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Tag: Mind Builders

  • Mind Builders rehabilitates classrooms

    • Workers honoured on 20th anniversary 

    Olowora Nursery and Primary School, Isheri, Lagos, has a newly-refurbished block of classroom, thanks to Mind Builders School, Ikeja.

    The school rehabilitated the 20-year old structure as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to mark its 20th anniversary.

    While handing over the new building, Mind Builders’ Education Director, Mr Tunbosun Falore, said the project aligned with the school’s effort to support the government in providing a conducive learning environment for leaders of tomorrow.

    She said: “Ivan Welton Fitzwater also said and I quote, ‘The future of the world is in my classroom today (end of quote).’ If truly the future of the world, our world, is in the classrooms today, then you will all agree with me that there is a dire need to make the classrooms conducive. As a corporate entity and an education service provider, we understand the importance of learning in a conducive environment very well and that is the reason why 10years ago, when our school was celebrating its tenth year anniversary, in 2008 to be precise, we donated furniture worth N1 million to Ojodu Primary School 1  & 2,

    “This year again, by God’s grace our school has just clocked 20 and we are still very committed to providing conducive classrooms hence our decision to complement the efforts of the state government by embarking on this Corporate Social Responsibility Project of renovating a block of classrooms at Olowora Nursery and Primary School here in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Lagos. The block of building, which was constructed about 20years ago, in December 1998, needed some renovations, hence our decision to assist the government in this regard.”

    She urged other stakeholders to also support government in providing quality education to citizens of the state. “I wish to appeal to corporate organisations, NGOs and well-meaning citizens of this country to continue to complement the efforts of the governments of the day, especially that of Lagos State in providing qualitative education and conducive learning environment to pupils and students living in Lagos State.

    “On our part, we promise not to relent on our oars as far as Olowora Nursery and Primary School is concerned. We shall continue to support Lagos State Government to achieve its goal of providing qualitative education and conducive learning environment to pupils and students living in Lagos State,” she said.

    Other programmes that featured during the anniversary included a gala award nite where workers, friends of the school were rewarded for their support, dedication and commitment.

    Chairman of the school’s Board of Trustees, Mr Bosun Falore, thanked the workers, particularly, for the role in making it a desired primary school for parents.  He said the school had spurned at least 10 school owners from among its former employees, who were continuing its legacy.

    “I also wish to appreciate the dedication to duty and service exhibited by the crop of management staff and teachers that the schools have been blessed with over these past 20 years. They are the strong pillars on which the foundation of the school was laid. I wish to inform you that about 10 of them have moved on to greater heights by starting their own schools with the full blessings and support from Mind Builders’ authority thereby spreading the Mind Builders Educational Philosophy beyond our walls.

    “We also do appreciate and celebrate our present teaching and non-teaching staff for their high level of professionalism in carrying out their duties. Without them, we might not have been confident as we are today in celebrating the twenty years anniversary,” he said.

     

  • Mind Builders holds parenting seminar

    Handling the dicey task of parenting was the focus of a parenting seminar at Mind Builders School, CBD-Alausa branch Lagos on Monday as part of the school’s 20th anniversary celebration.

    The seminar with the theme: “Parenting for success: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” was coordinated by Mrs Yinka Ogunde of Edumark Consult.

    Keynote Speaker, Mrs Alero Ayida-Otobo said parents must deliberately nurture the talents of their wards.

    “Parenting is more than just giving a little bit of your time; it is beyond paying the school fees; you need to know your children, live with your children, work alongside your children to nurture and develop the talent that is inside of them.  You need to nurture their destiny; you need to incubate their purpose.  You now begin to see them as nation builders, solution carriers.  When you begin to see them as those two things, your approach to parenting will change,” she said.

    She also said everyone should be concerned about how other people’s children in their communities are raised as they could have relationships with their own children later in life.

    A panel discussion that followed the keynote address featured three panelists, Mrs Ronke Adeniyi, a school owner and parents’ rights advocate, Mr Wemimo Ogunde, former Attorney-General /Commissioner for Justice, Ogun State, Mrs Helen Essien, a parenting enthusiast, and a moderator, Mr Akinropo Akinola.

    They deliberated about issues of discipline, community parenting, practices of the past compared to today, schools and their relationship with the home, among others.

    Mrs Adeniyi said parents of today need to be informed to be able to effectively monitor their wards.  She said parents should fill their knowledge gap by reading widely so they don’t lose their children.

    “The is a gap in knowledge these days.  If you tell a child the sky is blue, you need to google and explain why it is so.  The moment we say don’t do this, and we don’t find out what they already know, we will lose them,” she said.

    Mrs Adeniyi advocated for an institute of parenting so parents learn to be good parents.

    “You don’t just get married and start having children.  You need to know why you want to have children.  Some people have one child too many and they may only have one child.  We need an institution for parenting so people can learn how to parent,” she said.

    Speaking on stigmatization attached to single parenting, Mr Ogunde said single parents need not feel ashamed or incapable.  He said several factors apart from having a child out of wedlock caused single parenthood including death of a spouse, divorce, etc.  He said since two parents in a home usually had contradictory parenting styles, a single parent had a chance to be a lone voice in parenting and could effectively raise good children.

    “It is not compulsory a father and mother raise a child. In most homes, fathers and mothers have contradictory ideas about raising children.  When you find conflicting signals sent by parents, who said only one parent cannot raise a child?” he asked.

    On parenting styles, Mrs Essien advocated a mix between the Authoritative and Authoritarian styles, and warned parents to stay away from the Permissive parenting style.  She said each child in a home usually required a different style of parenting.

    “In those days, we had authoritarian ways of raising children.  That does not work anymore.  We have to fit the parenting style to the child,” she said.

    Prior to the Parenting Seminar, Mind Builders School, opened the 20th anniversary programme with an in-house service last Friday, during which Pastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly ministered.

    Pastor Bakare praised the school for investing in Nigeria’s development through education.

    “I want to congratulate you for staying in the corner that will make Nigeria great.  If you can help them build their minds to be strong, when that happens, nobody can stop this school,” he said.

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  • Special send off for Mind Builders’ class 2016

    The 2016 valedictory service and graduation/prize-giving ceremony for 12 graduands of Mind Builders High School, Ikeja, Lagos was special in all respects.  The pupils got star-studded treatment from the school, their parents, and  corporate organisations that sponsored prizes for the deserving among them.

    Apart from the gifts, the sumptuous meals and other side attractions, they got important counsel from their teachers, parents and other guests.

    One of the most striking was the testimony shared by an alumnus of the school, Adewale Fasoro Opeyemi, who graduated as the overall best from the Redeemers University, Ede, early this year.

    Opeyemi, who graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97 in Microbiology, shared how his faith in God transformed him from an average to a first class student.

    The young man, who said he never made top 10 as a pupil of Mind Builders, said he reached a turning point when he asked God to help him move beyond average performance.

    “I got two prizes in Mind Builders – best in Yoruba, and one other because I was a prefect.  I struggled to be average.  I felt depressed.  In SS2, I was preparing for the national biology Olympiads.  I told God my limit is average; I told him to help me.  After that, I was the best student in Biology in Nigeria in 2011.  I travelled to represent Nigeria in Taiwan and won a gold medal.  I travelled five times to represent our country.  When you receive Jesus, you will know how to overcome distractions,” he said.

    The guest speaker, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina, Principal in Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State, counseled the graduands to be determined to succeed.

    In her speech titled: “Going beyond limit,” she urged them to persevere, have a positive mindset, and push against any limit that might hinder their progress.

    “You have conceived your ambitions in your minds. But are you there yet? The recognition and acceptance of your limitation and the challenge to push beyond them also starts in the mind.  Thomas Edison had a hearing impairment. But he did not say he was not going to push against his limitation. He tried so many times to invent the light bulb. With every failure, he learnt how not to make the light bulb. The only real limits are those you place in your way.

    “If you must go beyond your limit, you must create a goal and do not dwell in the comfort of your weakness. No one is perfect. It is only a foolish person who repeats their mistakes. Identify your weaknesses but do not treat them as big flaws,” she said.

