Atlantic Hall School has restated its commitment to transforming learning in Nigeria through international collaborations.
The school which plans to partner Carleton University, Ottawa, assured that the collaboration that will provide opportunities for exchange of people and ideas.
Welcoming the gathering of friends, alumni, business, diplomatic and political leaders to the Bells Centre, Onikan Lagos at its 30th anniversary, Taiwo Taiwo, the Chairman of the Atlantic Hall Education Trust Council noted that “Atlantic Hall was born out of the dreams of five young idealistic and passionate friends, who envisioned a first-class co-educational secondary school, fit to arrest the narrative of decaying secondary education in Nigeria”.
Taiwo commended the tenacity and enthusiasm of the founders: Gbeminiyi Smith, Kehinde Dina, Eniola Fadayomi, Olabisi Towry-Coker, Lola Aboderin, Marlies Allan, Abimbola Bode-Thomas, Morenikeji Okunowo, and Grace Fadayomi, whose quest for world-class education right here in Nigeria birthed the Atlantic Hall School.
Highlighting the charitable causes of the school, Taiwo noted that the annual scholarship program had successfully provided for scores of indigent young people to receive world-class education right here in Nigeria stating that the most recent beneficiaries as William Anosike and Esther Ojooluwa Adebowale had settled in quite nicely.
Delivering the keynote speech, Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic, noted that “the core values of Atlantic Hall School have over time led to countless notable alumni going on to accomplish outstanding feats in diverse fields of endeavour”.
Osinbajo observed that “A school is ultimately about the quality of its fruit, the young people it bequeaths to society. A school is fundamentally about the quality of its students – their learning, capacity to compete favorably across the globe. It is about character, the quality of young men and women that emerge from here.
“This great school has produced Kemi Adetiba, award-winning filmmaker, television director, and leading light in Nigeria’s movie industry. The school produced Damilola Ogunbiyi, the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General and CEO of Solar Energy, who at 28 built and managed five Lagos Independent Power Plants, and has gone on to become Presidential Adviser on Power, responsible for the construction of Nigeria’s largest solar power plant at the Bayero University, Kano.
“The values of Atlantic Hall School are manifest in the fruit that it has produced and in those that it continues to produce; the fruit is good and worthy.”
Aisha Buhari, the First Lady of the Federal Republic, represented by Abiodun Seriki Ayeni, commended the school for its ‘commitment to a first-class education and for the tall and lasting legacy it represents to future generations of young people’.
Mattew Otubu, an alumnus of the school and the regional campaign coordinator at Rory Steward for Major of London said the founder trustees of Atlantic Hall School set out to transform the face of education in Nigeria and prepare young people for the 21st century and they have succeeded in doing that.
“I left in 2011, just under a decade ago and looking back at it now, acceleration has taken place in the last decade and for me it is only evidence to the success that has happened 20 years prior to that. I think where Atlantic Hall School has gotten to today under the leadership of so many important staff is incredible,” he said.
Ayomide Smith, President of Alumni of Atlantic Hall commended the school for increasing the pace it started with, stating that in the past few years, its results in WAEC has been the best in the country.
“My children go to Atlantic Hall School. So, I trust the school enough to put my children there. They have exceeded all expectations. The Atlantic Hall students can go from here to study anywhere in the world. They do the best they can.
“We are over currently over 2000 members in the Alumni. Our first set was in 1993 and since then over 20 sets have registered and they are doing great in their various professions,” Smith disclosed.
