The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LAD

  • Lad tops school twice

    Lad tops school twice

    Master Zerah Ukoko of Julliard Academy Magodo, Lagos shone like a million stars at the school graduation.

    Intestingly, Ukoko  who won the best student last year also repeated same feat at the ceremony, while Charles Chineme of Berkeley Science Magnet School, the junior arm of Julliard, won in the Julliard junor category.

    Julliard’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Maria Onyia, who spoke at the school hall, venue of the event, said the purpose was to reward the best students.

    She said: ‘Julliard Academy is just a year old and we are graduating students. I think people should be rewarded for hardwork. When I started it, I noticed the competition increased. The truth about competition is that everybody that struggled to win, moves a step further. I also gave award to staff and parents, that is my own way of motivating them because they are doing a wonderful job.”

    On her advice for graduands, she said: “I  don’t want to advise the graduands because they have been equipped. They are change in motion because they are taught to make change when necessary. Most of them are going to university abroad, I don’t want them to forget quickly all that we taught them. I want them to keep to what they have learnt, they should lead and not be led.”

    Zerah Ukoko, the best graduating student also said: “I won last year and this year because my parents have been pushing me the extra mile. They don’t allow me to watch TV. It’s either we rest or study.”

    Master Charles Chineme also told The Nation how his parents encouraged him to work harder.

     

  • Lad beats 70 others to win Spelling Bee

    Lad beats 70 others to win Spelling Bee

    King Solomon International Schools, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has emerged the overall best in the state’s spelling Bee held in Uyo, the state capital. The school won the first and fourth place in the senior and junior categories.

    Fourteen-year-old Master Daniel Uyoatta Emah, an SS2 science pupil, won the first position in the competition for the schools.

    Daniel shoved aside over 70 other contestants from across 35 schools that slugged it out at the finals which held at the Ibom e-Library.

    The competition organised for the state by the National Youth Service Corps-Community Development Service (NYSC-CDS), Akwa Ibom State, with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the state Ministry of Education, comprised all public and private schools in the state.

    The Project Coordinators, Nsofor Chidibere and Adeshakin Adefemi, said it was in fulfilment of one of the eight objectives of the MDGs which is the promotion of Universal Basic Education, taking into cognisance the efforts of government in deepening education through the free basic education Akwa Ibom State currently operates.

    Chidiebere said:  “The project was carried out to help pupils improve their spellings, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that would help them all their lives and reward them with prizes to impress upon them early in life that there is dignity in labour even as we strive to foster a team spirit and sportsmanship within them”.

    President of the group, Okpala Francis said the challenge was conducted in two parts- JSS and SSS with two representatives for each school. According to him,  Nnemeka Oliver Chinedu, representing Graceland High School emereged the first runner up, while Emediong Etim Evans from Jesus Saves Comprehensive Secondary School came third.

    For the junior category: Nmemma Nnaji from Heritage College slammed  Inimfon Jonah of Rayfield International School and Aduese Henry Udoekong of Royal Christian Secondary School both who emerged fist and second runners up in that order.

    Expressing his happiness, Daniel, the overall winner, said: “The competition was tough and tasking but I give glory to God for the gift of wisdom.” Daniel also appreciated his school for giving him the chance.”

    Daniel’s class teacher, Mr Umoh Edidiong described the contest as a tough as the organisers went outside secondary school studies content.

    Umoh, who is also the Head of English Language Studies of King Solomon Schools, said management decided on Daniel based on his versatility across many subjects.

    The Director of Educational services in the Ministry of Education, Prince Lawrence Udofia, who represented the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mrs Roseline Essien, advised that spelling drilling exercises should be incorporated in the first period of every school hour in schools in the state.

    Chidiebere appeals for more sponsors to join them so as to affect more children positively.

  • Lad gets scholarship for honesty

    Lad gets scholarship for honesty

    Master Tunde Ojo, a secondary school pupil of Akande Dahunsi Memorial High School, has been awarded a N100,000 scholarship by L.I.F.E Initiative, a non-governmental organisation committed to raising and empowering teenagers through motivational talks.

