Government Science College Izom milestones at 50

The demarcation of the Federal Capital Territory boundary in the First Schedule of the FCT Act, No. 6 of 1976 started with a reference point, 7 E Longitude and 9 15 N Latitude at the Village called Izom. The boundary line between Niger State and the FCT actually passes through Government Science College Izom, which […]

The demarcation of the Federal Capital Territory boundary in the First Schedule of the FCT Act, No. 6 of 1976 started with a reference point, 7 E Longitude and 9 15 N Latitude at the Village called Izom. The boundary line between Niger State and the FCT actually passes through Government Science College Izom, which started as a Teachers Training College (TTC), by the North-Western State Government in 1975.

Subsequently, Niger State was created in 1976. In 1977 the college was transformed to Government Secondary School (GSS). Because of the importance of science in national development, a deliberate policy was made for the encouragement of science education in secondary schools. Thus, the Niger State Government chose four secondary schools which included GSS Izom and converted them to Government Science Colleges. At that time, similar institutions, the Dawakin Tofa and Dawakin Kudu science colleges in Kano State were already producing marvellous brains in the field of pure sciences and pouring them into many of the nation’s universities.

I started my secondary school education at Izom in 1979 with admission number 642. We were made to sit for specially prepared science examination in 1981. Those of us who passed proceeded to Form 3 in the college, which only the pure sciences were taught. Ours was the second set of pure science students. Those who failed were transferred to continue their studies in other schools. Similarly, other students who passed the science examinations from other schools were transferred to Izom.

The college was selected for the programme because of the standard set by Malam Muhammadu Naballa Ishaq, who became the school’s principal in 1977. We had the largest school farm among the post-primary schools in Niger State. His achievements later earned him the position of Niger State Chairman of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the national vice president before his death in December 1984.

Alhaji Muhammadu Kolo Kutigi took over from Naballa in 1981, and made a new rule, that students must have a minimum of C grade before being promoted to the next class. Otherwise, they were repeated. That was the type of educational drilling we received in the college.

In 1982, Mr Bulus Dauda became the principal. At the beginning of the military regime in 1984, the governor, Lt Col David Mark, paid an unscheduled visit to the school, entered one of our classes and taught mathematics. He was so impressed with the students’ response, and appointed Mr Dauda as his Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development.

Between 1985 and 1989, the school was simultaneously operated as Government Science College and Unity College Izom. The Unity College admitted its students from the then 11 Northern states, also, from Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. However, in 1989, the unity arm was transferred to Government College Bida.

Late Malam Musa Agwari, who succeeded Mr Dauda as the principal, was an indigene of Abaji, in the FCT. Our Integrated Science and Biology teacher was the Late Etsu of Kwali, Malam Shaban Nizazo. Alhaji Abubakar Sani, the present Sarkin Pai and Alhaji Ibrahim Danladi Usman, the Late Sarkin Wako, were students in the first (1980), and fifth(1984) graduating sets of the college respectively. Such were the calibre of old boys the college produced.

GSC Izom produced distinguished personalities in all works of life. Some were present and former commissioners in Niger State. Presently, two permanent secretaries in Niger, and one in Nasarawa State were the college’s old boys. They include many generals in the Nigerian military both serving and retired. The college produced professors and educational administrators in the academics, presently with a rector and a provost in a federal polytechnic and FCT College of Education respectively.

Others are managing directors, coordinator, director generals, and directors both at federal and state levels and private companies. The old boys also include former and present federal and state legislators. Some of the old boys got admission to foreign universities, specifically, many of the 1985 and 1986 graduating sets to the former USSR. Some relocated to America and established industries.

In 2017 and 2019, the college represented Niger State and took the first position in the National Olympiad Science Quiz Competition. Unfortunately, Niger State Government closed the school after insurgents’ attack on some schools. Although there was no incidence at Izom, but because of fear, GSC Izom was closed between 2021 and 2023 along with the others. When it was reopened, it was converted to a day school, which definitely truncates its continuation of academic excellence that brought glory to the state.

The initial recognition to convert the school to a science college was its achievement in the farming culture. Fortunately, Niger State now has a farmer governor; we strongly urge him to revert the college to a boarding school in order to bring back its academic glory.

The Izom Old Boys Association was initiated by Alhaji Alhassan Salihu Zuba, the Ajiyan Zazzau Suleja, as the first national president. Over the years, the old boys assisted the institution with classroom renovations, provision of books for the library and reagents for the laboratories. The golden jubilee celebration is set for this weekend with the commissioning of other projects in the college by the old boys, presently with Professor Abdulkadir Abubakar as the National President. May the Almighty guide and assist all the promoters.