By James Shim
House of Representatives member for Gwer/ Gwer-West, Hon Asema Achado, has challenged Masev sons and daughters to work together in the efforts to revive Masev Community Secondary School, Taraku.
Hon Achado gave the challenge recently at Taraku during the commissioning of a multimillionaire block of four classrooms completed by the Masev Development Association, MDA.
Hon. Asema Achado, who performed the commissioning ceremony through ACG Peter Pevigyo (rtd), commended MDA for reviving the school and urged Masev sons and daughters to ensure that the school does not go moribund again.
He also tasked teachers and learners on high quality teaching and digital learning and urged parents to ensure prompt payment of school fees for the development of the school even as he promised to look into series of problems affecting the school.
In his remarks, the former Chief Judge in Benue State, Hon Justice Aondoaver Kaka’an commended the Prof. Tarhule-led MDA National Executive Council for not putting the Masev nation to shame.
He assured the Masev community of bigger opportunities in the nearest future, noting that Prof Tarhule has proven his leadership prowess.
Justice Kaka’an however, stressed the need for MDA to upgrade and install computers at the school to ensure that students who graduate from the school are computer literate.
He warned against encroachment on the school land and called for watertight security to guard against theft and destruction of the school’s facilities.
Also speaking, the member representing Gwer Constituency at the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Elias Audu, said he would liaise with the state government to increase teachers and facilitate the building of an ICT block at the school as part of his constituency projects.
Earlier, the President General of MDA, Prof. Vitalis Tarhule, recalled that MCSS was dead with zero student population, until MDA renovated a block of three classrooms in August 2022.
He said as a result, the school has witnessed an enrollment number of five hundred and ten (510) students for the 2022/2023 session.
According to him, the school urgently requires additional classrooms owing to the growing students population and the inadequate learning and teaching facilities.
Prof Tarhule, who is also the Dean of Postgraduate School at the Benue State University (BSU),Makurdi said that MDA thought it wise, to embark on the multimillionaire classrooms block through the commonwealth of Masev people.
On the donation of the block to Justice Kakaan, the President General explained that it was to “serve as a role model for students to emulate his accomplishments to the greater glory of the Masev Nation”.
Principal of the school, Mr David Natu, while welcoming guests expressed gratitude to MDA for its intervention, and called for more assistance in the areas of employment of teachers, upgrading of the ICT centre of the school with modern computers for online transmission of examination results, establishment of science laboratory, power supply, library, sporting facilities, water supply and other important needs.
In his remarks, the Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of MCSS Taraku Prof. James Apam, assured of BOT’s sustained support to develop MCSS, Taraku.
In their separate goodwill messages, some former headboys of the school; Apostle Dr Mtswenem Tor David, and Hon Justice Fidelis Iortyer, both expressed joy that their alma mater has come back to life and promised unalloyed support.
Speaking on behalf of the Gwer Traditional Council, the Ter Gwer, HRH Chief Dr Dominic Akpe, represented by the Mue Ter Masev, HRH Clement Kulugh, called on Masev sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to support the school to enable their younger ones acquire education, while Mue Ter Ngyohov, HRH John Wende, said he would lead Masev Chiefs to support MCSS to grow exceedingly in every department and institutional establishments.
The newly commissioned block was blessed by Rev. Fr Humphrey Boyo, the Priest in charge of St Patrick’s Parish, Taraku.
