By Sodeinde Temidayo David
The federal and state governments have been urged to continue to support school operators in their commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children in the country.
The call was made by a businessman, Mr Olasoji Isaac Fadirepo, while speaking at the 13th graduation and prize-giving ceremony of Diamonds Mine Nursery and Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye.
He added that the government needs to make the educational sector attractive to investors.
Mr Fadirepo, who was chairman at the event, said the federal government needs to continue to support private school investors who are helping to bridge the gap and ensure more pupils are taken away from the streets and trained to become responsible citizens.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to increasing investment in the education sector, saying the government must continue to provide an enabling environment to the private investors in the sector for the nation to succeed in the quest to make education available to all.
Proceeding to the event, Mr Fadirepo advised the grandaunts to be good ambassadors of the school wherever they find themselves.
He praised the parents for investing their time and resources in their children, urging them to continue to do more.
He also commended the school for the quality of academic excellence imparted to the pupils, adding that as a parent himself, he can attest to the quality of sound training and teaching by the school.
Also, in her speech, the proprietress of the school, Mrs Romoke Aderibigbe, said she was proud that all the graduating pupils could hold their own and compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
She said during the session, the school competed in Mathematics competitions as well as the Lagos State Spelling Bee competition where they were rated 13th overall best school in the state.
This is apart from the various extra-curricular activities they partook, including the Indomitable Club by Indomie, the Little Champions Club by Milo drink and several others. She further said the school had been picked as a centre of excellence by Milo for the teens’ champions club.
Mrs Aderibigbe commended all the parents whose commitment to their children in the payment of school fees and appropriate textbooks have continued to make a difference in the lives of their wards.
She urged them not to relent in investing in their children in spite of the trying times as nothing invested in the children is wasted.
The proprietress urged the graduating students to continue to be good ambassadors of the school.
At the ceremony, parents were entertained with various presentations by the graduating and other pupils ranging from Bata dance, South African Dance, Ape Dance from Ijebu and a dance drama titled Courage in Tough Times.
There were other presentations like radio news broadcasts, kindergarten presentations and farewell presentations.
Before the end of the event, prizes were given to selected pupils from kindergarten school and primary schools, as well as cash awards to the overall staff and two runners-up.
A lucky staff, Mrs Temitope Amos, serially again emerged a winner and went home with a commendation letter and N10,000 cash, while the first and second runners-up, Mr Akeem Adetunji (school driver) and Mrs Blessing Alaafia (cleaner) received N5,000 and N3,000 respectively.
