SHOSA: Celebrating Excellence as Old Students Prepares to Rekindle Memories

By: Balami Lazarus

This piece is a flashback: a package of wholesome embodiments of amazing memories that are part of many of us who are still alive as ex-students of Plato College Sharam-Kanke, Plateau State.

Looking back at memory lane, you reading this work will concur with me that Old Students Associations of Schools has always rekindled memories of nostalgic feelings, and there you are; back to those good old days as boys and girls where our joy, happiness, laughter, jokes, and pranks reside with some bittered dots of anger triggered by disciplines/punishments from teachers and bullying seniors.

As an old boy of Plato College, Sharam has no regrets about passing through the said secondary school. Many others and I have every cause to appreciate God for being alive and in good health.

I believed that all Sharamites (Platonians, my creation) alive shall and will not easily forget Dr. Sumuila Ndayako of blessed memories, who was the Rector of the school for impacting knowledge and disciplines that have shaped our lives in many ways in line with the school motto “know thyself and the universe,” believing many of us have keyed into this.

Therefore, the Sharam Old Students Association (Shosa) of Plato College Sharam, Jos Chapter, prepares to host this year (2026) National Convention, where her boys and girls, who are today men, women, and grandparents, are looking forward to meeting and celebrating excellence.

The National Convention shall be an opportunity that will provide great reunion of togetherness to rekindle memories of secondary school days where Sharamites that I called Platonians of Plato College Sharam shall again meet in recollection of boys and girls, seniors and juniors.

In spite of current challenges, Shosa is forging ahead. And this year the National Convention has been slated for the 20th to 21st of November 2026 in the city of Jos, with the theme yet to be announced.

It is on record that most Old Students Associations on the Plateau, including Shosa, are contributing positively to the state and to nation building in both public and private sectors.

As a member of some clubs, societies, unions, and associations, I have observed that the challenges of such groups are lack of financial commitment in the payments of dues and failure to contribute when the needs arise and equally not attending meetings.

Similarly, few members are the holders of associations like my Shosa, where few are truly committed to the cause of my alma mater.

The lack of financial commitment and the unconcerned attitudes of most who claimed to be members are alarming in most ex-student associations in our nation.

Let me be raw here: whenever in any association there will be a celebration, members by default are always in large numbers. And most times outnumbering the serious ones.

What are the attractive elements of such a change of gear?

Balami, Publisher/Columnist 08036779290