By DEMES SLOANES
There was jubilation among the students and staff of Government College Makurdi, Benue state on Thursday as the 1983 set flooded the school with new sporting equipment for various games.
The physical presentation of the sporting equipment is part of activities lined up to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Makurdi Old Boys Association (MOBA) ’83 set.
It followed the report of a committee led by Commodore Joseph Dzunve (rtd), which was set up to visit the school to assess the state of sporting facilities and make recommendations of how MOBA ’83 could intervene.
The committee had reported that the students were in dire need of sporting facilities and equipment, adding that the Lawn Tennis courts, Volley court and Basketball Court, also needed to be repaired
The presentation of the items was made by the Governor of MOBA ’83 set, Mr. Sarwuan Jooji, who led a delegation members including Commodore Dzunve (rtd), Benjamin Gege, Fanen Nor, Samsom Ashaku, Kayode Oshodi, Christian Ber and Paul Ebe, among others.
- L-R: Ashaku, Oshodi, Nor
The sporting equipment, which were presented during the morning assembly included Football items (30 pieces of jersey, 4 footballs, a pair of goal post net, 1 goal keeper glove and Goalkeeper’s Jersey); Tennis items (3 rackets and 3 balls and 1 tennis court net) and Volley Ball items (2 volley balls and 1 volleyball net).
Others were Badminton items (1 badminton net, a packet of shuttle cocks and 3 badminton rackets); Basketball items (2 balls, 2 rings and nets); Handball items (a pair of goal post net, 2 hand balls, 1 goalkeeper hand glove and Goalkeeper’s Jersey) and; Table Tennis items (1 table tennis table, 2 bats and balls).
According to MOBA ’83 Set, the sporting jersey and other items were being presented to the school on so that the students of Government College Makurdi participating in the All- Secondary Schools Games coming up in Otukpo next week could use them.
Receiving the items, the Principal of GCM, Mr. Abee Joseph Terkimbir, thanked members of MOBA ’83 set for interest they have continued to show in the development and progress of their alma mater, even after 40 years of leaving the school.
He expressed happiness that during the visit by the Dzunve committee, “I informed you of our challenges and here you are with all these items.”
The Principal had, in particular, informed the committee that the school’s sports teams were participating in the All-Secondary Schools Games holding in Oturkpo but had no jerseys.
Government College Makurdi was established (first as Government Craft School) in 1957 and has produced 30 principals to date. It has also produced many political and business leaders, including State Governors, Ministers, professors, media entrepreneurs, medical doctors, pilots and engineers who have made great contributions and left their footprints on the sands of time in Nigeria.
