HISTORY OF POSA

POSA virtually went into oblivion for some year’s before1997. The lull in the operations of the Association was attributed to the fact that certain key officials left Jos for other cities. The association as at then, had Mr. Emmanuel D.D. Jankanwa and Mr.Wilson Yale as interim Chairman and Secretary respectively. Mr. Jankanwa, of Lion Bank, was posted to Abuja while Mr. Yale left for Yolathus grounding the association’s activities.

The inactivity of POSA worried so many people who verbally expressed the desire to revive the association, but without action. In 1997, three members of the 1981 set of POSA decided to convene a meeting of members of their set in the hope that it would eventually awaken the national body. This first meeting was held at the OLA Hospital, Jos on the5th April, 1997 with only five (5) members in attendance.

Undaunted, a subsequent meeting was scheduled for May 1997 with a plan to hold an occasion that will draw the attention of most POSA members, which would set a stage for POSA’s national revival.POSA’81’ at this stage was coordinated by: Prince Lawrence B. Maren(Chairman), Mr. Daniel Dareng Lenge (Secretary),Mr. Matthews Dawap (Member) and Mr. Samuel A. Yise (Member).Series of meetings by the set ’81’ were subsequently held, with an ever increasing impetus in terms of attendance. It was in the course of these meetings that a reception of honour for some members of the ’81 set’ was decided upon.

The reception of honour was, through strong media publicity, able to draw together many POSA members across the sets and some past principals of GSS Pankshin. The occasion held at the University of Jos Guest House, Dogon Dutse on the30/8/99.

Those honoured were:

1. Rev. Darep Y. Reng Clergy
2. Rev. Solomon Maichibi Clergy
3. Dr. Dauda E. Musa-Doctor of Philosophy
4. Dr. David L. Wonang-Doctor of Philosophy
5. Dr. Yilkyes F.Bala-Doctor of Philosophy
6. Saf John Akila Traditional Chief

Past principals (in whose hands the1981 set started and graduated at GSS Pankshin) in the persons of Mr.S.T. Kallamu and Mr. Gabriel J. Sallah and the then incumbent principal, Mr.T.T. Sallah were in attendance. The first Head boy, Mr. Emmanuel D. Jankanwa and Mr.Sunday J.Akuns were there as chairmen of the occasion, while Mrs. Rosaline T. Sekuk was the chairperson. At the reception POSA’81’ told the gathering that it had no intention to clinch the leadership of the association from its seniors, but that it wanted it revived.

On the 31st August, 1997, POSA’81’ elected its exco comprising the following:

1. Sunday T.Panwal (Esq)-Chairman
2. Rev. Darep Y. Reng – ViceChairman
3. Nuhu Shehu Dagang-Secretary
4. Ibrahim K.Audu-Assistant Secretary
5. Daniel Daorong Lenge-Financial Secretary
6. Magdalene Dasbak (Mrs)-

Treasurer

7. Samuel A. Yise – P.R. O.
8. Lawrence B.Maven -Auditor

The above exco was inaugurated to take immediate steps to ensure that the national body was revived. Consequently, on the 27th Septem-ber, 1997, the ’81 exco invited well placed members of POSA from all sets to a consultative meeting on how to breathe fresh air into POSA and move it ahead. Series of such meetings were organized by the ’81 set’ and it culminated in the formation of an Interim National Committee (INC) of POSA comprising the en.tire’81’exco and the following from other sets:

Mr.Sunday Dabang

Mrs.Rosaline Sekuk

Mrs.Mildred P.Makan

Mr.Emmanuel D. Jankanwa

Mr. Ibrahim G. Sale

The INC held several meetings and sent emissaries to GSS Pankshin to consult with the Principal on various issues including the planned launching for school development. With facts in hand, the INC convened a national congress meeting on the 24^th January, 1998 at the Plateau State Polytechnic, Jos Campus. At the very well attended meeting, the INC requested for its own dissolution and the election of a substantive executive committee. The congress rejected this and, rather, endorsed the INC to function forthwith as the executive committee pending the execution of the launching being planned for the school.

At an exco meeting on the 21^st February, 1998,the positions of chairman, vice chairman and secretary were retained as extant in the INC, while the other positions were reallocated as follows:

Daniel Daorong Lengs –Assistant Secretary

Ibrahim Sale-Financial Secretary

Rosaline Sekuk (Mrs) –Treasurer

 Mrs Mildred P.Makan –Public Relations Officer.

Others were retained as members without portfolios.

The executive committee as re-constituted, has led the association to date. Been convened with widespread attendance across set sand places of residence. The pursuit of the vision for POSA is still very hot. The fact that you are reading this very magazine goes to attest to the fact that we are forging ahead into success.