Stakeholders and alumni of Muhammadu Nya Primary School, Jalingo, Taraba State, have called for renewed commitment to infrastructure development, teacher capacity building and scholarship support to reposition the historic institution for improved learning outcomes.
The call was made at the weekend during the 2nd Edition of the Old Students’ Association Congress of the school held in Jalingo, the state capital.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Congress, Engineer Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, described the gathering as a reunion of a family bonded by shared history and a collective responsibility to give back to the institution that shaped their early lives and careers.
Sambo, who was represented by Professor Shehu Usman Karim, said Muhammadu Nya Primary School was more than a place of learning, noting that it had produced leaders, professionals and change-makers who have contributed significantly to national development.
“As alumni, we have a sacred duty to sustain the legacy of this school and ensure its continued excellence,” he said, adding that primary education remains the foundation of societal progress.
The former Minister of Transportation highlighted some of his personal contributions to education, including the rehabilitation of security fences, classroom blocks, a one-storey building and the school’s ICT centre, which is equipped with 12 computers. He said similar interventions had also been extended to other primary schools within the community as part of his commitment to grassroots development.
While commending the achievements of the school over the years, Sambo identified key challenges confronting primary education, including inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages and the demands of a fast-evolving digital age. He urged alumni to work collectively to address these issues through strategic investments and partnerships.
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According to him, priority areas should include the provision of modern classroom facilities, continuous training and capacity building for teachers, scholarship and mentorship programmes for pupils, as well as stronger collaboration with parents and community stakeholders.
In his remarks, the guest speaker, Dr. Hisham Aliyu Bacci Mohammed, Acting Provost of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State, stressed the importance of giving back to one’s alma mater.
He described primary school education as the stage where values such as perseverance and discipline are first instilled, and called for sustained investment in infrastructure and scholarships.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Old Students’ Association, Mohammed Umaru, disclosed that Muhammadu Nya Primary School was established in 1927 and announced that preparations were already underway to mark its centenary anniversary.
Umaru urged members of the association to intensify efforts towards the growth and development of the school, noting that it has produced notable traditional rulers, academics, politicians and technocrats across the country.