    Former Ambassador to Australia, Mr. Ayo Olukanni, also advised the pupils to develop themselves and expect tough times.

    “This is just the beginning and you are not going to achieve your goals in easy circumstances.  But do not settle for average. Pay attention to detail and invest in your minds. Whatever your goal is, be committed and display integrity,” he said.

    Education Director of the school, Mrs Bolajoko Falore, counselled the graduands to continue in all they learnt from the school.  She told them not to consider her strictness while in the school as wickedness but a demonstration of her efforts to ensure they turned out right.

    “I thank you for cooperating with me, my loving graduands, and for accepting my excesses.  I was strict because I wanted you to be grounded,” she said.

    Mrs Falore also thanked members of staff of the school, who presented her with an award for her concern for their welfare.

    The graduands presented the school with a projector and screen as their give back gift, while the school launched the alumni association.

    Head Boy and Valedictorian, Oluwamayowa Oladunni thanked his teachers for their efforts to invest in the graduands. He urged the school management to embark on aggressive publicity so many more pupils can join the school.

    Mayowa’s father, Mr Rotimi Oladunni, who has sponsored many prizes since his son was admitted into the school, said he was inspired to do so to encourage many pupils to excel.

    “My wife and I decided we want to encourage children to study.  We ensured we gave prizes in almost all subjects so many can be encouraged.  Mayowa has won many of the prizes but we did not plan it,” he said.

    Oladunni described Mind Builders as a wonderful school “that takes to correction”.

    “If you find something that is not right and you tell them, they adjust.  And I believe that everyone that accepts feedback, will do well,” he said.

    Mrs Rita Onyelu, another parent, who won the valuable parent award, also said she had no regrets sending her sons, one of who graduated that day, to the school.

    “We started from the nursery school.  I don’t know any other school in Lagos.  My niece started with Mind Builders and I saw magical transformation in her, that was why I brought my two sons here,” she said.

  • Mind Builders graduates ‘eagles’

    Officiating cleric at the 15th valedictory and graduation of Mind Builders Primary School, Alausa, Rev Bode Daramola, has charged graduands to be eagles as they journey to their next phase of life.

    Giving the exhortation at the thanksgiving service and reception held at the Alausa arm of the school, Daramola told the combined pupils drawn from Omole Phase 2 as well as the host school  to emulate the characteristics of the eagle.

    Rev Daramola said: “Wait on the Lord to achieve great heights. Have accurate vision, like the eagle, which flies directly towards the sun. Eat what is right. The eagle will never stoop so low as to eat dead meat. So reduce your consumption of junk food. Don’t dwell on your past success, rather, aim to achieve greater ones and never forget who you are. You are an eagle, not a chicken.”

    Stressing the eagles’ theme, the valedictory addresser, Mrs Omokorede Fasoro, reminded the pupils that their needs to live a successful life were inbuilt.

    “Every requirement for living a successful life is already inside you, as wired by God. You are not too young to achieve great things. Identify who you are so that you will not abuse your great position in life. Don’t sell yourself short and know that nothing is impossible,” she added.

    Addressing her pupils, School Director, Mrs Bola Falore, corroborated Daramola.

    “Be like an eagle,” Falore admonished, “do not settle for mediocrity; follow your passion, be focused, put in all the commitment and dedication required and you will fulfil purpose.”

    Meanwhile, the new ‘eagles’ received awards for exceptional performance both in character and in learning in the gold and white lit hall, as they cut their three tier cake.

    Outgoing Head girl, Adetuke Fatiku said: “I feel excited that I am developing to a new level. I won’t forget this school for life. The foundation here is solid, the teachers are nice, hard working and well-disciplined.”

  • Mind Builders welcomes pupils

    Mind Builders welcomes pupils

    After a refreshing Christmas Holidays, pupils of Mind Builders School, Ikeja, Lagos enjoyed a warm welcome back to school on Monday.

    In the Omole Phase 1, Phase 2 and Central Business District (CBD) arms of the school, the pupils looked bright and happy to begin the second term.

    Last term had ended on an exciting note for them, with a winter wonderland concert that featured 13 presentations held at the CBD arm of the school.

    Snowmen lined the bottom of the high stage, artificial snowflakes hung from the roof in the blue and white themed hall as the pupils demonstrated their talents while focusing on God’s Love for the world.

    The joy and warmth the pupils showed at seeing each other after the holidays were pointers that the purpose of the concert, which was to teach them to love, had made some impact.

    The school administrator, Mr Olatunde Opeyemi said: “We are trying to teach the children love; how to love one another in whatever way or situation they find themselves,” he said.

    A parent, Mrs Olayinka Bukunayo, hoped that the children would grow up in love.

    She said: “I hope they would grow the spirit of love and sharing, because the school has laid examples of that by bringing together the three different branches.”

  • Pupil shines brightest at Mind Builders

    Pupil shines brightest at Mind Builders

    For Miriam Atobiloye, standing close to the podium saved her the trouble of going back and forth when her name was repeatedly called for awards.

    It was at the graduation and prize-giving day of Mindbuilders Schools Alausa, Lagos. She bagged 19 awards, the highest on the occasion.

    Atobiloye bagged awards in others in academics and endowment. She could not contain her excitement. She was all smiles.

    “I am so happy I can’t even express it. God is always first so I pray and work hard. If you pray and don’t work hard, nothing will come out of it and vice versa. So, prayer and diligence helped,” she told The Nation.

    Atobiloye, who was the former head girl and has the ambition of being a pediatrician, while delivering the valedictory speech,  told her juniors to buckle up and work hard because “there is no time to waste”.

    She urged them not to be deterred by life’s challenges, adding that despite the challenges that came with her father’s death two years ago, she could not be hindered from achieving her dream.

    The principal, Mr Francis Fasuyi, said the graduating pupils were creative and intelligent.

    “Education is not only about academics, I can see that they have mixed abilities. Some are creative, some athletic, social and they all blend in all areas. We always give our students word of encouragement. To look at the perfection, do things in perfection. Although no one is perfect, but you work towards it,” he said.

    The school’s Director, Mrs Bola Falore, advised the graduands to push themselves harder and aim high to achieve their desired success.

    “As you pass out of High School today, the odyssey into the real world begins; the world is not picture-perfect. Your parents and teachers have shielded you from many threats, but growing up means letting go of their nurturing. You are the representative of MindBuilders, hence you must work hard and push yourself to bring pride and glory to your alma mater,” she advised.

    The guest speaker at the ceremony, Pastor Ngozi Nwadialo, who is the School Administrator of S. T. and T. Regency College, Ikeja, spoke about the dividends of discipline, integrity and accountability as one advances to the next phase in life.

    Speaking with The Nation on the sideline, she said: “The fundamental thing they must have is discipline because it is the birthroot of anybody in this life. Whether you are old or young, we are particular about the youth being disciplined because we have a lot of distractions, especially in the present Information and Communications Technology (ICT) age.

    “And now they are going to the next stage of their life, their parents are not going to reach them well except through telephone or a visit. They are accountable for everything they do, so the whole responsibility is on them.”

    Outgone head boy, Victor Enike, was nostalgic about leaving his alma mater.

    Although excited about moving on, he said: “My experience in Mind Builders has been wonderful right from the day I stepped into the school compound. So, I would miss the school a lot. I had a few problems with controlling the students, they were sometimes uncooperative, but it all worked out in the end,” he said.

  • Mind Builders School awards six scholarships

    Six Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 pupils who excelled in the 2013/2014 entrance examination of Mind Builders High School, Ikeja, have been awarded a six-year scholarship by the school.

    Three of them, Ailuelohia Oseghale, Dawodu Moyosore oluwa, and Adigun Bolu Anjola graduated from Mind Builders Nursery and Primary School; while the other three were from other primary schools.  They are: Olawore Mercy, of  Children Companion, Ogba, Ikeja Akinsola Oluwa Damilola of Sunnydale School, Ikeja; and 10 year-old Quadri Feranmi of Trinity Primary School, Mowe, Ogun State.

