THE STORY OF THE LION OF THE NORTH. (the only unity school in Kogi state.)

By RMD

This is the story of the lion of the North, otherwise known as the Kabba Provincial Secondary School Okene, in Kogi State Of Nigeria. The school that drives students to deed of Valour, the seat of Excellence, where boys from all over the country learn early, in their formative years to survive.

Ours is a school, where the dignity of labour, hard work, honesty and diligence are ways of life. For one can easily distinguish, a ''Lion'' (for that is how a product of P.S.S Okene is fondly called) from the rest wherever they are to be found. Their sense of direction and commitment to success make them the envy of lesser schools in the country.

Ever before MAMSER, Mass Mobilisation for Self-sufficiency Social Justice and Self-reliance was launched, it is on record that the students were mobilized to build Lawn Tennis Courts and games pitches through direct labour. The students build swimming pool (built in 1956-1958) which makes the school the only school in Nigeria with a swimming pool then. The Slowther Stadium, the Cricket Pitch, and the Pavilion where built by the students. This did not in any negative way affect the school results- for the school was known throughout the Federation for its 100% or 90% passes at WASC in those formative years of the 1950's.
                                                                              The Commonwealth Essay Competitions and the John F. Kennedy Essay Competitions saw the inscription of the name of this great school in the annal of seats of Excellence in the nation. The Isa Keita Cup for the best result HSC was won for keep till today by the school. Enough of academic glories for that is the school stock in trade, ''Lion of the North or rather Lion of Nigeria''.
                                                                   In sports, be it Cricket, Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis, Hockey, Football, Basket Ball, Fives, Athletics, the school always excelled and came off with flying colours in regional competitions. Notable athletes of days of yore include Peter Idachaba, Musa Tanko (from Kano state), Isa Ojibara etc, who distinguished themselves in sprints, Marathon and Pole Vault respectively, while John Alao was one of the notable footballers. Later date Sprinter like Bawa Salka can be added to the list.
                                                                                                  But we all know that Rome was not built in a day. It is this sense of history that this article naturally conjures up that makes me go back to those early beginnings of my Alma-Mater.
                                                                               Although we(old boys) have celebrated 89 years of our school in January, that is 1927-2016, the transition period goes beyond this date.
                                                                                    The school was originally known as Central School from 1923-1933. And it was during this transition period that the granite structure was built. From 1933- 1949, the school was called Kabba Province Middle School. The school became Junior Secondary School from 1950-1955. The period 1956-1965 saw the school reverting to its Provincial appellation with the name Kabba Provincial Secondary School. For a brief period, that is, 1965 it was called Okene Secondary School. But in the summer of 1965 it was changed to Government Secondary School. Until 1972 when the name was changed to Abdul Aziz Atta Memorial College (AAAMCO) after a calibre of an able Head of Nigeria Civil Service (Late Alhaji AbdulAziz Atta).

That is brief about the school (I am currently rewriting this history).
                                                             Currently, the school is facing a lot of challenges. It is drastically loosing its prestige and needs an urgent attention to rebuild the old memories. It is also the only unity school in Kogi state that if the government looks into it, he is sure to kill two bed with one stone (ie education and unity).
                                                                Although, we know that no matter the economic situation in the jungle, lion will never eat grass.

Long Live Kogi State
Long Live Nigeria!