By: Problyn John Alpha
The Jaiama old students’ Association (JOSA) has celebrated the 63rd anniversary of their school at a ceremony held at the school grounds in Jaiama Town Nimikoro chiefdom kono District. The 63rd anniversary of the first secondary school in kono District which started on Friday 13th October 2023 the birthday of the school and ended on Sunday 15th October 2023 with a Christian thanksgiving service followed by a March pass across the town had series of events.
On Friday 13th October 2023 as part of the 63rd anniversary celebration prior to the thanksgiving service and March pass across Jaiama town a courtesy call on the paramount chief of Nimikoro chiefdom PC Aiah Denton Bonawas made followed by a Muslim thanksgiving at the Jaiama Central mosque.
On that same Friday, the Association donated books to the school and also held an annual General meeting and a reunion dance at the Jaiama Court Barry on Saturday 14th October 2023.
JOSA members also involved in a cross country. Delivering his keynote address at speech day and prize giving ceremony of this year’s Jaiama old students Association 63rd anniversary of their school the honourable paramount chief member of Parliament in kono District Paul G. Saquee himself an old student of the school foremost expressed delight to address the audience as the guest speaker of their traditional October 13th celebrations.
He noted as an old student of the school there was nothing more gratifying than to be called upon in whatever capacity to serve the school from which he built the foundation on which he stood and therefore registered his profound gratitude to the principal, staff and colleague old students for the golden opportunity accorded him to serve as the guest speaker.
PCMP Saquee remembered on this day forty-eight years ago when he was one of the pupils alongside several others that gathered at the school grounds to celebrate the auspicious occasion for the very first time a venture which he said is geared toward not only calling to mind the tireless endeavour of the founding fathers of the school but an occasion on which to reflect on how they as students of the institution were tailored and shaped to be meaningful and useful members of society.
The keynote speaker thanked God for him being a proud product of Jaiama secondary school that the institution did a very good job of preparing himself and colleagues to judiciously participate in making kono District and the country as a whole a better place to live. This is because the school prepared them academically and socially for the purpose of fitting in well in society and because they properly imbibed all the materials implanted in them which he said has capacitated them to adequately discharge the functions required of them in society.
Chief Saquee as he is fondly called told the continue students not to waste no time in reminding them that they have a mission to accomplish in the institution which is to equip themselves academically and morally for future service to society.
According to him this can only be achieved by the students paying keen attention and inculcating all what they are taught in school. “The role you play in future will be determined to a large extent by the knowledge and discipline they acquire today. To the principal Mohamed Kabu, the keynote speaker maintained that his predecessors have worked relentlessly to create a culture of academic excellence and personal growth, noting it is incumbent on the principal to carry this torch forward.
He said the principal is blessed with the opportunity to receive a world class education in the District and he must not ignore the privilege that goes with it, adding that it is his responsibility to make the most of his gift to grasp every opportunity and apply his acquired knowledge to positively impact the school. “The spirit of perseverance, honesty and justice that are enshrined in our school’s motto strive for the truth and stand for the right must remain to be the guiding light through the most difficult of times please honour our forefathers by continuing to embody those values”, chief Saquee pleaded.
Concluding, the keynote speaker expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the teachers for their immeasurable contributions to the growth and education of the students. He maintained that as teachers they hold the most honourable and noble position in society. He described them as the key players in shaping the future of the students by impacting knowledge, values and life skills to the young minds that will adequately prepare them to meet the challenges of the contemporary world. Meanwhile, statements from the chairperson of ex-pupils Association Dorcas kumba Hassan King ,principal Jaiama secondary school Mohamed Samu Kabu among many others including the awarding of enviable prizes to deserving pupils climaxed the 63rd anniversary of the Jaiama secondary school celebrations.
