The Government Secondary School Duguri Old Boys Association (DOBA) has extended a helping hand to families of deceased members and other vulnerable persons, including orphans, widows, and the poor.
The gesture is part of DOBA’s humanitarian outreach, showcasing unity and collective responsibility among members during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Chairman of DOBA Alhaji Ahmad Mohammed Saka, Sarkin Shanun Yelwa, emphasized that supporting deceased members’ families is a moral obligation, highlighting the importance of compassion and social responsibility.
“Acts of compassion provide immediate relief while reinforcing core values,” he said.
The association, he said, plans to expand its support, with committees established to aid members. He commended the Special Duties Committee for its dedication, transparency, and effective coordination in organising the distribution.
He called on stakeholders, alumni and community partners to sustain collaboration and expand humanitarian efforts in order to reach more vulnerable families.
He acknowledged the financial support received from prominent members, including the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Barde Bunun Duguri, Hon. Ahmad Isa Tahir, and. Dr Sulaiman Malami Ahmad.
He encouraged younger members of the association to embrace the culture of giving and volunteerism, noting that the sustainability of such welfare initiatives depends largely on the commitment of future generations within the DOBA network.
Also speaking, a member of the association, lecturer with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University ATBU,Bauchi Professor Bala Gambo Jahun, said programmes of this nature strengthen the values of empathy, unity, and social responsibility among members.
He suggested that similar support should also be extended during the Christmas season, noting that the alumni include Christians and that such gestures would promote fairness and strengthen unity among members. He commended the present EXCO of the association for their commitment and dedication.
The Chairman of the Special dutiesand welfare committee, Honourable Ahmad Isah Tahir, said the intervention was made possible with the support from , philanthropists, and well meaning members of the association.
Tahir said his committee did a thorough job and identified the beneficiaries.
He explained that the initiative demonstrates the association’s commitment to standing by members and their families, particularly during difficult periods when collective care and solidarity become especially important.
Tahir said that the committee will continue developing programmes that encourage welfare, compassion, and mutual assistance among members, ensuring that vulnerable families linked to the association receive timely support.
He said the gesture reflects the association’s commitment to standing by its members and their families, especially those experiencing hardship.
Tahir said that DOBA believed the responsibility toward its members does not end with graduation but continues through a strong network of care and support.
He said that the exercise marks the first phase of the distribution, explaining that another round of assistance would be carried out before the end of Ramadan to reach additional needy members.
Some beneficiaries who spoke during the event, including Mukhtar Hassan, Hajara Bala Duguri, the wife of a deceased member, and Isma’il Abdu Ibrahim, the son of a late member, expressed appreciation to the association for the gesture.
They said that the assistance came at a critical time when many families are struggling with rising living costs during the fasting period.
The beneficiaries said the support brought comfort and reassurance to widows and orphans of deceased members, reminding them that they remain remembered and valued by the DOBA family despite the loss of their loved ones.
They also prayed for the continued success of the association and its leadership, expressing hope that the programme would become a sustained initiative that reaches even more vulnerable families in the future.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the association, saying the food relief brought comfort and reassurance that they remain remembered and valued.