In the euphoria of its twenty second (22nd) year since its inception, Olashore International School marked its Founders Day celebration in style. With much activity lined up for the week, students, parents, and staff of the school contributed their quota to making the celebration worth it. The celebration took place recently at the Oba Okunade Sijuwade hall of the school, in Illoko-Ijesha, Osun state.
According to the Guest Speaker who coincidentally is the Chairman, Board of Directors, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mrs Osaretin Demuren, the benefits of the Founders Day Celebration is that it allows people of the present generation to enjoy the legacies left behind by their fathers. Her words: ‘The benefit of the Founders Day is that it allows our fathers to share their experiences with us, ideas that can be translated into reality. So we should celebrate and appreciate them to the legacy they left behind”. She in addition, advised the Olashore students to make their parents proud knowing fully well that their parents spent a lot on their education by focusing on their studies in order to emerge the best.
Counseling Olashore students on the way to carry on through school, she canvassed a unique stand out for Olashore students. She reiterates, “Given the opportunity you have as products of this great institution, and described by CNN as the ‘Pride of Africa’, you have the unique privilege to look beyond and go that extra mile because of the various and multiple options at your disposal. There are so many good schools competing for attention, and the world is getting more complex and sophisticated. To this end, you need something different to stand you out. Olashore students need to stand out. You need passion and inner strength to push hard work and integrity out there to show in whatever you do. Appreciate the time you are born into, take advantages of the choices, freedom and liberty, appreciate diversity around you and pick from people who are different from you. You must always do your best so that in the face of any opportunity, people can vouch for you”.
The Chairman, Board Of Governors of the School, Prince Bimbo Olashore explained that the Founders Day is used for maintaining the values on which the school stands. His words: “Olashore Founders Day is a day set aside to honour the founder of the school, Oba Oladele Olashore. It is also a day we use to retain the values on which the school stands. For us, after so many years, a day like this is usually set aside to get to look into the philosophy backing the school. Reminiscing on the school, I would say that this year we are 22years old, from all indications we are not so young nor so old especially in the context of Nigeria. We are at the fore-front of providing quality education, and there’s a tendency to deliver education that is comparable to the world. We teach our students the 21st century leadership education in order to equip them with the skills inherent. We hope that people will better appreciate what they have in the country than look outside. We are truly prepared for it”.
Speaking further on the Unique Selling Preposition of the School, he stated “The Unique Selling Preposition of the school is first the good and quality education, and high academic standard. We are building an all-round students by bringing in activities such as drama, music, sports amongst others. We also work on values of leadership, citizenship, honesty and the likes. We imbibe discipline and values that will help children build their future”.
On the part of the principal, Mr Derek Smith, the Founder Day is a day is a day to celebrate the founder’s birthday and measure up successes so far achieved in the school since its inception. His words, “Today, we celebrate the founder of the school because today is originally his birthday. But most importantly, the Founders Day at Olashore is designed to help look back at the philosophy upon which the school was built and how we are measuring up to the ideals while looking forward. Looking at the school for the past few years, it is clear that the school is performing well academically, successfully, and consistently performing in the top ten schools in Nigeria. We are looking at developing on that, and all the needs the students require as they leave school for the world in the 21st century.”
Taking a careful look at the success recorded by the school in the past years, he reiterates, “We embarked on the social change project which is centered around leadership and the positive impact they can have on the society. It’s all around the 21st century competencies. Children need to read and pass exams, and so we train them to use the 21st century technologies. Getting good exam results is good. It’s something we’ve always and will always want, but we want learning to go beyond classroom. It’s a really about what we are doing to ensure students are effective in the society. We believe we can be of positive impacts in the society”.
Established in 1994, on 60 acres of land, Olashore International School is a co-educational school which offers high caliber education in a wide range of subjects at Junior Secondary, Senior Secondary and a University Foundation Programme in partnership with Lancaster University. Over the past 20 years, the school has succeeded in creating a community of world class services around the school including a first class hotel, a golf course and Leadership training centre that all combine to give the school a unique identity. The school is particularly appealing to discerning Nigerians at home and abroad, as well as expatriates residing in Nigeria, who desire a school with a strong value system, demonstrable track record and a clear sense of purpose
