RAISE MONTESSORI SCHOOL, OWO MARKS ITS SECOND ANNIVERSARY AND END-OF-THE-SESSION-GET-TOGETHER PARTY, AS PROPRIETRESS CALLS FOR RESTORATION OF CORE VALUES TO TACKLE INSECURITY IN NIGERIA
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Raise Montessori School (RMS) is one of the fastest growing citadels of learning located in the ancient city of Owo, Ondo State- South West, Nigeria. The school marked the second edition of its existence and the end-of-the-session party on August 4, 2022 amidst pomp and pageantry.
In a statement made available to The Drum Online Media by Mrs. Hajarat Olaitan Adekoya, the school’s Proprietress. She expressed her delight to welcome special guests, parents and guardians to the event. She began by saying: ‘I am indeed extremely elated to welcome you to the School on the occasion of its annual and second edition of the End-of-the-Session Get-Together Party. This day is special and I am grateful because it presents us the opportunity to celebrate our pupils’ juvenile lives, impressive academic performances and of course the moral character they demonstrate both at school and at their respective homes’.
While speaking on the unfortunate erosion of societal core values, Mrs. Adekoya attributed the failure of the Nigerian state to the loss of adequate parental care and lack of sound moral upbringing on the part of the criminal elements disrupting the country’s peace and security. In her remark, she said: ‘this year’s theme: ‘Instilling Core Values in Our Pupils’ is quite apt, relevant and timely considering the high and alarming rate of moral decadence and crimes that are plaguing our society today’. She went further to say that ‘Whether it is in the North or South, we are awash, on a daily basis, with disturbing news of killings, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, ritual killing and armed robbery incidents by both the conventional and New Media. These of sad and worrisome developments are traits or results of a nation where core moral lessons and characters are failing or lacking. Would anyone among us imagine a well brought up man or woman, boy or girl, with sound home training and moral rectitude, to be involving himself or herself in any of these shameful and undigifying acts? The answer is NO! It is against this background that the management of the school is using today’s event to sensitize parents and guardians on the need to inculcate the act of good parenting in the way and manner they bring up their children and wards. Parents and guardians must see their children as tomorrow’s leaders who should be properly educated with sound and admirable moral character. Our wards and pupils must be tutored on the importance of core values such as integrity, discipline, respect for parents, elderly and constituted authority, patience, contentment, and fear of God as ingredients for personal and career development. May Almighty God provide for all of our needs so that we achieve the role of good parenting in the lives of our wards and children’.
The school’s head used the opportunity presented by the event to sensitize parents ad guardians She harped that ‘It is our duty as parents to monitor our children by assisting them in their daily school assignments, ensuring that they mingle with good friends and chastise them whenever they err or misbehave. The saying ‘sparing the rod; and spoiling the child’ should be part of our individual parenting strategy at all times. We must therefore be up and doing in training them in the best way possible so that we can be proud of them tomorrow as worthy ambassadors of the family and societal settings’.
She informed all guests and parents about the avalanche of activities the school has prepared to grace the day when she said ‘let me use this opportunity to inform you that a number of interesting and educative activities have been penciled down to make your attendance a worthwhile and memorable experience’.
Mrs. Adekoya did not however mince words in disclosing her sense of immense gratitude to all the pupils’ parents and foster parents for enrolling them at the school. She said ‘I must at this juncture express my profound gratitude to all parents for choosing Raise Montessori as your child’s number 1 citadel of learning and I can only assure you that you have made the right decision as we have qualified teachers and caregivers who will always be at your service in terms of qualitative education and sound moral upbringing for your wards and children. My prayer is that- you will live long to reap the fruit of your hard labour on your children. For those parents who have seen the fruitful effort and time investment of our teaching staff in their wards and children, we enjoin you to spread the success story by inviting your friends, relatives and neighbours to enroll their children at the school as well’.
She also took time out to appreciate the school’s teaching staff for their love, patience, understanding, punctuality, diligence and the passion to educate the pupils. ‘May you find divine favour and prosperity where you least expect in all your endeavours’, she prayed.
The school’s head also extended her appreciation to the Chairman and Chairlady of the Day (Alhaji and Alhaja Aderibgbe) for finding time to be at the event. Her profound gratitude was also expressed to all the Special Guests for their presence, attention, time and support. She remarked that ‘I also recognize and appreciate those who could not be here, but have provided invaluable support in words and kind for this event to be a success’.
Some of the major highlights of the event included activities such as RMS News, comedy, poem and rhyme presentations, choreography, cultural dance and various interesting games and other side attractions. Some of the pupils were presented with gifts for their outstanding performances at the outing.
The school’s head seized the opportunity of the event to call on parents, guardians and guests to invite their neighbours, family members and friends to bring their wards/children to the school for sound academic performance and enthralling moral character. She added that interested parents and guardians willing to enroll their wards can call 08136055220 for enquiries and other relevant information.
Some of the dignitaries present at the august and memorable event were the school’s patron, Mr. Afeez Ademola Adekoya, Mrs. L.R. Ogunmodede, Mrs. Muhammed, Mrs. Olasunkanmi, Mrs. Suleiman, Mr. Sanni and Mrs. Abraham among other important personalities.
