Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Proprietor calls for partnership with parents for children’s development
It was a memorable graduation ceremony for the Basic six pupils of the Kith & Kin Nursery and Primary School (KKNPS) and Kith & Kin Montessori School (KKMS), Ikorodu, as the foremost school held a colourful graduation and prize giving ceremony for its pupils across all levels at its new school complex, on Thursday, July 20, 2023..
The school, which was formerly located in a rented building at Ojogbe, moved into the new magnificent building with serene environment for learning.
The KKES new building is located at Wosilat Lambo Street, Mosene Estate, near the Lagos State License and Physical Planning offices in Ikorodu, Lagos.
While the class six pupils passed out in flying colours, pupils in lower classes moved into the new complex to further their education in the school.
Mr Nwani Stanley, delivering the keynote address titled, ‘Education with character’, at the ceremony, charged pupils to be good students and develop good characters.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the Chief Learning Officer, Kith & Kin Nursery and Primary School (KKNPS) and Kith & Kin Montessori School (KKMS), Ikorodu and also the Kith & Kin International College, Owode – Ibeshe, Ikorodu, which formed the Kith & Kin Educational Schools (KKKES), speaking at the grand event, congratulated the pupils for the completion of their primary six education and others for moving into new levels.
He said that the event was very significant in the lives of the pupils, because it would create great memories that they can be proud of, in years to come.
“I thank our parents who are the guests here for the support that they are giving to our children. Our guest speaker spoke on education with character, and his ministration was very clear. I really enjoy what he said”, Asipa Koali said.
“And to the graduates and other toddlers who are moving to the next level, education is by stages. Just as you grow from crawling, wobbling to stabilizing your walk, you will move on gradually.
“What we are doing today has a quite significant meaning to their lives, because it is relevant and one day, they will remember that they were celebrated.
“To the graduating primary 6 students who will be going to the college, I congratulate you for having finished your primary school successfully”, he said while thumping them up.
Asipa Kaoli engaged the parents and guests who were held spellbound to their chairs while listening to his thought – provoking speech with the evergreen quote of the former President of the United States of America (USA), Mr J.F Kennedy, which he modified to suit the Nigerian realities.
While charging parents and every Nigerian to ask from the government their entitlements, the former Commissioner for Agriculture also informed them that the government alone cannot do everything, therefore, he asked them to contribute their own quota in creating a livable environment where their children can excel and prosper.
“What I want to speak about this morning is a quotation from former American president, J.F Kennedy who said, “Do not ask what America can do for you, rather, what you can do for America”. I will moderate that preposition because I have expectations from the government. I want to ask something from the government even though Mr Kennedy said that we should not ask the government what Nigeria can do for us, but we must ask because the government has all our resources and they are in charge of safety and security. So, we must ask and hold them accountable”, he said clearly.
“The other side of the line is what you can do for Americans. What you have here is my passion to make a contribution to my community. When I move in and around Lagos or out of Lagos or travel out and I see clean facilities, I am always motivated by such an environment.
“You see, the environment has a lot to do with your training and who you will be tomorrow. So, that is why we have created this huge investment to create an enabling environment that will motivate these young ones. We must note that no amount of investment we make is too much for our children because they are our future and that is the future of the country. So, we have to invest in them.
“We cannot leave it for the government alone. The government cannot do it all. If you move round the remote areas in Lagos state, I mean to the villages and see what is happening there, your heart will bleed. So, we have to make contributions and my own contribution to making Nigeria great is by providing the environment; the facilities and empowering these young ones for tomorrow, so that they will be able to develop self – confidence.
“When you look at this environment, you can raise your head up and tell people where your school is; it is a beautiful environment. That is creating confidence, the opposite is to put them in an area where they will reject”, he said.
While thanking the parents for keeping faith in the school, the foremost educationist further asked parents to partner with the school in developing their children whom he referred to as the future of the country.
“I thank our parents for your wonderful support. Without you, we will not be where we are today, and coming from our old school at Ojogbe which was a leased property. The property was least to us for more than 10 years and today, we are at our own property. The other day, I went to the old place and I could not imagine that it was the same place that we were actually coming from. There is a total transformation”, he said.
“On this note, I implore parents to, please, work in synergy with our teachers, so that we would be talking to the students with one voice. If you observe anything, let the teacher know, and if the teachers see anything that can cause distraction, they will invite you to talk over it together. That is why you have paid for Kith and Kin. So, please help the teachers and the school.
“We are committed to the development of your children, but because we are not perfect and nobody is perfect and there could be some areas of mistakes here and there, please, tell us where we are wrong, we have listening ears and we want to make corrections.
