Dengi Old Students Holds Convention, Elects New Leaders

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Government Secondary School, Dengi, Old Students’ Association (DOSA) on Saturday held its Annual Convention/General Meeting in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

The Convention was moderated by the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Professor Abdullahi Shehu Yibaikwal who also made roll calls from the first set in 1978 to 2019.

The Caretaker Committee gave report of their stewardship since their inauguration in 2018 which includes elaboration of action plan; 2019 Speech and Prize Given Day; DOSA Inspection Team Visit to GMSS Dengi; Intervention Assessment Visit to the School; Drafting of the Constitution and Registration of the Association; Development of DOSA Website and Creation of Group E-mail for Members; Courtsey Visit to the Governor of Plateau State, and Congratulatory Message to DOSA Members Elected to the House of Representatives among others. The Financial Report of the Association was also presented at the Convention.

Major highlights of the programme were the review and adoption of the DOSA Constitution and election of the new Executive Committee including electing Board of Trustees members.

Professor Abdullahi Shehu Yibaikwal was elected the new Chairman while Mrs Ruth Adelakun was elected the new Secretary-General.

Other newly elected officers are Mr Yiljap, Vice Chairman, Chief Fabong David Dandam, Assistant Secretary-General, Mrs Rakiya Mamman Sule, Treasurer, and Alilekema Dashe, Financial Secretary.

Also elected were Mr Joshua D. Luka, Welfare Officer, Mr Danladi Stephen, Internal Auditor, Mr Seriki Yamusa, Publicity Officer. Mr Toyin Adesina, Dr Lawrence Lenka, and Mr Ponsel Miri elected as Ex-Officio members.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Ahmed Idris Maje was elected the Board of Trustees Chairman. Other elected members of the Board were Pankshin/ Kanke/Kanam Constituency representative in the House of Representatives, Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Hajiya Laran Adamu, and Mr. A.A Samuel.

While speaking at the event, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Ahmed Idris Maje expressed his satisfaction with the Association saying that ‘this union must continue’.

He said “I will work with the rest of the Executive Committee to change the history of the Association. We will take DOSA to greater heights. Financially, we will contribute to the Association.”

On his own part, Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi thanked the DOSA for the support he received from the Association.

He noted that he belonged to two Sets of the school because he could not afford the West African Examination Council, WAEC, fee in 1998 so, he had to fetch firewoods and sell before he could raise funds to register with the 1999 Set.

He added that God has been faithful to him and his victory at the tribunal further confirmed this. While addressing journalists, he said that he was not bothered about his opponent in the election going to the Appeal Court to appeal the judgement of the tribunal saying that he would still defeat him there.

DOSA is the umbrella body for all old students’ of the Government Secondary School, Dengi. The school was established in 1972.