Retired Lieutenant General and former Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, is set to lead a ₦5 billion fundraising campaign aimed at rehabilitating Government College Katsina-Ala in Benue State, as the historic institution marks 111 years of existence.
The fundraising event, organised by the Katsina-Ala Old Boys Association (KAOBA), is scheduled for 19 October 2026 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. The initiative seeks to restore the school’s ageing infrastructure and revive its reputation as a centre of academic excellence.
KAOBA National President, Chief Anthony Adda, said the association had taken the initiative after repeated attempts to secure government intervention yielded little progress. He described the school’s deteriorating condition as a major concern for former students who regard the institution as an important part of their lives and history.
According to Adda, Danjuma has already demonstrated his commitment to the school’s revival by renovating all five student hostels approximately three years ago. He expressed hope that the retired general’s contribution would encourage other alumni and well-meaning Nigerians to support the rehabilitation effort.
Adda, who attended the school in 1967, lamented that some classroom buildings dating back to his time as a student remained largely untouched. He said the contrast between the renovated hostels and the neglected classrooms had strengthened the association’s resolve to mobilise resources for the institution.
He explained that the campaign was intended to prevent the school from deteriorating further, stressing that although Government College Katsina-Ala belongs to the Benue State Government, former students could not remain indifferent to its decline.
The association also raised concerns about alleged encroachment on the school’s land and the reported sale of some staff quarters by previous administrations.
Adda recalled that the association had brought the land issue to the attention of former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who reportedly established a committee to identify affected portions of the property. According to him, the former governor directed that those who had acquired parts of the land should be refunded and asked to vacate the affected areas.
However, Adda said the association was still seeking similar intervention from the current authorities. He also expressed concern that some teachers reportedly live outside the school premises following the alleged sale of portions of the staff quarters.
To strengthen oversight and address the institution’s challenges, the association has encouraged the Parent-Teacher Association to submit regular reports to the Ministry of Education.
KAOBA is also reaching out to corporate organisations, financial institutions, traditional rulers, wealthy individuals and families with longstanding connections to the school. Adda noted that the institution’s historical reach extended beyond Benue State because it once admitted students from several areas that belonged to the same provincial administration before the creation of states.
Governors expected at the fundraising event include Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State and Bassey Otu of Cross River State. Prominent individuals and traditional rulers with historical ties to the institution have also been invited.
Founded in 1915, Government College Katsina-Ala began as a middle school in Wannune before moving to its present location in Katsina-Ala during the 1920s. It is widely regarded as the oldest secondary school in Benue State and has educated generations of Nigerians from across the North-Central and Middle Belt regions.
The proposed ₦5 billion fundraising campaign is expected to support the restoration of the school’s facilities, preserve its historical legacy and help secure a better learning environment for future generations.
