It was a nostalgic homecoming for Bayero University Kano (BUK) graduating class of 1992 when they converged from various walks of life to mark the 30th graduation anniversary of their exit from the “great citadel of learning.”
Inspired by the creation of a WhatsApp group in April 2016, the BUK 92 forum has expended over N20 million on indigent students, sick persons, the less privileged and prison inmates, among others, between 2016 and 2022.
Speaking at the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner, the chairman of the forum, Mr. Muhammad Dahiru Sa’ad, disclosed that their group, since inception, has consistently been donating in cash and kind to various orphanages, assisting flood victims, freeing prison inmates and assisting them with start-up capitals, while also assisting some of their members who have medical challenges, among other humanitarian activities.
Dahiru Sa’ad said the Forum is planning to build a more permanent structure at BUK as part of giving back to the society that moulded their future.
“Since our coming back together in 2016, we have paid scholarships, tuition fees for indigent students, ransoms for kidnapped members, offset medical bills of less privileged, bailed out awaiting trial inmates and lesser offenders, among other interventions, running into millions,” he said.
Speaking on the formation of the group through WhatsApp, Engr Rakiya Abubakar said: “After the reunion through WhatsApp group, we have been able to nurture and sustain the various relationships we formed more than 30 years ago through this medium.
“We interact through the chat platform and generate funds and other forms of assistance to members, the school and the communities. The platform has made it possible to know about the whereabouts of some of our school mates some of whom we have not met since 1992.
“Because of this Group, we have been able to relate and be of assistance to one another. It will not be out of place, to say our WhatsApp group is the bloodline, the backbone, the very essence of our several interventions to humanity and the community.”
Other speakers include Dr Kabiru Said Sufi and Dr. Dahiru Sani emphasised the benefit of the online group in keeping in touch and agreed that without it, keeping the Forum together would be near impossible if not impossible. (Guardian)