Kunle Adelabu
It was, again, that period of the year, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, when the management, staff, parents, pupils and students of the Kith & Kin Educational Schools (KKES), Owode lbeshe in lkorodu, to gathered together to celebrate, relax and have fun as they marked the end of another term and ushered in the yuletide season.
However, the gathering wasn’t all about fun and merry alone this year, as the management equally used the occasion to celebrate merit, excellence and performances of the staff members.
A total of 10 teaching and non – teaching staff were called out during the annual celebration tagged, ‘KKES December Carnival”, which held at the school’s sports ground at Kaoli Olusanya Street, Owode – Ibeshe in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
The award event, which was attended by the school’s parents’ forum executives and other parents in their large numbers, was instituted by the Chief Learning Officer (CLO), KKES, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, who will soon add another feather to his Chieftaincy titles as the Asiwaju of Ibesheland, for the school’s teaching and non – teaching staff in commemoration of the annual World Teachers’ Day, which holds every October 5.
Asipa Olusanya was joined on the podium by his wife, Yeye Asipa Kemi Olusanya, the Executive Director, Quality Assurance, KKES, Mr Wole Oshewa, Mrs Ayodeji and Barrister Anikuani and Mr Oregbesan Julius Gbenga, Principal, KKES.
Before announcing the winners and presentations of certificates and cheques, the CLO explained the idea behind the initiative, stating that:
“This is an event we should have held on October 5, the World Teachers’ Day, but because we didn’t have enough to determine the best teachers in different categories, we then postponed till this event.
“Today, we want to appreciate all the members of staff, but to single out those who have made the most contributions, I like to invite our PTA executives to join me.
“The efforts of teachers in imparting knowledge and character formation, we want to recognize them and give a token to them here on earth and not in heaven. We want to do this on behalf of our parents and children.
“Because we cannot give this token to everybody, we have made the award in two categories. This is a monetary award to add to their Christmas benefits to use in having good time with their families apart from what we have general given to all members of staff.
“We want to single out some staff to inspire others and there are reasons for selecting each person. For each of the honorees, we will tell you why he/she has been selected to be one of the best of members of staff”, Asipa Kaoli said.
The nine overall best tutors and non – teaching staff and runners–up were not just presented with the certificates and monetary prizes, but head of each school and unit of the KKES came out to openly announced why they were picked and recommended for the honour.
Mrs Olatunde Scholar, a Computer/Data Processing tutor with the Kith & Kin International College (KICC) and the website/school’s social media handler, emerged the overall best tutor for her multi – tasking attributes and impacting academic excellence on the students across the four schools of the KKES, especially in the area of ICT and Data Processing.
She was rewarded with a cheque of N150, 000 and two certificates, as motivation to encourage her to continue in her excellence strides.
Others that emerged as overall best tutors were Mr Olusegun Olukoye, KKES Nursery & Primary School, Mrs Adelusi Bolanle, KKES Montessori School, Mr Excel Oloriegbe, KKES British International Academy, Mrs Helen Ayodeji, (non – teaching staff) Kitchen and Mr Ebenezer Akala, the school facility manager from the Finance and Administration section. They were also presented with customized certificates and N150, 000 cheque each as prize money.
Mr Olusegun Afolabi, a Physics tutor with KKES International School who has continually improved the academic standard of his students with 16 out of the 21 students that sat for the WASCCE this year scoring A1, led in the category of overall best tutors and non – teaching staff (runners – up) category. He was presented with certificates and a cheque of N100, 000.
Others were Mr Olaniyi Olusoji Ezekiel, KKES Nursery & Primary School, Mrs Evans Temitope (Quality Assurance Section), KKES Montessori and Mrs Agbedun Abosede, KKES Kitchen staff who has been with the establishment for 18 years. They received certificates and a cheque of N100, 000 each.
The event also featured showcasing of the musical and creative talents of the pupils and students across the KKES schools at the carnival with KKES Montessori School, Nursery & Primary School, British Academy, International College and the Primary School’s orchestral group performing to the amazement of the parents and their colleagues.
At the carnival was Santa Claus and his team and they presented the pupils and students various gift items at a special corner.
Also at the funfilled event, there were ice cream fan, pop corn machine and other eateable and drinkable items for the students to enjoy their evening, while parents and other adults at the carnival also had their own section where they were served different kinds of meals and drinks.
The event, like the previous editions, ended with firing of fire crackers into the air with the sounds enveloping the entire community, while excited parents, students and guests brought out their mobile phones to capture the moment.
