End of 2024 / 2025 Academic Session /23rd Graduation Ceremony Holding at the School's Multi-Purpose Mini- Hall on this 8th Day of August, 2025

  

End of 2024/2025 Academic Session/ 23rd Graduation Ceremony of God's Reward International School, Maya, Ikorodu, Lagos

Welcome Address by Dr. Ebi Nurseman Isaac, FCIA - Proprietor/ Sch. Administrator

Protocols 

It is generally accepted saying that ' Beside (not behind) any successful or  succeeding man, is a very supportive, intelligent and cooperative woman (wife), hence I am pleased to first recognize my very beautiful, amiable, supporting wife and Proprietress of the School -

Evangelist (Mrs.) Esaduvie Isaac Nurseman who is unavoidably absent because she is out of Nigeria but ably represented by our last child and daughter - Miss Derepamoere Isaac Nurseman an under- graduate Law Student at Lancaster University, UK - Ghana Campus but currently on holiday.

It is my pleasure to equally recognize Mrs. Opeyemi Onahokun- the  Chairperson of today's programme, Mr. Opeyemi Folorunsho - Father of the Day, Mrs. Mary Agaraebo - Mother of the Day, Mrs. Folake Mary Adetimehin - Head Teacher, Parents, Guardians, Students, Pupils more specially the ones graduating, friends, neighbors who are here to celebrate with us, ladies and gentlemen 

It is with great joy, pleasure and privilege to welcome you all and to be part of the 2024/2025 Academic Session /23rd Graduation Ceremony of God's Reward International School holding in the School's Multi-Purpose Mini- Hall on this 8th day of August, 2025

I am using this my brief welcome address today to offer words of encouragement to parents, guardians, teachers, students, pupils and to present an historical facts about the school as well as the urgent need to strategize in bringing back God's Reward Int'l School, Maya, Ikorodu, Lagos State, established in 1998 /1999 academic session, formally known and called Reward Private School  to its former glory and even taking it beyond by God's grace.

In my hand is a copy of the School's 2nd Graduation Ceremony Programme Booklet held on July 31st, 2004. I am also holding the 3rd Graduation & End of Session Program Booklet that was held on Wednesday July 27, 2005 and Invitation Card of our 1st Graduation & Prize Giving Ceremony that was held on Friday August 8, 2003 exactly a day like  today ( Friday August 8) that we are holding this 23rd edition which of course has a spiritual meaning, implication and a sign that God's Reward International School is starting again and that on a very good note. Also in my hand is Invitation Card of the Send-Forth Party of Master Yunus Sanusi Babatunde (a Muslim and Indigene of Imota), one of the recipients of my Junior/Secondary School Scholarship Award & 7th Graduation Ceremony held at Oba of Imota Palace on Wednesday, August 5, 2009

I  and my last child who returned to Nigeria for her holiday saw these valuable, memorable and historical items while going through my archives in the house.

It is on record the current President / Commander-in -Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju (Senator) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has been represented twice in my school programs when he was the  Executive Governor of Lagos State. 

He was first represented in 2003 by Mr. J.O. Odupitan, the then Project Director, World Bank Assisted UBE Projects and secondly in 2004 by Prof. Idowu Sobawale - the then Hon. Commissioner for Education, Lagos State. I was officially given the pictures of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Commissioner for Education in the Governor's Office to include them in the  Graduation Program Booklet and the maiden edition of my School Almanac.

Other Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and dignitaries that has graced my school's End of the Year  Programmes and Graduation Ceremonies includes:

Fmr. President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan, GCON, GCFR,  when he was Governor of Bayelsa State and he was ably represented by Mr. J.O. Oweribo, the then Permanent Secretary, General Services , Bayelsa State who flew all the way from Bayelsa (my home State) to Lagos and was in my school at Maya, Ikorodu. I remembered vividly, he equally delivered the Governor's speech (then) and also made a commitment on behalf of the  Government of Bayelsa State to assist the School.

His Royal Majesty, Oba Mudasiru Ajibade, the Ranodu of Imota who acknowledged and appreciated my scholarship covering JSS1 to SSS3  given to a Muslim student named Master Yunus Sanusi Babatunde an indigene of Lagos State when delivering his speech during the School's program in Maya, Ikorodu.

Prof. R. O. A. Iyagba - the then Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos

Comrade Joseph Evah, Fmr Publicity Secretary - INC, Lagos, Foremost Niger Delta /Human Rights Activist & Current Nat'l Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group ( IMG) 

Amb. Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, CON, who was the then Secretary to Bayelsa State Government (SSG) and Special Adviser to Fmr. President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Chief  Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR on Niger Delta Matters.

Superintendent John P. Kenebi, when he was the Divisional Police Officer (D.P.O), Ipakodo, Ikorodu, Lagos

The founding President of IYDA, Comrade Anthony Oki, Founding Publicity Secretary of IYDA & Chief of Staff of IMG - Comrade Andrew Elijah, Current President of IYDA-  Comrade Botu Pius, Deputy Baale of Maya Town, Hon. Alade Olukoga popularly known as Mr. Honey.