“I can see some of our parents that have been with us for a long time, one is Mrs Idika who has been coming from Ijede for a very long time and many others like that. That is the confidence that you have in us.
“On this occasion, let’s celebrate these children. Let us celebrate them because we have wonderful children. I thank you so much”, Asipa Kaoli said.
The Headmaster, Kith & Kin Nursery and Primary School (KKNPS) and Kith & Kin Montessori School (KKMS), Ikorodu, Mr Adebanjo Olusegun, in his welcome address, stated some of the values of the school, and the reason parents who are looking for the proper development of their children, must consider the school first.
“That many of you are here today serves as strong evidence of how important this occasion and this institution of learning are to you”, he said.
“At Kith and Kin educational school, we teach education with character; we give zero tolerance to indiscipline; we have standard and well equipped ICT laboratories; we help each child achieve their potential by supporting the uniqueness of every child to excel; we offer quality and quantitative education; we operate in a conducive and serene environment; we excel in competitions and we operate in a safe and secured environment”, he added.
The outgoing Head Boy, Somtochukwu Uba and the Head Girl, Seriki EbunOluwa, in their respective valedictory speeches, thanked their parents and the school for their support in building them to be good pupils, while also congratulating their fellow graduating pupils, on successfully completing their primary school education.
Prizes were presented to the best three pupils in each class, while awards were presented in other categories like most improved, best dressed. Others pupils were also honoured during the graduation and award ceremony.
Those honoured in Foundation 1: Adedeji Faari (1st position), Adeyemi Seyi (2nd position) and Mbah Isabella (3rd position), Foundation 2: Olaitan Tomisona (1st), Beyioku Faizan (2nd) and Salami Ayomide (3rd), Foundation 3: Mojeed Sanni Muqtaidir. A (1st), Ileogben Mercy (2nd) and Folayan Miguel (3rd), Foundation 4: Salami Iremide (1st), Omene Reign (2nd), and Alani Abisola (3rd).
In Nursery one: Ibrahim Aneesa (1st position), Peter Royalty (2nd) and Otegbolade Enimoyiwura (3rd) and Nursery 2: Olatunde divine (1st position), Awe Adelaide (2nd) and Oduntan feroza (3rd).
KG category: Bekee Mercy (1st position), Lawal Sanwo-Olu (2nd) and Ayodeji mitchelle (3rd) and PG: Otegbolade ewaadewura (1st position), Ndubueze Ifunanya (2nd) and Opeaje Adediwura (3rd).
For Basic 1: Adedeji jamildeen (1st position), Adesina Al-ameen (2nd) and Ayodeji Tope (3rd); Basic 2: Robert Jamin (1st position), Sanyaolu Tomilola (2nd) and Ibrahim Arif (3rd); Basic 3: Osewa David (1st position), Popoola Tomisin (2nd) and Ucha Jessa (3rd); Basic 4: Aimienwanwu osabuyi (1st position), Otegbolade Darasimi (2nd) and Wilson Idera (3rd); Basic 5: Gbadebo Tummies (1st position), Davies Demilade (2nd) and Otubu Ayotomiwa (3rd) and Basic 6: Seriki Ebunoluwa (1st position), Ayodele Alamu-Fisayo (2nd) and Adeboye Damilare (3rd).
Grade one: Adedeji Shaadat (1st position), Shittu Anjolaoluwa (2nd position), and Adigun Adediwura (3rd position); Grade two: Moyosore Okeowo (1st position), Gafar Mateenah (2nd), and Maciver Emmanuel (3rd), Grade three: Moore Oluwafemi (1st), Adedeji Shaafi (2nd), Dekina Ojochide (3rd); Grade four: Mashia Mubarak Adejoke Mojeed-Sanni (1st), Eleh Phili (2nd), and Uba Kamsi (3rd); Grade five: Ogunjemiyo Adedotun (1st position), Adewale Daniella (2nd) and Gbadebo Darasimi (3rd) and Grade six: Somtochukwu Uba (1st position), Adeleye Jesse (2nd position) and Adefila Olalekan (3rd position).
Outstanding performance awards were also presented to: Seriki EbunOluwa (Best graduating KKNPS and Head Girl), Uba Somtochukwu (Best KKMS and Head Boy), Ayodele – Alamu Fisayo (Social Prefect), Adeboye Damilare, Olusanya Issa, Ndhika Ogochukwu (Head Girl KKMS), David Phillips (Sports Prefect) and Dekina Inikpi (Assistant Head Girl, KKMS).
Other highlights of the celebration included cutting of the graduation cake session with Yeye Kemi Olusanya, Director, KKES and wife of the CLO, special prayer session and graduation dance by the graduands and their parents.
