The ex-students of the United Faith Tabernacle College, Jarawan Kogi, Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau, have rehabilitated the dining hall, Library and some other buildings at the school.
Mr Steve Omali, the Acting National President of the United Faith Old Students Association (UFOSA), disclosed this at the 40th anniversary of the college on Saturday.
The event coincided with the 2022 Speech and Prize Giving Day celebration of the school.
Omali, who decried the deteriorating state of infrastructure and other facilities in the school, noted that UFOSA had plans to rehabilitate more structures in the college.
”As ex-students, we were able to rehabilitate the dining hall, Library, which were solely done by our Lagos chapter, donated tables, chairs, writing materials, among others
”This is in a bid to give back to the school that has made us,” he added.
The acting president explained that the event had provided them the opportunity to reunite with their schoolmates and garner support towards reviving the lost glory of the school.
”Today’s event is very significant in the history of this school and special to all who have graduated here.
”This institution has made us and many other notable Nigerians out there and it is only logical that we return to pay back and support the growth of an institution that made us.
”We are here today to celebrate with the students, teachers and all those who are working to see that this school is still standing,” he said.
Speaking with nostalgia, Mustapha Raji, the chairman of the Lagos chapter of UFOSA, said that the school was a ”Collage” of students from different parts of the country.
”I used to come from Zaria to school here; we had many students from Taraba, Gombe, Kaduna, Benue and many other parts of this country who studied here.
”Peace Lar, my classmate used to come all the way from London to school here, so, this school has made many people,” he said.
Raji, who commended the management of the school for maintaining the academic standard it was known for, however, decried the manner in which insecurity in Plateau affected the enrolment of students in the college.
He called on the government to address the spate of insecurity in the school vicinity, the state and the country in general.
On his part, Pastor Longshik Binat, the Acting Principal of the college, said poor funding has been a bane of the smooth running of the institution.
He said the school, which is not a grant-aided institution, had never received any support from government, hence depended on the benevolence of groups and spirited individuals to thrive.
”Our major problems are lack funds and decaying infrastructure; sometimes we hardly pay the salaries of teachers.
”And the insecurity that has bedevilled the state for the past years has affected school enrolment; parents no longer feel safe to bring their children here to study.
”The number of our students have dropped from over 1,000 to 157 and this is not good for us,” he said.
Binat thanked members of UFOSA for their efforts and support towards the growth and development of the institution.
The principal said that 32 students succesfully graduated from the institution in the 2021/2022 academic session.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of gifts to some deserving students and graduands of the school by UFOSA.