By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu/Bolu Akindoyin
Dr Shareefah Yusuf, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District VI, Lagos State, has charged the district’s 2024 merit awardees to reciprocate the honour with improved performance.
Yusuf gave the charge on Monday at the 2024 Annual Merit Awards and Honours Day of the district.
The event had the theme: “Fostering a Growth Mindset for Greater Achievements”.
It held at Eko Boys Senior High School, Mushin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 800 teachers were nominated from junior and senior secondary schools in Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi-Isolo local government areas, under the district, for the merit awards.
Thirty-six qualified.
Also honoured are outstanding principals of schools and students who performed exceptionally in the 2024 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and Basic Education Certificate Examination.
The Tutor-General described the honoured teachers as moulders of the future generations, saying that they had recorded significant achievements.
“This is an annual event to celebrate the teeming number of our staff and students who have recorded great achievements in their various endeavours.
“The idea is to spur them to do more and also for non-awardees to cultivate the habit of putting in their best so that someday, they will also be honoured.
“The 2023/2024 Merit Awards Committee was meticulous in the selection of the best in the various categories. Every participant was given a level-playing ground to prove himself or herself,” the official said.
Master Adewale Muslim from Birch Freeman Senior High School, Surulere, who was outstanding in the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the district, was given N500,000, by God’s Covenant Church of All Nations, Ikeja, at the event.
Muslim, who scored 302 in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and aspires to study computer science at the University of Lagos, said, “I thank the organisers of this event but the gift actually came as a surprise. The money means a lot to me.”
Mr Olusola Ajala, Chairman of Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, said that government had a duty to encourage teachers and students to excel.
He, however, implored parents and community leaders to contribute their quotas in raising children to be worthy ambassadors.
Mr Ogbere Olusegun of AUD Comprehensive School, Okota, got the best Vice Principal Award, while Mrs Oyekunle Nike of llupeju Senior Grammar School secured the best Head of Department Award, amongst others.
Mr Abiodun Bamgboye Commissioner 2, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, said,“Elements of growth mindset are motivation from within, happiness and peace of mind, embracing challenges, learning from criticisms and to value feedback to correct mistakes.”
Earlier, Mr Akintunde Hassan, Chairman, Nigerian Union Of Teachers, Lagos State Wing, said that the merit awards should make those neglecting their duties to be committed. (NAN)