Graduation: Olu of Warri’s wife urges stakeholders to prioritise education

By Funmilayo  Adeyemi

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Academy, Abuja, has graduated five high school students (senior secondary school students) and three middle school students (Junior secondary) for the 2024 session.

Addressing the gradaunds at the Class of 2024 graduation celebration in Abuja, Wife of the Olu of Warri, Olori Ivie Atuwatse III, urged relevant stakeholders to prioritise education.

According to her, it is the duty of the stakeholders to prioritise education for sustainable growth and development of the nation.

“Nigeria’s education system is plagued with many challenges and I will liken it to an elephant; you cannot eat a whole elephant at once.

“The many challenges resemble the body of an elephant; the first thing that we must do as a nation is to take education seriously.

“Once you take education seriously, then we can begin to take necessary steps to ensuring that we build our education system to one that can compete globally.

“The first step we must do is to be committed to eating the elephant, be committed to education, be committed to ensuring that you are making an impact and make education a priority,” she said.

She added that prioritising education would translate to addressing out-of-school children, teacher training, infrastructure and curriculum issues.

She urged the graduands to be intentional in shining their light noting that their abilities to shine would build resilience in them and as well lead them to their destinies.

The Head of School, CTL Academy, Dr Agodi Alagbe, said that the academy had always striven for excellence.

Alagbe affirmed that the achievements of the academy stood as testimony to the quality of education imparted to students and unwavering commitment to staff members.

She said that over the years, the academy had nurtured and shaped young minds, instilling in them the values of knowledge, integrity and perseverance.

“We are very child-centered; we don’t believe that any two children are the same and so we do what we call differentiated instruction.

“This means you could have few kids in the same class and grade level but we really get to know the children as individuals and create learning opportunities that are specific to their needs.

“So they can grow, flourish and maximise their potential; we have given them all it will take them to succeed; we are waiting to see what they will become,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Mr Robert Gabor, commended the school for investing in the future of Nigerians, charging the graduands to also invest in their abilities and communities.

Gabor also called on the graduands to learn new skills as that was the only way to contribute to the growth and development of their immediate community and country at large.

Some of the graduating students, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pledged their allegiance to Nigeria and to contribute their knowledge towards developing the country.

Alex-Xerina Idusuyi, one of the students, who had secured an admission to study international business at the Wichita State University, U.S., pledged to return after her programme to build the nation.

Also, the school’s best graduating student, Lotachi Alagbe, attributed her academic feat to the support and encouragement from her family and friends.

Alagbe, who had also secured an admission at the Princeton University, U.S., vowed to return and contribute her quota toward the development of the country.

NAN reports that the school, which has the nursery, primary and secondary sections, offered the American curriculum for both local and international students. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo