The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu, has joined stakeholders to advise schools to nurture the right attitudes in Children and youths and embrace digitization for the country’s development.
He said this while gracing the 2023 Graduation Ceremony of Beautiful Beginning Academy (Cambridge International School), in Abuja Nigeria’s capital city.
“For the fact that the greatest resource of the Nigerian state is human beings, we are among the ten most populous countries in the world and Nigeria is on the chart of countries with population of youth advantage. It is projected that in the next thirty years, we will get to the fourth position: India, China, and Indonesia; first, second and third. If that is the case, one has to congratulate Beautiful Beginning Academy because what they are doing today is to empower our children and youths; to educate our children deeply. From what they have done there, you could see that from the crèche to the secondary school level.
Also speaking on the need to lay premium on digitization as a means of helping Nigeria as a nation to grow and rank amongst the best, Mr Osita Okechukwu added:
“When you go deep in empowering the children digitally, you are developing the country… Going Digital is the way, because today, competing with human beings is Artificial Intelligence. That’s what we did in Voice of Nigeria, we started with the shortwave broadcasting module; we are still broadcasting in the shortwave; but we have gone digital because our elementary studies showed us that five out of the six geo-time zones have migrated from the shortwave radio module to digital broadcasting.” The MD/Proprietress of the school, Dr Rosemary Nasa-Okolie, said the school places a premium on raising students that will not only be sound in character and learning but also produce soaring digital phoenixes that will make a great impact in Nigeria and all around the world.
“We chose the theme ‘The Soaring of Digital Phoenixes’ because their best is yet to come. I hope to see them going places in the world. The ones that will study outside the country, should study and come back to make Nigeria great. The ones that will be here in Nigeria should study and achieve greatness; be shining lights to people out there without cheating, without corruption. I know we are living in difficult times, but I want to tell every individual out there with children to know that the only legacy you can give to your child or children is good education. Not buildings, not monies stashed in banks, not jewellery, but good education”, Dr. Nasa-Okolie said.
Noting that it was awesome creating opportunities for the students to find expression through learning and other skills, the Keynote Speaker of the ceremony and CEO of One Percent International, Stephanie Nnadi, admonished the children to maintain the good characters they have built overtime at BBA and resist every temptation to be influenced wrongly by peers in higher institutions of learning. She further urged them to remain focused on the need for a life strategic plan.
“As you are going forward, Life and the road to vision is not an easy one and I pray for you today that as you pursue life, it will come as easy for the things you like. I’ll tell you this, value is what brings men to you, so make sure you give value.”
Stephanie Nnadi further hoped that their dreams, hard work and dedication will make them achieve great things even as they go further in life.
Giving the Valedictory Speech, Oluwabusolami Fakeyde said “Looking back from where we started to where we are now, is nothing short of a miracle… to my fellow graduating students, the Soaring Digital Phoenixes, today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. We stand at the threshold of a future filled to the brim with endless possibilities and opportunities.”
The School’s Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA) Chairman, Mr. Mike Daudu in his closing remarks, commended the students, teachers and all in attendance for their contributions and gave a special congratulation to the Phoenix set of 2022/2023; whom he believes will always rise against all odds like the mythical phoenix.
Highlights of the event included Short plays, Poetic Drama, a Vocabulary parade, several enlightening speeches and the official graduation ceremony of the 2023 SS3 class of BBA.
