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Nigeria: Builders Ministry Rewards Excellence
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This Day (Lagos)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 14 May 2008
Lagos
They are not often remembered. With the poor quality of teaching and learning, as well as the environment where these take place, many are wont to ask the biblical question, 'can anything good come out of Nazareth ?' But an organisation looked in the direction of public secondary and technical colleges in Lagos state and found a lot to reward, writes Funmi Ogundare
For excelling in last year's West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE), no fewer than 200 students from public secondary schools in Lagos State have been rewarded by Divine Builders Ministry, at its 7th annual 'The Builders Youth Forum' (TBYF) Awards for Excellence. Graduates of the five state-owned Technical Colleges also got prizes for their performance at the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination.
In the secondary school's category, prizes were awarded to the best in each school, best in each education district and best three results, overall.
The three finalists included 19-year- old Samuel Aduroja from Lagos Baptist Secondary School , Orile Agege who came third with A1 in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, B2 in Yoruba Language and B3 in Geography, as well as C6 in English Language and Biology.
Sixteen-year-old Abisoye Abidakun of the Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbonla Epe, came second with A1 in Mathematics and Yoruba, B2 in Chemistry and Physics as well as B3 in English Language, Biology, Economics and Agricultural Science; while Adewale Quadri from Ogudu Senior Grammar school, Ogudu emerged the best overall with A 1 in Mathematics,
Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Geography, B2 in Agricultural Science and Yoruba Language and B3 in Biology and English Language.
The ovation was loud as they came forward to receive their gifts. Unfortunately, Quadri could not receive his gifts, one of which was a laptop, because he was not there in person. The ministry does not to honour absentee awardees.
In the Technical School category, Mr. Adewale Gbajobi from Government Technical College , Odomola, Epe emerged the best in Technical and Vocational Education.
The best team in the Principals' Cup championship and their handlers were also not left out. Master Yusuf Ajayi from Oshodi Senior Secondary school emerged the most valuable player, while the 'Best Team of the 2007' Award went to Oshodi Senior Secondary School , Oshodi. President of the Ministry, Pastor David Oladele Oyeleru said the essence of the award was to motivate people to strive for excellence because mediocrity is often celebrated. "With a little motivation, people perform better. We pray that if there is going to be a better Nigeria , then there must be a better generation of youths and people that celebrate excellence and not mediocrity", he said.
He acknowledged the support of private individuals to the project saying, "This is our own contribution to national growth. What we are doing, is a way of infusing values into students. As students, you have to be diligent and strive for excellence. It is not enough to receive awards today and tomorrow fade into oblivion. It does not matter where you are starting from if only you follow God's purpose. If one is not good academically, he may be good vocationally. Everybody cannot be a Professor of Physics or Law. You might not be doing too well in the classroom, but doing well in the workshop. Anything that you can accomplish must be celebrated."
Former Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Leke Pitan stressed the need for government and the private sector to throw their weight behind the programme through funding. "What is being done here is a quantum way of affecting the education sector and every school principal and teachers, including parents are affected. This is also the cheapest and most effective way of energising every school, because they will do WAEC", he said.
Second place winner, Abidakun described the programme as very motivating and encouraging. He said he plans to study Petroleum and Gas Engineering at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), adding that the sky, for him is not the limit but a stepping stone.
Aduroja who dedicated his award to his late Physics Teacher Mr. Olalekan Obadimu had expected to be among the top three because, aside the impact that his late teacher had on him, he said, he attended the 6th edition of the awards last year, which geared him up to study harder.
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Divine Builders Ministry is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that seeks to empower youths through lectures, seminars, symposia, workshops and film shows among others.
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