    Explaining how they emerged during the school’s 2013/2014 Prize giving day last week, Chairman Board of Governors, Mr Bosun Falore said the school selected the best pupils in the entrance examination for a scholarship examination in which the six winners scored above 80 per cent.  He added that the scholarship is part of the school’s contributions to human development.

    “We believe that as long as the foundation is good they can become super stars and we need to recognise it at this primary level so that in future when they are tracing their background, it would be traced to Mind Builders High School,” he said.

    He said since introducing the scholarship scheme about three years ago, the school used to give the award to indigents students but decided this year to base it on merit.

    He said to ensure that the students don’t play away their time and drop in their academic performance, a clause has been added that if they should drop below 75 per cent in their academics, the scholarship would be withdrawn.

    Addressing the pupils, the Education Director, Mrs Bola Falore, said they must be positive and display a right attitude in all they do.

    “They are very important because you are a life-long learner. You will always be on top when you have those two. You can have As in all your subject but you won’t go far without morals,” she said.

     

  • Excitement galore at Mind Builders’ funfair

    THE premises of Mind Builders School, Omole Phase II was transformed into a high profile amusement park for its Christmas Family funfair.

    Pupils from the school’s Omole Phase I and Central Business District (CBD) branches as well as their parents and outsiders enjoyed the fun on offer. Some of the pupils busied themselves enjoying rides on the merry-go-round and orient express train, others preferred the bouncing castle and slides, while the more adventurous boys attempted the mountain climber or the slippery business of playing soap football in a soapy enclosure with a helmet as their only protection.

    Younger children enjoyed playing with age-appropriate toys, balls, and miniature cars at the activity fun park while the Santa’s Grotto was a Mecca for all children that attended the event.

    Parents were not left out of the events. The masters of ceremony engaged them with dancing competitions, catching and throwing games, trivia, gele tying and others. They won recharge cards, and other gifts for their efforts.

    The raffle draw by the school also saw parents carting away prizes like LED TV set, refidgerator, mobile phone and generator.

    Speaking on the essence of the event, Mrs Bola Falore, Executive, Director, Mind Builders, said the School decided to encourage the families of their pupils to spend time together during the festive period. She urged the parents to share with less privileged people during the season.

    “My message to parents is that they should give to those that are less privileged. There are a lot of destitute they can reach out to who don’t have any means to celebrate this season,” she said.

     

  • Mind Builders School fetes pupils

    Parents had a hard time convincing their wards to go home after a fun-filled day at the Police College, Ikeja, venue of the Mind Builders School Xmas Fun fair last week.

    The section of the Police College parade ground used by the school was converted into an amusement park with bouncing castle, train ride, climbing board and other fun props for activities, such as mock wrestling, art and craft, and other games.

    There was also a Father Christmas grotto, where the pupils from the two branches of the school in the Central Business District, Agindingbi and Omole, Ikeja, visited and were rewarded with gifts.

    Mr Olatunde Opeyemi, Administrator of the School said the school relocated to Police College to give the pupils room to play to their hearts’ content.

    “At Mind Builders, we are unique. We want to be pacesetters. This is unlike what we used to have in the past. In the small space in school, the children were restricted. Now, they can express themselves. We have a lot of play items so the children can play,” he said.

    Daniel Afolabi, a Primary Five pupil was glad about the props, especially the one for wrestling matches, which he said he won repeatedly.

    “It was fun. I was champion o f the wrestling matches. I wrestled with many pupils and won,” he said.

    Attesting to the fun the pupils had, Mr Adedayo Akadiri, PTA Chairman of the school, commended its authorities for putting up the programme.

    “It has been wonderful. The children really enjoyed themselves. I have not seen anyone of them who wants to go home,” he said.

    However, as they embark on the three-week Christmas holidays, Primary Supervisor, Mrs Doreen Aloma counseled the pupils to share and read their books.

    “My advice for the children is to take time to be good and learn to share because we have been teaching about sharing. Christmas is all about sharing. But they have to remember their books. That is why we gave each of them a story book in their Christmas pack so they have books to read,” she said.

    “As early as 8am, the children were here. We wanted our Christmas party to be different from what it.