The major concern of policymakers and government at different levels in Nigeria should revolve around ensuring quality and impactful education.
This is because education is the best means through which individual potentials can be harnessed to ensure increased productivity in the country.
The Executive Director, Academic Excellence Initiatives (AEI), Eng. Faheed Olajide, made the assertions at the Grand Finale of the organisation’s Annual Scholars’/Award Day held recently in Lagos, South West Nigeria.
The theme of the annual event was ‘The Passion for Academic Excellence, Students on Call’.
Olajide expressed concerns over the rate of school dropouts among Nigerian youths, hence, Olajide said that AEI is determined to developing ideas that could cater for the educational needs of that category of people.
“Our greatest investment towards a prosperous nation lies in youth education. Standing by our vision and formed out of great concern for the growing number of dropouts and the declining academic accomplishments among the Nigerian youths.
“Nigeria’s greatest resource is in its human capital. And good education does not have a substitute in a nation’s quest for development.
“The AEI stands as vanguard seeking to grow academic trailblazers and youths of exemplary character,” he said.
The Project Coordinator of AEI, Prince Adesegun Ogungbayi, tasked the participants on developing the spirit of excellence, offering advice on the future of online examination systems.
According to Ogungbayi, “you all need to know that by the year 2030, all your examinations may be through the use of your smartphones and not even personal computer-based. Therefore, prepare ahead.”
He said that the Annual Award/Scholars Day is very important to prepare all outstanding students across the nation for greatness, and particularly, for them to be able to break more academic grounds in SSCE with 9As and outstanding scores of not less than 380 in 2025 UTME.”
The Guest lecturer at the event, Abayomi Ibrahim Motajo, who discussed tips on ‘Securing International Scholarship’ listed eligibility criteria for such scholarships to include academic Excellence, English Language Proficiency, IELTS or TOEFL, Evidence of Financial Need and Specific Skills or Talents.
He said doing self-assessment, understanding what is required and seeking help early and always are key success tips in securing international scholarships.
The Keynote Speaker, Dr Sofiat Olaosebikan, a lecturer in Algorithms and Complexity, School of Computer Science at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, said students under the tutelage of the AEI are fortunate to have such a group supporting them throughout their secondary school sojourn.
Olaosebikan, a first-class graduate of the University of Ibadan, urged young Nigerians to always aim high while in the university as it would open doors like scholarships and awards for them.
She explained that academic excellence goes beyond just getting good grades, noting that it involves developing a lifelong passion for learning.
“You have to find a subject that you are very good at, and you have to be passionate about developing yourself around it. Find good friends, good support network like the AEI. They would continuously help you develop yourself, your strength, and your goals as well,” she said.
At the end of an internet-based quiz competition contested among 82 secondary school students, Hannah Adeyemi of Unity Senior College, Lagos, emerged as the champion of the 2024 edition of the annual AEI’s Scholars’ Day with 76% score.
The first runner-up, Eniola Ajibode, of Elias International School, Lagos, trailed Adeyemi by just two percent.
MIMS Comprehensive College’s Akintunde Moosa emerged as the second runner-up.
The first, second, and third candidates had 76%, 74%, and 74% respectively, however, Ajibode beat Moosa to silver on account of speed and accuracy.
While the overall winner was awarded N100,000, the silver and bronze medalists went home with N75,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Abdullahi Muhammad of Iskanulhaq Educational Services took fourth, Nnamdi Isiani of Ideal Crystal School in fifth, and Usoolul Iman College’s AbdulWahab Habeeblah in sixth.
All the six students were rewarded with various prizes.