    The lad, it would be recalled, returned a missing phone to a foreigner who before then had bad impression about Nigeria. Ojo’s polite refusal to accept any financial reward from the foreigner as a way of appreciation, a culture that is now rampant among youths of nowadays, also left the stranger agape, changing his once negative impression about Nigeria forever.

    “It was as a result of this uncommon show of integrity and honesty that L.I.F.E is awarding Tunde with N100,000 a year for four years’university scholarship. L.I.F.E Initiative is raising leaders, the future is now,” said L.I.F.E founder Obafemi George.

    “There are not many adults who can do what this boy did. He is a good boy, and should be encouraged,” he added.

    George belives the money is the NGO’s modest way of appreciating the gesture of a young boy whose kindness aligns with the vision of ‘L.I.F.E. Initiative.

    The NGO’s Proggramme Officer, Cindy Ikpe, said: “At L.I.F.E, we are about raising great leaders. This young man is to be celebrated, and that is what we are doing. We want to encourage others to live and lead like him.”

    The Power Teens Success Habits, a motivational book by George was also distributed free to all participants, written by Obafemi George,and foreword  by BRF former governor of Lagos State and can be gotten at Laterna Ventures Oko Awo close V.I, Glendora bookshop at Ikeja City Mall and University of Lagos Book shop.

    The last edition of the NGO’s Leading with Impact programme and tagged: “read to lead” took place at Osborne School Complex, Akande, Dahunsi Memorial High School, with 11 other schools in attendance. Participants were drawn from: Akande Dahunsi Memorial Senior High School; Government Senior college Maroko; Ilado Community Senior High School; Wahab Folawiyo Senior High School; and Government Senior College, Ikoyi.

    Other were: Ireti Senior Grammar School; Aunty Ayo Girls Comprehensive; Girls Senior Secondary Grammar School; Falomo Senior High School; Government College Victoria Island, Victoria Island Senior Secondary School; and Koramo Senior College.

  • Lad gets N165,000 lifeline scholarship

    Lad gets N165,000 lifeline scholarship

    The N165,000 lifeline offered by the Class 47 alumni of the Senior Management Programme, (SMP), Lagos Business School, (LBS), Ajah, has brightened the prospects of James Aninyem, an SSI pupil of the Ansar-ud-deen Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos.

    The SMP’s Class 47 goodwill will run for three consecutive years, and would see the lad complete his secondary education.

    Its members presented James with a N165,000 cheque which covers this session’s tuition fees at the school hall last Friday.

    James, 13, is the second child of three siblings. The trio lost their father when he was barely four years.

    The responsibility of their education then fell on their aunt Tonia, who brought James and Kanayo to Lagos leaving their youngest sibling in the remote Anucha local government area in Delta State.

    But bearing the financial burden has not been easy for Tonia. She was in tears as she spoke of the relief the SMP’s gesture has brought her. With the burden greatly lightened, she said she can now consider marriage, which hitherto she had to sacrifice to help her nephews succeed.

    Tonia recounted how she first worked in a factory for a paltry N22,650 every month, and now as a waitress for N25, 000 monthly which she spent on her nephews’ education.

    She said a friend introduced her to Ansa-ud-Deen Grammar School when she sought a good and affordable school.

    “When they got admission, I went to the school and told them about my situation. They took pity on me and allowed me to pay as low as N1,000 sometimes,” she said.

    However, when the fees rose to N165,000, Tonia considered withdrawing James as she could not afford the fees.

    That was when the principal Mr Habeeb Adeniran, intervened. He said the school would have missed James’ mental and sporting skills if he was withdrawn.

    He said: “James is an intelligent boy. He is very studious, hardworking and always ready to learn. He had distinction in 14 subjects in the Lagos State Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination, with another two As and six credits in his NECO junior examinations. He represents the school in many sports competition and brings us victory.”

    In his own remarks, the Chairman Project Committee, SMP Class 47, Mr Thomas Ezeh who is an old boy of the school recalled how it all happened.

    He said: “We came to Ansa-ud-Deen and found James; and because we look for those who are good academically and in sports we decided to pick him. We were touched especially when we heard that his sister was about withdrawing him from the school.

    President, SMP Class 47, Mr Ubong King, said members noted that many parents cannot afford to send their children to good schools with moderate tution; hence they are taking upon themselves to support the less privileged.