When Class 2016 students mounted the podium at the Centagon

Students, parents and visitors who trooped en-masse to witness the graduation ceremony for Class 2016 of Centagon International School, Maitama Abuja, will always relieve the excitement and the wonderful memories of Saturday June 4, 2106  AUGUSTINE OKEZIE who attended the event writes:

While making a brief speech to kick-start the ceremony, school proprietor and chairman of the governors’ board of the school, Sir lucky Omoluwa, restated the mission of the school which is to deliver high quality international education, reflecting a mix of Nigerian, British and American curriculum delivery with uttermost technological superiority and environmentally accommodating.

Omoluwa, who further revealed the quality of teaching and learning process the school has imbibed as the reason behind the string of successes recorded by the school in its entire history, reminded the 11 graduating students not to forget the school’s motto which emphasizes excellence and hard work, as they march into a competitive future.

The Centagon International School (TCIS), which is privately designed to serve grades Pre – Kindergarten through Secondary School graduation levels, officially admitted its first batch of students to commence academic activities in September 2010, giving students great opportunities to grow, as well as discover their unique gifts and academic talent.

TCIS as it is fondly called has two school divisions: The Elementary School which consists of Grades Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5 (Nursery 3 through Primary 6) and the Junior Secondary School which consists of Grades 6 through 8 (JSS 1 through JSS3).

By September of 2012, TCIS had its first Grade 9 (SSS1) class. Grade levels are added yearly and as TCIS celebrates its second Grade 11 (SSS3) graduating class, the school has since expanded to two classes at each grade levels.

The relationship between the teaching staff and students were glaring during the ceremony through several manners of interactions and exchanges between both sides.

Speaking, the school principal, Mr. Onifade, said: ‘’The teachers at TCIS are experienced with several holding advanced degrees. The majority of teachers are Nigerians while about 20% of the faculty teachers are from various countries around the world or have been educated overseas’’.

‘’Approximately, 30% of TCIS Student enrolment represents over fifteen different nationalities, while the school facilities contain 36 classrooms, three laboratories, two libraries, an ICT laboratory, a basic tech room, an Art Room, a Music Room, a playing field, an outdoor basketball court, two playgrounds, a clinic, a counselor’s office, a multi-purpose hall, and administrative offices’’.

Special Guest of Honour at the occasion and Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, while commending the proprietor of the school for his resilience in the face of intimidation and challenges and for having successfully superintended the growth and development of the school, called for partnership between private and public schools as a way of complimenting government’s efforts in the development of Nigeria’s basic education.

Mallam el-Rufai, who was represented at the occasion by his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman, recalled with nostalgia the battle to reclaim the present land on which the school is built from the French Embassy which encroached on the property earlier designated for education development.

While appreciating the parents and teachers, the governor called for concerted effort aimed at fixing public schools in the country to bring them up to standard.