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Tag: Baptist Academy

  • Baptist Academy: Leveraging sports for talent growth

    Baptist Academy: Leveraging sports for talent growth

    • School holds inter-house sports

    It was all pomp and ceremony as Baptist Academy held its 88th inter-house sports athletics competition. The event was an avenue for members of the staff,  pupils and other invited schools to appreciate the beauty of the spirit of togetherness. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE was there.

    The atmosphere at Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos was electrifying. It was the school’s 88th inter-house sports competition. The occasion bore signs of celebration of a milestone, just as the Principal, Deacon Gbenga Abodunrin, described this year as “monumental” with the celebration of 170 years of the founding of the school.

    The event was a convergence of parents, pupils, former pupils/old boys led by Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA)  President, Mr. Akin Fatunke, well-wishers and invited schools. It provided an avenue for participants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, fair play and integrity.

    Abodunrin noted that events of such nature should foster development of talents. He said in today’s world, sports are not just a pastime, but one of the most rewarding career paths.

    “To the students of Baptist Academy, I urge you to leverage events like this as gateway to discovering and honing your latent talents in sports. Many of our illustrious alumni have walked this path and their achievements on national and global stages serve as inspiration,” he said.

    Savouring the moment, chairman of the event, Otunba Bestman Jumbo-Nze, described sport as an integral part of the school, noting that the school has raised stars and champions that have gone ahead to win laurels for the country.

    He urged other old boys to improve sporting facilities in the school, pledging his willingness and readiness to assist anytime.

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    The chairman encouraged youths to take sports and academics seriously, stressing that a sound body in a sound mind is needed in  sports for economic growth, social integration and networking.

    BAOSA President Fatunke said the event required bringing sports stars to inspire and motivate the pupils.

    “We have best in athletics and sports here – stars, who have come to honour the school and BAOSA. Prominent among them are Dr. Adeyemi Philips, a sprinter in the school, who also represented Nigeria at the 14th Commonwealth Games in New Zealand; we also have Seni Ogunlende, another sprint sensation who represented the school and the nation at international tourneys; Franklin Howard played for Baptist Academy and was in the first U-21 soccer squad in Nigeria; Bestman Nze was also captain of the school team;  Tunde Martins, the soccer maestro of Igbobi College is also here to honour us,” he said.

    Fatunke, who thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for making their international lawn tennis court project a reality, pledged that BAOSA would upgrade the school’s field to international standard.

    At the end of the event, Harden (White) house topped the medals table; Willigham (Blue) house came second. Stone (Red) house placed third in what was a keenly contested competition.

  • Baptist Academy’s 84 set marks 40th anniversary

    Baptist Academy’s 84 set marks 40th anniversary

    • To deliver new dining hall for alma mater

    The 1984 set of Baptist Academy has kicked off its 40th anniversary celebrations of leaving the school with a thanksgiving service at the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos.

     The service was part of the activities marking the school’s 169th Founder’s Day.

    After the service, the Chairman of the 40th Anniversary Organising committee, Mr. Kunle Osiyemi, noted that in commemoration of the anniversary, the 84 Set embarked on the task of rebuilding the completely derelict school dining hall.

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    He stated that the hall, which had been disused for years, is the class’ way of giving back to their alma mater.

    Osiyemi emphasised that the set, under the leadership of the Akin Dosumu-led Executive Committee, was working round the clock to deliver a fully refurbished hall and kitchen by December 31.

    He stressed that with the continued support from the alumni and well-wishers, the goal was attainable.  Osiyemi explained that the hall’s refurbishment was chosen as the set’s signature project after accessing all the pressing needs of the institution. He added that the deplorable state of the building and the danger it posed to students and staff lent credence to the choice. According to the committee chairman, the project which started some eight months ago cost around N40 million to date.

    He noted that an estimated N35 million is still needed to complete the renovation, hence his clarion call for support from all quarters.

  • ‘Don’t disrespect authority’

    Principal of Baptist Academy Obanikoro Lagos Rev. Bosede Ladoba, has urged parents to shun acts of disobedience to constituted authority.   According to her, such flagrant disregard always has a ‘karma’ effect’ as their children would also disrespect them in future.

    Rev Ladoba noted that some parents’ penchant for forcing their way against the laws of the school was one daunting challenge she has had to cope with in managing the academy.

    The principal spoke at the 2016/2017 valedictory service/speech and prize giving held at the school premises.

    She admonished parents to stop over-indulging their wards, which she said adversely affected their academics and runs against the school’s philosophy.

    Rev Ladoba said the school has improved in academics and extracurricular activities resulting in good performances in external competitions.

    She also praised the old students for their support.

    National President, Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA), Mr Lanre Idowu advised the graduands not to forget the principle and vision of the school as ambassadors wherever they go.

    Two hundred and twelve graduands took a bow from the school. One hundred and eighteen were SS3 graduands, while the remaining 94 moved from JSS 3 to SS 1.

    Omezi Gabriel, the overall best graduating pupil had the best results in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

  • Baptist Academy marks 160 years

    Baptist Academy marks 160 years

    The Lagos Baptist Academy is marking its 160th anniversary this week. A four-day celebration began yesterday with cultural activities in the school premises.

