By Stephen Adeleye.
One of the leading schools in academic excellence in Lokoja, Kogi State, the Omodunni Leaders Academy, has celebrated its 10th year anniversary in a grand style with varieties of programmes and activities to mark the anniversary.
The school organised three-day activities to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of one of the most revered Centre of Excellence in Lokoja, which witnessed various sporting competition, drama, cultural dance, career counseling, among others.
The Chairman, Board of Directors of the School, Chief Andrew Sunday Adebayo, who spoke on behalf of the proprietress, described the school as a seed planted by the river side which had actually grown to become big trees with branches.
He said the school was established on September 12, 2011, with five pupils and seven members of staff in a block of 2 bedroom flat and a boys quarters, saying, ”today it has gradually advanced from toddler to a full-fledged Nursery, Primary and Secondary school.
“The school had since been waxing stronger and the profile keep rising to the glory of God.
“Academically, Omodunni Leaders Academy had been producing stars, scoring 100 per cent in the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) and Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE)”.
He stressed that the graduates of Omodunni Leaders Academy primary school, had been making waves in the secondary schools with outstanding performances.
He added that some of their graduated pupils continued their secondary education in the school while some left for federal government colleges, among others.
According to him, the physical infrastructure, practical and instructional facilities are well in place in the school, with employment and deployment of skilled professionally qualified and sound staff to impart knowledge on the pupils and students.
“Good moral upbringing are our watchword which are being inculcating in our pupils and students, and they are imbibing it.
“The academic activities are not just books, but the pupils and students are trained on social, cultural, knowledge, games and sports,” he said.
The proprietor disclosed that the reigning “Little Miss Kogi” was a pupil of Omodunni Leaders Academy.
He explained that the competition was organised by Aseda Media Consults Nigeria Ltd, designed to test the academic, moral and total development of primary school pupils in Kogi State, had Omodunni Leaders Academy’s pupil coming top of all.
He, however, noted that the school had also been faced with some challenges such as finance, and access road which is yet to get government attention.
“The limit of the school’s ability is to fill pot holes and divert erosion which we are doing to alleviate the inconvenience of parents in accessing the school.
“These and many other reasons are why the school consider it important to appreciate God for his goodness for ten years. We have looked back, counted and nobody was missing,” he said.
Our Correspondent reports that the 10th year anniversary thanksgiving was marked with programmes which commenced on Wednesday December 15, 2021, where Clerics from the Calvary Baptist Church, Lokongoma, presided over the Thanksgiving prayer at the school premises.
The school choir was led by the Choir Mistress, Miss Comfort Alfa, who rendered beautiful songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
In his word of admonition, Rev Deji Emmanuel of Calvary Baptist Church, encouraged the proprietor to continue with the enviable standard of the school without compromise.
He enjoined him keep on caring for the welfare of all staff and upon all, keep the faith in God, trusting him for a continued forward movement.
A special prayer was offered by Deaconess C. Faniyi, for the school owners, parents, staff, students and pupils.
The prayer was thereafter followed by a lecture on Career Counselling at Olu-Royal Hotel, delivered by Chief Benn T. Yomi Aina, the Chief Counselling Psychologist and Head Counselling Centre, Federal University Lokoja.
He enlightened the participants on the issues of career choice as it involved students, teachers and parents/guardians.
He urged parents not to choose or force any particular career or profession on their children but they should rather guide and allow them to make their own choices, while urging the students to seek proper counseling before choosing their career.
The sporting competition took place on Thursday December 16, at the Indoor sport hall of the Confluence Stadium Lokoja.
Badminton, Ayo, Chess, Scramble, Draft, Ludo were some of the games competed for in both boys and girls categories as well as the parents.
Coaches from Kogi State Ministry of Youth and Sports, were on ground to guide and monitor and add glamour to the sporting events.
The three-day activities was rounded up on Friday, December 17, 2021 with the cultural dance by different tribes, awards and prizes presentation to winners in sports competition, singing, Christmas carol, drama presentation, and cutting of the 10th year Anniversary cake.
The principal of the school, Mr Lawal Joseph, thanked the parents and guardians for their support for the school and commitment to the upbringing of their wards.
Joseph described Omodunni Leaders Academy as an institution per excellence where great and future leaders are breed and bringing out the best in their students and pupils.
The principal thanked all the management and staff of the school for their hard work and dedication to duty, while commending the proprietor and proprietress for their commitment to staff welfare.
He urged government and stakeholders in education to ensure they organise adequate competitions among schools both at local and national levels.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Parents Teachers Forum (PTF), Mr Ismail Okino Isa, said parents were seeing the result behind the motives of bringing their children to Omodunni Leaders Academy, saying the teachers are marvelous and they have listening ear.
He encouraged the parents to continue to cooperate with the school management so as to continue to enjoy the benefits of bringing their children to the school.
“The school management involve parents in decision making and that is why things are working fine,” he said.
The PTF chairman urged the students and pupils to face their studies, obey parents and teachers so that they could become important people in life.
The closing prayer was by the School Bursar, Mr Lucky Bamidele Awarun.
