Secondary Schools from Ikorodu division were cynosure of all eyes at the 13th Education District II Merit Award Ceremony as they emerged multiple winners at the annual event, which was held on Thursday, September 19, 2019. The award winning Education District ceremony comprises public secondary schools in Ikorodu, Kosofe and Somolu zones of Lagos State.
Still basking in the euphoria of its recent victory at the National Robotic Competition and a new Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Adekanye Anike, who took over from Mr. Ebenezer Abayomi Olusanya, the Education District rolled out the drums to celebrate this year’s award ceremony themed, “Towards Greater Heights,” with pomp and joy.
The open field of the Oriwu Model College, Ikorodu, which played host to the event, was filled to its capacity as Principals, Vice Principals, Teachers from the secondary schools across the Education District and officials of the District, all of whom were dressed in a uniform Ankara attire specially selected for the occasion, turned out enmasse. Also present at the event were traditional rulers and chiefs, elected representatives, officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Tutor-Generals/Permanent Secretaries from other Education Districts in the State, officers and members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at the State and National levels, secondary school students and many others.
The memorable event, which was designed to recognise excellent performances of Teachers, students and officials of the Education District, turned out as an avenue for the Teachers to unwind and merry as it witnessed a first class entertainment of food, drinks and music, which were supplied by a Juju musician, Omisope M.K and his Hephzibah Musical Organization. There was also a Raffle draw, where some teachers won mouthwatering prizes such as Microwave Oven, Refrigerator, 42 inches Plasma television, etc., while the star prize, a 2014 brand new Toyota Camry Car was won by Mrs. Omolara Folusho Dina, a Teacher from Imota Community Senior Grammar School, Imota in Ikorodu division. She also emerged as the Best Head of Department (Junior Category) in the District.
The event also featured cultural dance and choreography performance by students of Elepe Community Junior High School, Ikorodu and Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, respectively.
In the award presentation session, schools in Ikorodu division won most of the major awards on display to the envy of schools from other zones in the Education District II. Oriwu Model College, Ikorodu, won the award for the Best School (both Senior and Junior Categories) in the District while the Principal of the school, Alhaja Abiodun Sherrifat Ogunniyi, who was the Best Principal in Nigeria few years ago, emerged the Best Principal (Senior Category) in the District. Her counterpart in the Junior Session of the school, Mrs. Rabiat Folasade Alimi, won the Best Principal in the Junior Secondary School Category.
Also, a student in the Senior Session of the school, Ashafa Wuraola Fatimah, emerged the Best student in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for 2017/2018 and Best Overall Student in Science in the same exam. Other awards won by Oriwu Model College were Best Vice-Principal in Junior Secondary Schools (Mrs. Olowu Olurinke Comfort) and Best Head of Department for Senior Secondary Schools (Mr. Sanusi Otolorin Kamardeen).
Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo, won the awards for the Best Teacher in the Senior Secondary School Category, Best Student (BECE) in the Junior Secondary school Category, Best Tutor of the Year (Senior Secondary School Category) and Best Vice-Principal (Senior Secondary School Category). Also, Lagos State Girls Model College, Agunfoye, in Igbogbo/Bayeiku LCDA, emerged winners for the awards of Best Teacher and Tutor (Junior Secondary School Category).
Earlier, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of the District, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, in her address, explained that the annual award ceremony was initiated to recognize and motivate students and Teachers in the District, who are consistent in the excellent discharge of their duties, and to also acknowledge the outstanding achievements of schools in the District. She commended the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Education for its support for Education District II and also thanked Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu and Hon. S. O. B. Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly as well as other dignitaries for attending the event.
Mrs. Adekanye described education in the District as all-encompassing in terms of cognitive and psycho-motive aspects and this, according to her, is the reason the District has been producing brilliant students, who have become Doctors, Teachers, Lawyers, Engineers, Bankers and many more. She concluded her address by highlighting some of the achievements of the District under her watch. Among these are the emergence of 
Evan Adelaja Junior Girls Secondary School, Bariga, as winner of the National Robotic competition, Ojota Senior Secondary School, Ojota, winning the second position in the Lagos State Robotic competition, Elepe Community Senior High School, Ikorodu, winning second and third positions in the male and female categories of the GTB Principals Cup respectively, CMS Senior Girls Secondary School, Bariga, winning the Lagos State Mathematics and Science competition, while the District also won twenty five (25) Gold, twenty three Silver and eighteen (18) bronze medals at a sporting event in the State.
Hon. S. O. B. Agunbiade, who was the Chairman of the occasion, in his short address, expressed his joy over the award ceremony, stating that it is worthy to be identified with because it was organized to motivate and appreciate Teachers for their efforts in moulding and training children to become useful to themselves and the society in future. He congratulated those that won awards and urged them to work harder for more glory while also advising others that did not win to put in more efforts in the discharge of their duties in order to be considered for awards.
Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu, while speaking briefly with Oriwu Sun at the event, commended Education District II for organizing the event annually to honour and celebrate Teachers in the district. He charged the Teachers to repay the honour being bestowed on them through the award event by recommitting and rededicating themselves to their duties and ensuring that children under their watch become successful in their academics.
Other dignitaries at the event were Oba Semiudeen Kasali, Adeboru of Igbogbo; Chief R.A. Yinusa, Baale of Bajulaye (represented Oba of Somolu); Chief Ayodele Elesho; Mrs. Bola Mayungbe, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Kosofe branch; Comrade Segun Raheem, former Lagos State NUT Chairman; Hon. Olanbiwoninu (represented Hon. Jimi Benson); Primate Charles Odugbesi (represented Senator Adebayo Osinowo); Mr. Ebenezer Abayomi Olusanya, former TG/Ps, Education District II; Comrade Fakolade Oluwafemi, Ikorodu NUT Chairman; Mr. Taiwo Oduloye, Education Secretary; Ikorodu Local Government Education Authority, among others.