Q: We learnt that you are the best principal in Nigeria; how did you achieve this feat and what is the secret?
A: I want to appreciate the good Lord for how far he has taken me and the state government as well as our Education District II. They all have provided the enabling environment for us as teachers.
Let me say that the secret is team work because here at Oriwu College, everybody is important, including the students and the support staff. Other stakeholders are not left out because everybody had contributed to make this award possible. It is also a story of hard work.
Q: Do you mean that today we still have exemplary teachers?
A: We still have and I can say that about our teachers in Oriwu College. We have fantastic teachers, who are very dedicated and committed. We have a monitoring system, where the students are divided among the senior teachers and they see these students as their children.
Q: What is the criteria for determining who wins the award?
A: We started the competition from the zonal level (from Ikorodu). They look at the academic track records of the school; then the administrative skills of the school head, and then they move round classes to see the teachers and the students. Next, they go to the laboratory, library and the computer room. They look at how we make use of all the facilities in the school. Then they move on to interview the teachers and the students.
After all this, I won at the zonal level, which is Ikorodu zone, and we moved to the district level. At the district level, I came first and we moved to the state level and I also won at the state level. After the state level, I had to go and represent the state at the national level.
In sports, we won the Principal GTB Lagos State Football competition. Even in SOB marathon race, we came first last year and also this year, we came second. We are in every departments and not just academics.
Q: This competition was organized by who?
A: The one of the state was organized by the Ministry of Education, Lagos State and that of the Federal was organized by the Federal Ministry of Education. The certificate being issued was dully signed by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Q: What was the reaction of the academic community here when you got the award?
A: They were overwhelmed and they all rejoiced with me. They came around to support me. There was a time the federal team came to assess the school and they were here for three days.
Q: For how long have you been heading this school?
A: I started my teaching career in this school in 1985 before I had to move to other schools, but I came back here in December/January 2013. I came back as Principal in January, 2013.
Q: What would you say you brought into this school from your family background?
A: I have received several interview because people thought that I schooled abroad. But I told them that I had all my schoolings here in Nigeria. I started from Ijomu primary school, Ikorodu (a school just along the road).
I came from a humble background and my father and mother are disciplined and workaholics. They actually groomed me to become what I am today. I am also grateful to the present Tutor-General of Education district II. She is a fantastic woman and always there for the school, among other favours we have been getting.
Q: Do you have issue of cultism in your school?
A: No, nothing like that. My students are disciplined. When I newly came in, there was an issue but we thank God today that we don’t have such issues.
Q: What is the relationship between sporting and education activities?
A: There are three domains of education and the three must be put in place. They are cognitive, affective, and psycho motor domain. You don’t just stay in class without exercising yourself. The competition organized by the district was a very good one. These children are always very happy anytime they are in the field playing or participating in sporting activities. That would make them and even the teachers healthy. It is all about all round education.
Q: What do you think the state government still needs to do to improve education?
A: They have always been supporting the schools. I would like to say that Lagos State is the only state that has been supporting the citizens to get the best education. The Eko grant, Lagos State Eko project and Schools Improvement Plant (SIP) are initiatives that would help the principals to look at areas, where there are needs for improvement and the money is then disbursed to the school’s account for such projects. It is the principals that would look at the areas, where they need to spend the money.
Q: What other unique things or features does the school have apart from its achievements?
A: Our children are much disciplined, and when you look at the environment, our compound is very conducive to learning. In terms of academics, our children are excelling and our teachers are very dedicated.
Q: Coming from a humble background as you said, what is your message to the less privileged?
A: Being less privileged is not a disability. My advice is for them to be up and doing and to remain focused. Taking an example from the outgone American President, Obama, he came from a humble background and he has done wonderfully well. So, we give glory to God for that. Most people or leaders that have been ruling the world were not born with silver spoon. My slogan has been, “I can make it” and with that, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to achieve.
Q: What is this school doing to promote entrepreneurship with scarcity of jobs in the country?
A: The reason we have our green house, the fish farm, home makers club and the jet club as well as manufacture pesticides, insecticides and liquid soap was to promote entrepreneurship among the students. This has actually been helping them. We also train them on computers and get them certificated when they are waiting to gain admission into tertiary institutions.
Apart from fish farming, we also teach them on how to make beads. We teach them to recognize what they are lacking in their community and to provide same through going into entrepreneurship. And with this, many of them learn how to stand on their own once they leave school. We also train them on how to make plantain chips.
Q: Does the prize they gave you constitute going abroad to stay for one year?
A: They gave me gift and when I came back from abroad, the state actually honoured me. All my trips aboard have been courtesy of the state government.