On 70 years of Queen Amina College
Precisely on the 27th of March, 2010, the QAC premises was agog with activities marking yet another milestone in her years of existence as an institution of learning. Activities to commemorate the occasion kicked off with community services. They shared this joyous event with the needy at the Jam’iyar Matan Arewa orphanage where they made […]
Precisely on the 27th of March, 2010, the QAC premises was agog with activities marking yet another milestone in her years of existence as an institution of learning. Activities to commemorate the occasion kicked off with community services. They shared this joyous event with the needy at the Jam’iyar Matan Arewa orphanage where they made donations. Hospitals were also beneficiaries of the good gestures of QAC’s former students. They distributed beverages, cartons of Indomie noodles, milk, bags of rice, sugar and whatever any member could afford. The entourage also paid a courtesy call on wife of former Kaduna State governor, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, herself an old girl – and were duly entertained. Programmes that marked the grand day were divided into two sessions.
The morning session, which included a paper presentation, was dominated with activities that celebrated past principals. There were a number of them present and a few who stood out were honoured with merit awards. Those awarded include Malama Salamatu Audu, now retired, Hajiya Saudatu Nuhu Maiwada and Hajiya Ramatu Abdullahi. Interestingly, Hajiya Saudatu Nuhu Maiwada triples as an ex-principal, ex student and present acting chairperson QAC old girls association. A present day principal of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Kawo, Kaduna, her firm participation helped in making the ceremony a success. She was part of the organising crew. Other principals honoured were Hannatu Tauna, Rehila Doyaro Tasallah Ando, Sadiya Abdu and Jummai Jarma. While responding on behalf of the awardees, Malama Salamatu thanked the Kaduna State chapter of QAC for the recognition accorded them while calling on all present and old students to work towards improving the standard of the school. Hitherto, she had stressed the need to enhance girls’ education to achieve gender parity as a catalyst for national development. She made this point in a speech she delivered at the occasion – the paper was so titled. While principals were honoured during the day, it was the turn of old students to be honoured during the dinner party. Some outstanding old students were honoured based on their contributions to the association. The award titled Long Standing Leadership and Immense Contribution to the Association Award went to seven old students. The recipients were, Mrs. Victoria Gowon, late Mrs. Maryam Babangida, Mrs. Dabo Lere, Hon. Mariya Abdullahi, Mrs. Asma’u Makarfi, Mrs. Amina Namadi Sambo and the Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Maryam Luka Madami. Maryam Bewell, former General Manager of NTA, Kaduna, was there too. She gave Mrs. Namadi Sambo’s citation.
Indeed, from the names of the awardees, one could safely conclude that QAC produced some of our society’s finest. However, Mariya Abdullahi’s name rang the loudest bell among the recipients, in this observer’s opinion. Watching her receive the award brought memories of her as a television presenter on N.T.A, Kaduna, during the 80s. While the old students were celebrating their re-union, this writer was celebrating the ascent of Hon. Mariya Abdullahi from the studios of N.T.A Kaduna to greater professional as well as political heights in Nigeria and beyond. She had scaled through the challenges of her profession to carve a place for herself in the society. She stands out as a role model for any young woman wishing to achieve success to emulate. Her citation, as read by Rabi Sodangi, speaks volumes for her!
Hajiya Mariya showed particular concern over the present students’ appearance and the way they handle the school property. She was particularly disappointed because, according to her, such appearances show lack of charisma from people expected to be leaders of tomorrow and who are also expected to be champions of women cause. Disregard for personal appearance is tantamount to low self-esteem, hence a poor way of fighting male dominance in our society. According to her, one of the advantages of a strong old girls’ association is the platform it offers to collectively see where you could be of assistance to the school and by extension its students, thereby maintaining the school’s standard and the good name it has built over the years. Such assistance could be moral, financial or just serve as a body to ensure discipline or all of the above.
Furthermore, an old girls’ association can foster a change in the students study habits by encouraging them through the same pattern they followed. She stated for example, in their own days, the fear of failure propelled them to study harder. They took studying to pass a test as seriously as they took reading for examinations.
Because I wanted to have a picture of her mind frame, curiously I asked what her most fulfilling moment of the day was; her answer was as surprising as it was unexpected. “That we are able to come together and raise some funds in support of our alma-mater is most satisfying.”
Umar wrote from 3, Sultan Bello Road, Kaduna