A group of longtime friends united by a shared commitment to humanity has transformed the learning environment of Famous Secondary School in Jos, Plateau State, through scholarships, infrastructure upgrades, and educational support for vulnerable students.
The intervention, carried out by J-Town Ambassadors (JTA), has not only improved learning conditions for hundreds of students but has also attracted international support from a partner school in the United Kingdom, bringing renewed hope to pupils, teachers, and parents.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of J-Town Ambassadors (JTA), Mr. Suleman Abubakar (Walin Keffi), said the group is made up of friends from diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds who have remained united for over five decades.
“We are from very diverse tribes, religions and cultures, but we have maintained our common humanity and shared purpose for over five decades,” he said, stressing that unity in diversity has been the foundation of their long-standing relationship and service.
He explained that JTA’s intervention at Famous Secondary School represents a strategic commitment to education, adding that the school has now been adopted as one of the group’s priority institutions for continuous support.
According to him, the association will continue to intervene through fundraising, infrastructure development, training, donations, and other collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening the school system.
He further noted that earlier interventions such as payment of school fees and support for teachers had already begun to improve the learning environment, describing the response from beneficiaries as deeply encouraging.
“We have seen the excitement generated by our interventions and have been deeply moved by the gratitude expressed by parents and beneficiaries. The impact on the people we have supported and on the institution as a whole has been significant,” he stated.
Speaking on the partnership, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Odessa Chuwang, said the intervention reflects the fulfillment of a promise made after the group first visited the school and witnessed its poor learning conditions.
She highlighted the international dimension of the project, revealing that JTA partnered with Down House School in the United Kingdom, which became interested in supporting the initiative after learning about the challenges faced by students, especially girls.
According to her, contributions from students in the UK helped fund scholarships, classroom improvements, and the provision of furniture, showing how global solidarity can support local education.
She added that the involvement of young girls in the UK, who contributed to fundraising efforts, made the intervention even more meaningful and impactful for the beneficiaries in Jos.
Giving an overview of the project, Amb. Salis Abdulsalam Mohammed said JTA’s intervention was driven by firsthand observation of the school’s poor infrastructure during a visit.
He said the group focused on practical needs, including cementing classroom floors, installing whiteboards, and improving basic learning conditions that were previously inadequate.
He also disclosed that the association sponsored 40 vulnerable students, paid the school’s annual rent, and provided stipends for volunteer teachers to encourage continuity in teaching.
In addition, he noted that JTA distributed textbooks and exercise books to support academic work, stressing that the intervention was designed to address both physical infrastructure and learning materials.
The Proprietor of Famous Secondary School, Mallam Abubakar Nasiru, commended JTA for its timely intervention, describing it as a major relief to the school community.
He said he established the school to make education affordable for children from low-income families, especially after observing how financial constraints affected academic performance during his years as a principal.
Parents of beneficiaries also expressed appreciation to JTA for the scholarship support.
Mrs. Rahaitu Iliyasu said the intervention had eased the financial burden on her family and prayed for the continued success of the organization.
Similarly, Mr. Habibu Adamu commended JTA for supporting vulnerable students, noting that the scholarship scheme would significantly improve access to education for families facing economic challenges.
