad I grew up in such an environment.
“I value the friendships I have with these schoolmates,” said Suleiman Ahmed Namu
He also credited the organising committee for the successful gathering.
“My friends Haruna Abdulmutalib Mustapha, Habiba Ameerat Yusuf Suleiman Ahmed Namu Abdulrahaman Fulera, Mustapha Ibrahim Ahmed Datti, Hauwa Umar Hauwa Muazu, Umar Nda, Aisha Muhammad, Uzair Abdullahi, Ayuba Haruna, Aisha Abubakar all played key roles in making this night a success,” said Abbas.
While this reunion happen to coincide with the Holiday, Ahmad Datti promised to prioritise the welfare of the members, and appealed to them all not, “to push us forward to fail as pioneer executives, but work in unity and love to achieve set goals to the betterment of members, and the school at large”.
