FGCA set 94 Bridges Past and Future in Landmark 31-Year Reunion

Alumni Gather in Azare to Reconnect, Inspire Students, and Pledge Renewed Support for Alma Mater

By Rebecca Caleb Maina

Azare, Bauchi State For the Class of 1994 of Federal Government College, Azare (FGCA), 3rd to 4th October 2025 was a weekend where the past met the present with a firm promise for the future. More than three decades after their graduation, alumni returned to the colky that shaped their youth, bringing with them a powerful wave of nostalgia, shared success stories, and a revitalized commitment to give back under the theme, “Greater Together.”

A Return to Roots

At an event at FGC Azare, the former classmates, many of whom had not seen each other since 1994, shared hugs and rekindled decades-old friendships.

The reunion was the culmination of months of dedicated planning, a process the 31st Anniversary Planning Committee Chairman, Bappah Tata, described as an emotional journey.

“It took love, patience, and teamwork to bring everyone together,” Tata stated. “Through this process, we rediscovered friendships, shared laughter again, and remembered how much this school meant to us. Today, standing here, we are reminded that time may pass, but true friendship never fades.”

In a moving keynote address, the 94 Set Chairperson Nuhu Mailafiya emphasized that the reunion’s purpose extended beyond nostalgia.

“FGC Azare wasn’t just a school; it was a foundation that built our values and courage to dream,” he declared.

“We return not only to remember but to give backto inspire, to support, and to build legacies that will outlive us. This reunion is a bridge between generations.”

This commitment to the future was put into action during a motivational session with current students. Alumni Danjuma Garba and Kabati Tokara took the stage to inspire the young minds.

“Dreams come true through hard work, character, and self-belief,” Garba advised the students, while Tokara added, “Leadership begins in how you treat others, how you take responsibility, and how you rise after failure.”

The session left a visible impact, with students eagerly sharing their ambitions to become doctors, professors and journalists

Earlier,Welcoming the returning set, the college Principal, Dr. Bukar Burkarbe, lauded them as “living testimony” of the school’s legacy. “Your return reminds our students that greatness starts with discipline and small beginnings,” he remarked.

In his closing remarks, Stephen Ajayi reinforced the reunion’s core message. “We are stronger together, and our impact must continue to grow,” he urged his classmates

A Walk Through Time

A tour of the school campus offered a bittersweet reflection on the passage of time.
The alumni celebrated significant progress, including a fully completed dining hall, a new perimeter wall fence, renovated administrative and hostel blocks, and a modern sickbay.
The near-completion of the school chapel (90% finished) was hailed as a major achievement for the Christian community.

However, the sight of the overgrown sports field struck a chord of melancholy. “This field taught us teamwork and built friendships,” recalled Ishaq Kwargana, the 1994 Assistant Head Boy. “We hope to see it alive again soon.” The tour served as a poignant reminder of both progress and the shared responsibility to restore cherished parts of their heritage.

Celebrating an Unbroken Bond

The event climaxed with a celebratory reunion dinner filled with music, dance, heartfelt reminiscence. and minute silence in honor of those who have passed away.

The spirit of the gathering was perfectly captured by a banner that read: “We Came for Knowledge, We Left with Lifelong Friendships. 31 Years Later, We’re Back! Building Legacies.”

The FGCA ’94 Set has a history of giving back, having previously funded the replacement of the school gate and the renovation of a classroom block. Their 31-year reunion was not an end, but a powerful reaffirmation of a lifelong promise to their alma mater: to continue building forward, together.