Tiddo Yo Daddo National Alumni Association of General Mohammed Murtala College (GMMC) Yola, in Adamawa state has fixed December 2021 for centenary celebration of the old association.
According to the association, the aforestated date unanimously voted for by the general congress for the celebration of 100 years of its existence is subject to the approval of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the state.
The association has prominent personalities as members who graduated from the college such as the former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governors Murtala Nyako, Bala James Ngilari, Late Alh. Sale Michika, Deputy Governors, Members of state and National Assemblies, Judges, SSGs, Commissioners, Lecturers, LGC Chairmen, Doctors, Directors, Principals, Senior and Junior Civil Servants, Traditional and Religious Leaders among others.
Some of the members of the association established in 1920 now engage in the renovation in the college, donation of laboratory equipment, instructional materials, chairs/tables, beds, sinking of boreholes, building projects, organising mentorship programmes and host of others in the spirit of giving back to the college.
But as part of preparations towards organising a befitting/ historic event to mark 100 years of establishment, the association held a general congress meeting at GMMC, Yola which saw the participation old boys who graduated in 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and other age bracket who contributed their inputs to see to the success of the event.
During the meeting, sub committees including Finance, Media and Publicity, History, Heritage and Monument, Sports and Entertaiment headed by Geoffrey Garba, Salihu Baba Ahmed, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Sambo and Alhaji Aminu Musa Kolere presented their proposed budget estimates for approval.
Speaking during the meeting, the Chairman Adhoc Local Organising Committee, Sa''adu Abubakar (Gambe) aka Jacdo and a graduate of 1964, appreciated the members of the association for making themselves available for the meeting.
Gambe said that a similar congress meeting was slated for the 11th April, 2020, but could not hold because of the total lockdown, and for fear of the spread of the dreaded Covid -19 pandemic, saying that since the inauguration of Adhoc committee in 2019, there has not been any formal physical general meeting to assess progress and give definite guidelines and timelines.
He told them that the Adhoc committee relies on their support and legal backing to continue to function, saying that his committee had inaugurated some vital sub committees who have since swung into action with a view to deliver on its mandate and called for support and corporation so as to enable them succeed.
In his address, former Secretary General of the association and former Permanent Secretary, Harold Mirchalum, said that based on the introduction conducted, most of their colleagues at the college later grew and became professors and very prominent personalities in the society, saying that it is a thing of joy to him.
Mirchalum, a graduate of 1960s said that he once a permanent in the state civil service, and that he was also selected to represent Gongola state during a meeting for the improvement of education conveyed by the former minister of education, professor Jibril Aminu in Lagos, adding that during his NYSC, he served as a principal of a secondary school in Okene, Kogi state in 1974 to 75.
He told the gathering as former students of the college, they are lucky to have survived to witness the preparations for staging a centenary celebration, saying that by 1952, they were only 2 government owned secondary schools in the whole northern Nigeria, saying they must all thank God that they have been able to survived it.
He said that they have lost so many of their colleagues, and that those that passed on recently include; former Chief Justice of Taraba state who was the vice president of the association, the former emir of Kumo in Gombe state who was their patron, Alhaji Baba Ahmed and former Secretary to the Government of Bauchi state, Alh, Ahmed Idris and observed a minute silent in honour of the departed.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of the association and former Deputy Vice Chancellor Admin, Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTEC) Yola, Professor Bashir, said that meeting was organised so as to collect inputs and discuss on when to organise the event.
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