In September 1975, a set of young boys were admitted into the Government Secondary School, Katsina Ala. They were from the defunct Benue Plateau, Cross River, Rivers, Kaduna, and some parts of Kwara (part of Igala and Bassa).
Their admission into Government Secondary School (now Government College) was not fortuitous, as was the practice then; they were selected from across many states in the federation.
Fifty years during that meeting in Katsina Ala, 146 young lads from different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds were admitted and accommodated in four streams of classes.
This September, it would be 45 years since graduation into the wider world for higher education and other activities that they needed to bring them into their own.
Of the 68 that are still standing tall today, they have since come into their various seasons of greatness in many, but different professional callings; and are currently playing responsible roles in the development of the nation.
Talk about politics, accounting, media executives, aviation, university administration and teaching, clergy, engineering, public relations, marketing and advertising, nursing, civil service, immigration, medicine and more. They still occupy sensitive positions and are engaged in changing the fortunes of those sectors for Nigeria’s growth and development.
Over the years, the old boys of Set 80 students of the college have remained one of the most visible; committing humongous resources by undertaking several projects in their alma mata. This is not to beat their chests.
The reason for their visibility are not far fetched: They have remained united, replicating their commitments to pay back into various causes; and building on the legacies of older generations of graduands such as General TY Danjuma and many more distinguished sets that have continued to plan seeds to uplift the school’s infrastructure.
The announcement by the leaders of the set dedicating the weekend of August 1, 2025, for a class reunion in Jos some months ago was obvious that the planning would work well to get the best of its members during the event.
The reunion actually turned out to live up to its billing. Those who turned out could well beat their chests as becoming major critical stakeholders coming to the aid of their alma mater in more ways than one.
The usual banters and the remembrance of aliases which some members had used are a reminder that a lot has happened, 45 years since graduation from Katsina Ala; and 50 years at first meeting.
The camaraderie displayed at the meeting was refreshing, even as they were reminded that a lot must have happened since they came together as young boys, some five decades ago.
The reunion brought the old boys together knowing that they must have missed a lot; however, there have enough reasons to raise their hands in the air in obeisance to the creator, for the many things that have taken place in their lives.
Truly, the reunion tells a story: All members bonded by the desire of securing a future from start must have resonated in the efforts parents always wanted for their wards at birth.
The massive lull of the physical presence of interaction with each was displayed when each member sighted another on arrival. Everyone has come of age, having survived the vagaries of life in different ways and coming to the stations God brought each into.
Consider that most sacrificed to travel long distances for the reunion. From Canada, Lagos, Ilaro, Makurdi, Abuja, Keffi, Kaduna, Toto, Garaku, Jalingo, Shendam, Mangu, Tahoss; they came to meet the Jos Home Boys on ground to happily welcome them.
The days were no less spiced with many activities to keep fresh and incandescent until the next meeting in Abuja in 2026. But it was the birthday of Tor Iorapuu, one of the old boys that took centre stage on the first evening.
It was a surprised package, facilitated by Monday Gang Gala and delivered to the celebrant, who is at the end of his tour of duty as vice chancellor of the Benue State University, Makurdi (now, Moses Adasu University).
Monday Gang Gala’s consistent sacrifice in returning home often from Canada for family and Set 80 activities are interesting and infectious. Only a man who takes interest in such things could afford to spend millions to come home often in order to interact with former classmates.
For about four decades, he has lived and worked first teaching at The University of Western Ontario (now Western University), London, Ontario to the Toronto District School Board. He is currently a superintendent of education responsibly for two secondary schools and 22 elementary schools serving the learning needs of a diverse group of over 10,000 students.
The boys have become matured men now, hence they are more at home and understanding why certain things take place with the benefit of hindsight.
One of the urbane members from Keffi, Nasarawa State, Moses Wahe’s water from the trees (palmwine) was the elixir needed for members to be kept busy during the night.
The ‘Stay Late Boys’ took over as soon as the last drop in the jerrican was ascertained to have been drank. No one among the members wanted to find out where the drops in the big container had disappeared to.
The guided tour to the Jos Wildlife Park on the second day couldn’t have been made funnier than for the fear exhibited by most, but much more by a member of the set often referred to as the Lion of Ilaro, who soon “turned” into a cat as soon as he saw the superior of his class.
A drive into several streets in Jos were a head turner for most of the visitors. The long drive to Prof Justin Tseayo of Set 53s residence was even tiring as he was not at home to welcome the set members.
The home of former Byewi House captain Matthew Attah, centre guard of the school’s basketball team called Man Mountain in his youthful age, was indeed instructive.
The set visited to pay homage and pray together with him given the health challenge that he is presently facing.
The set’s major meeting took place in the spacious residence of Monday Gang Gala. Members took time to review its activities, and how the future of the set can be determined, given our contributions.
A number of the items meant for discussion, especially in the area of finances, became manifest, while encouraging all to play critical roles in building the bond between themselves.
A road map came in view of the expedience of the successes needed for the future of the set. That is why for every reason, it is time to up the ante of commitment for the success of the ideals that have brought the set together.
To push for contributions of members to escalate the level of acceptance, all the boys were acknowledged to start to think of alternative ways that could help in strategising for a better version of ourselves for the future.
If certain discussions got heated, they became obvious on account of how the Set 80 would like to be governed. No wonder, a Bye-Laws Committee that could come up with laws that would determine the peculiarities of the set’s operations was set up.
The committee comprises Gabriel Ibu, chairman, Sam Dung Dagyang, David Labeh, Yasmin Alizaga, members and Katdapba Yunana Gobum will serve as secretary. They were given three months to formulate a preliminary draft for members’ input until the next year’s reunion when it will be adopted as a working document.
For standing taller, the following came highly recommended for awards by the set: Tor Iorapuu, Pam Dachungyang Mwadkon, Monday Gang Gala, Paul Attsar, Micah Luka, and Matthew Sule returned home smiling for the recognition.
To get to the finish line was instructive in many respects: the agreement for the choice of Makurdi as the next venue for the reunion in 2026 was agreed until Pam Dachungyang Mwadkon, a serving senator of the Federal Republic, stepped into the fray to puncture the narrative, to the consternation of many; but the confirmation of David Labeh and his Benue State co-travellers’ wishes as relief most sought after.
Since leaving Jos on August 3, 2025, while thanking God, no untoward story was heard of those who traveled back to their respective home states.
Whatever shortcomings were registered during the reunion, they do not in any way eclipse the gains of the convergence. That is why the Jos re-union registered the largest turn-out since it was embarked upon several years ago in Makurdi.
For those who could not come to Jos for the reunion, they were remembered in their various conditions while placing a demand on God to help them overcome such, and help the bond the better.
Gobum, a member of the set writes from Jos, Plateau state