    A thanksgiving service holds today at the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro. Turning of the sod for the school’s library project by the chairman of the alumni board of trustees, Sir Kessington Adebutu, follows in the afternoon while an old student, Kemi Pinerho, SAN, will hold a motivational talk with the students.

    Tomorrow at 2pm, an old student and one-time Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Prof Idowu Sobowale, will give the 160th Anniversary Lecture titles: “Challenges facing Secondary Education Today: The role of Legacy Schools”.

    Two novelty matches between the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) and the Old Grammarian Society and another between BAOSA and the current Baptist Academy students will hold in the evening of Friday, October 30.

     

  • Baptists meet

    The first Executive Committee meeting of the Lagos East Baptist Conference holds on Saturday at the Conference Room, Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos, from 10am.

    The Conference’s President, Dr. Emmanuel Awotunde, said members should attend punctually, adding that kingdom matters and other businesses affecting the conference would be discussed.

  • 40 years after

    40 years after

    The 1970-1974 set of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) held its Re-union and Worship Service in Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI and TIMOTHY OWOMOLADE report.

    They left Baptist Academy, Lagos, popularly known as Baptacad 40 years ago. Since 1974, many of them had not seen one another until penultimate Sunday’s event which brought them together. They came to celebrate the 40th year of leaving school. They shook hands, hugged and backslapped one another as they remembered  their days in school.

    Many donned white native clothes and uniformed navy blue caps with red and white stripes. Their wives wore choice traditional attires; some of the women used the same aso oke as ipele and gele.

    The reunion party and worship service of the 1970- 1974 set of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) were full of fun.

    The service held at the Shepherd Hill Baptist Church in Obanikoro, Lagos; the reunion party held at Zen Gardens Chinese Restaurant, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. The party featured the launch of a book titled: “Four decades after, a reflection on our years at Baptist Academy”. It also featured the launch of the school’s library project fund, among other activities.

    At the service, Rev Israel Kristilere urged the old boys to cultivate the habit of praying regularly, saying that is the only way to have your problems resolved.

    He read 2 Kings 1: 9-18, noting that God is needed to win the battles of life.

    During the thanksgiving, they danced from the church entrance to the altar and Rev Kristilere prayed for them.

    After the thanksgiving, the old boys went outside for photographs and moved to Zen Gardens Chinese Restaurant where the reunion party started with prayers by wife of one of the old boys, Mrs Bola Janikre, a lawyer. The Principal Consultant of Admos Consult, Mr Wale Adebiyi, anchored the event. The gathering observed a minute silence for their departed members.

    Chairman of BAOSA 70-74 set and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Publications Limited, Mr Lanre Idowu, in his welcome address said the gathering was to thank God for keeping them 40 years after leaving school and also to give back to the school.

    “We are here to reunite with ourselves, to keep in touch with one another and to help the school,” he said.

    Chairman of the event and General Manager, Lagos State Water Corporation, Mr Shayo Holloway, said the school was top class in the 70s, adding that everything must be done to restore its glory.

    Some of the old boys recounted their days in school. Pastor Segun Osunsan of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 22, recalled the years they used to jump into public buses to return home from school. He also spoke of the distances they walked to get home, not because their parents did not give them transport fare but because of the fun of walking with friends, buying pop corn and groundnuts which they ate on the way. He also recalled the big playing and agricultural fields in the school, lamenting that all is gone.

    The association’s Secretary and a Chartered Accountant in Facilitation and Thrilling Services Limited, Mr Olumide Ajomade, described their experience in school as good, adding that the school laid the foundation for what he is today.

    He lamented the state of the school, saying things are not as they left them. “This is why we are refurbishing the school library with about N1million and we will continue to do more for the school just as every graduating set tries to add their own quota for the development of the school,” he said.

    Chief Medical Director/Chief Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Arewa Specialist Hospital, Abuja, Dr Frank Fashina proposed the toasts.

    Mr Toyin Akinoso reviewed the book, which was edited by Idowu.

    BAOSA president and a wine merchant Chief Olatunde Onakoya, said their coming together was not only to wine and dine but to generate ideas, learn from one another and reason together on how the set can help the school.

    He said: “This is why we are equipping the library knowing that education requires concrete stakeholders including teachers and alumni as the government cannot do it alone.

    “Over the years, we have tried to meet regularly but we hope that with today’s gathering there would be a change.”

    He urged BAOSA members to come together, saying he hoped those at the gathering would make up their minds to do well for the school.  “I need someone to hand over to; someone that I am sure will take the association to greater heights,” he said.

    He also spoke on other things the association had done for the school, such as its involvement in the valedictory service and buying sport materials for the school and students during the inter-house sports. “We also engage in making food for the students on the school’s anniversary day and bringing alumni to talk to them to motivate them,” he said.

    He launched the book and other guests followed with thousands of naira.

    The cutting of the anniversary cake was directed by a chartered accountant and Chairman of SIAO, Mr Robert  Ade-Odiachi.

    Assorted foods, snacks, fruits and drinks were served.

    The event ended with a closing prayer by Mr Tony Egoegonwa, the Public Affairs Manager, Salpen Contracting Nigeria Limited.