It was a nostalgic homecoming for the graduating class of Bayero University Kano (BUK) in 1992 when they came together from different walks of life to mark the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the “fortress of good learning.”
Inspired by the creation of a WhatsApp group in April 2016, the BUK 92 forum has spent more than N20 million on poor students, the sick, the underprivileged and prison inmates, among others, between 2016 and 2022.
At the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner, the chairman of the forum, Mr. Muhammad Dahiru Sa’ad, said that since the beginning, the group has continuously donated cash and goods to various orphanages, helped flood victims, freed prisoners and helped people- that person with the initial capital, while also helping some members with medical challenges, among other humanitarian activities.
Dahiru Sa’ad said that the Forum plans to build a more permanent structure at BUK as part of giving back to the community that shapes the future.
“Since we came back together in 2016, we have paid scholarships, tuition fees for poor students, ransoms for kidnapped members, offset the medical bills of the less privileged, released pending convicts and minor offenders, among other interventions, to the tune of millions, ” he said.
Speaking about the formation of the group through WhatsApp, Engr Rakiya Abubakar said: “After the reunion through the WhatsApp group, we have been able to revive and maintain the various relationships we have made over 30 years ago through this medium.
“We communicate through the chat platform and generate funds and other help for members, schools and communities. The platform allows you to get to know some of your school friends, some of whom you have not met since 1992.
“Because of this group, we have been able to communicate and help each other. It will not be out of place to say that our WhatsApp group is the bloodline, the backbone, the core of some interventions for humanity and communities.
Other speakers included Dr. Kabiru Said Sufi and Dr. Dahiru Sani emphasized the benefits of online groups in keeping in touch and agreed that without it, keeping the Forum together would be almost impossible if not impossible.
While Sani Kankarofi, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 30th Anniversary of Class 92 explained that the event is very important.
“Now, our forum has been able to touch the lives of ordinary people and one of the priorities or areas we put a premium on is trying to encourage poor students to advance in education. We also intervene in correctional centers by providing vocational materials in Prisons for inmates to learn skills relevant artesanal”.
The spokesperson of the group, Mr. ElYakub Shehu, said that the forum said: “through the online group that reunites, it is easy to understand what is happening to the members, their environment, identify those who are in a precarious situation and provide timely assistance.
“It is great that our members work in various sectors including academia, judiciary, business, politics, security and diplomatic services, among others.”
Also in his remarks, the publisher of Nigerian PM and Economic Secrets, Mallam Yushau Shuaib said the annual gathering is a platform for members to show brotherly love to one another.
“I hope you can understand that we still relate to each other as brothers, as we did as students,” Shuaib said.
A former set lecturer, who participated in the gala event, Professor Aliyu Dauda, admitted that in his decades of teaching experience, he had not come across a class that was humane, considerate and sympathetic, like the BUK Class. from 1992, mainly in the community area and other interventions for the university.
“I appreciate what you have done for me personally, as a retired Professor. When I wanted to build a house I was busy looking for funds. The BUK class of 1992 generously helped and completed the building for me. I now live in a house with all the members of my big family. I am very grateful to the BUK class of 1992. I hope that God will always make it easy for everyone,” he said.
During the 30th anniversary celebration in Kano, the members of BUK 92 paid a visit to the Vice Chancellor of BUK, and the Emir of Kano, also held a gala dinner, a football match and then cut the birthday cake.
They also pay hospital visits to make donations; sympathy and condolences to sick or bereaved members.