GSS Kubwa Old Students Reunite After 23 Years, Announce Scholarship Awards

The 1998 set of Government Secondary School Kubwa FCT Abuja has reunited for the first time 23 years after after graduation.

The old students group known as Klub 98 Initiative met in Abuja on Saturday amidst fun memories and excitement where it also announced an educational scholarship for three categories.

They are, Klub 98 Indigent Students Scholarship (KISS), award of Academic Excellence in honour of its departed members as well as a drivable from the KISS scheme which will have three best graduating students receive funding support for WAEC and JAMB registration.

Announcing the scholarship categories shortly after his inauguration, the newly elected President of Klub 98 Initiative, Mr. Om’oba Jerry Adesewo said these are measures to give back to the society.

He said, “In addition, we have designed an empowerment programme named Project KEF, which is Klub 98 Empowerment Fund, which is designed to raise funds from our members and of course, other well-wishers like our Special Guests and other well-meaning individuals and organisations out there.

“Under Project KEF, we have three categories of scholarship awards at the moment. The KISS Scheme. That is, Klub98 Indigent Students Scholarship.

“We also have three sets of Awards of Academic Excellence in honour of our three brothers Chinonso Okafor award for Arts and Social sciences, Obiora Onuoha award for sciences and Dotun Obakeye award of excellence.

“The third category, which is derivable from the KISS Scheme is the WAEC/JAMB Fee Support Scheme where the Best 3 graduating students from all beneficiaries of the KISS Scheme receive funding support for their WAEC and JAMB registration. In all cases, one thing that must be established, or demonstrated is NEED. These scholarship awards are going to be strictly on Needs basis” he said.

Adesewo also announced the maiden scholarship award to ten students of the Klub’s Alma Mata, Government Secondary School Kubwa which he said will increase in number and spread to other schools in FCT as time goes on.

Adesewo, whose inauguration came eight years after the Klub was governed by an interim caretaker committee also announced a ten Million Naira Empowerment Fund which he said will be deployed in the next two to three years as a major intervention fund in bequeathing education as a legacy to less privileged Nigerian children.

Chairman of the occasion, a renowned author and the Director General of African Writers Institute, Prof. Udenta O. Udenta in a lecture titled, ‘Building A Nigeria That Is Fit For Nigerians’ decried the leadership challenge the country has for a long time been confronted with.

He charged members of the Klub to begin to aspire for leadership that will bring the country to a limelight especially as the global community moves forward.

“Sitted in this hall are men and women who have in the past 23 years remained united as a group of old students.

“This unity was not achieved with the rhetoric of North, South, East and West.

“At a time when we have all collectively agreed that we need to move forward from where we are, this hall is not in short supply of men and women who can bring the change we need.

“The bridge of unity you have built and sustained right from your secondary school days till this moment was achieved with a strong leadership. Who says same cannot be replicated at the national stage?” Udenta queried.

Founder and Pro-Chancellor Baze University Abuja, Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed who was at the event represented by the Dean of student affairs, Aghedo Oshioreamhe advocated for a leadership training institute which will be mandatory for all aspiring political leaders.

Other members of Klub 98 Initiative new EXCO are the Vice President, Chibugo Grace Okonkwo, Secretary Onuh Anayochukwu Emmanuel, Assistant Secretary, Blessing Mozie, Director of Finance, Joy Olatunji, Director of Communications, Iniobong Akpayen, Director of Projects, Marshall Moses Udoh, Director of Business & Investment, Franklin Amadi, and Chief Whip, Godswill Okafor.