The list is unending.

God's Reward Private School because of its  quality and high standard education and disciplined life style attracted parents and guardians from all the villages and  towns along and off Itoikin road such as Itele kekere,  Itele Nla, Liadi, Idafa, Parafa, Lucky Fibres (Otamope), Itamaga, Agufoye. Aiyetoro, Adamo, Araro, Isiu, Imota, Agbowa, Ijede etc. We also had parents that brought their wards from different places in  Ikorodu Township, Majidun, Owutu, Odogunyan,  Ogolonto, Ibese, Ogijo,  Agric, Mile 12, Ketu,  Mafoloku- Oja,  Oshodi axis etc.

I could remember many times, during the holiday period, my wife and I would drive to some of these villages and towns with our School Bus to collect school/transport fees from parents owing us. And when we got there, we discovered the parents and the children had not eaten since the previous day, so we ended up giving them the little money in our pockets. Because the children were very brilliant, we couldn't drive them away from school; rather, we allowed them to write examinations and still carried them with our school bus the following term. In fact, we left millions of naira in the hands of parents who couldn't pay school fees. You can verify from Hon. Alade  Olukoga - the Deputy Baale of Maya because he is aware and can attest to what I'm saying.

Some parents kept their wards in my Four (4) Bedroom Flat God helped me to build around 1997 in Maya with feeding money every Monday and took them back on Friday after school. God's Reward International School ( Primary Section) was the choice of Teaching and non Teaching Staff of Babington Secondary School (Boarding) situated at Agufoye since the school was not running primary Section at that time.

I could remember two of the God's Reward International School songs that was reigning at that time.

1) "There is a School at Maya, We are proud to call it Reward School, It's a School of Joy and a School of Peace, You better take me now to Reward School. Mommy, Take me  to Reward School, Daddy, Take me  to Reward School, Aunty, Take me to Reward School, you better take me now to Reward School "

2) "It's a long way to Reward Private School, O yes, it's a long way to go

Because of learning, please take me there Mommy, it's a long way to go, To Gooooooooo "

The school has also made one of the best results in Junior WAEC in Lagos State twice 2007 and 2008 respectively while foundational Students that attempted to write WASSCE while in SSS2  cleared all their subjects at distinction grades ( Science, Arts and Commercial respectively.) 

God's Reward International School has engaged in Extra- curricular activities with  top positions and awards. For example, the School took 3rd position out  of 158 private schools in Lagos State during 2005 Children's Day Fun Fair at MITV/ Star FM, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The School has gone for excursion  programs and carried out studies within and outside Nigeria. For instance, excursion visits has taken pupils, students and selected teachers to Egbin Power Station, Lagos State House of Assembly during the era of Rt. Hon. Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora as Speaker and Hon. Adetoun Adediran as Deputy Speaker. Other places visited include Lagos State Television, Radio Lagos., Muritala  Muhammed International Airport, Benin Republic and even Accra in Ghana especially University of Ghana where I personally carried out Intergovernmental/ Comparative Studies on Leadership and Nation Building in 2005

One notable event I can't forget was how the Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, in the person of Paul Lumor Atta-Mensah, deeply appreciated the content of my letter containing the purposes of my excursion and study visit to Accra, Ghana, which was equally made known to President John Kufuor and that resulted in some level of presidential assistance.

Besides, the Government of Nigeria together with security agencies were very tough on people taking children out of the country in the name of an Excursion program at that time because of serious cases of child trafficking, but both Immigration and the State Security Service (SSS) approved my request having checked and confirmed my integrity and disciplined lifestyle. They allowed me to take about 60 pupils/students and teachers with two vehicles out of Nigeria to Ghana, and we brought them back safe and sound. The trust placed in me by the parents is something else.

The School is equally noted for humanitarian activities such as giving of Discounted School fees, Scholarships, and provision of free Notebooks, Uniforms etc to pupils and students irrespective of tribe, religion and political divide or affiliation. In fact I distributed my printed free exercise books to pupils in African Bethel Primary School situated in  Maya,  Community Junior and Secondary Schools, Maya including schools in Ekeremor, Yenagoa, Sagbama, Kolokuma Opokuma,  Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, Nembe, Brass Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State and  Schools in Burutu and Bomadi Local Government Areas just to mention a few.

It was  one of the days while on my way to write my first semester  examination of my MBA  program in 2001, the Spirit of God told me audibly (right inside the bus) the meaning of REWARD in acronym form and I wrote it down.

R- relying Wholly on God to Succeed in Life 

E- xcellent in Educating Children and Youths 

W- isdom and Knowledge is our Power 

A- bility to Defend Acquired Educational Certificate(s) & Disciplined Lifestyle is our Goal

R- emoving the Disease of Ignorance Through the Application of Sound Education 

D- esire, Determination, Discipline and Diligence: Key to Success

As I reflect on the past and how God's Reward International School was reigning all over the places with the support of my wonderful wife - Esaduvie Isaac Nurseman, who is the Proprietress of the School and the present condition of the school,  it dawns on me and my wife that, managing your business personally is the best and it is not good to leave the school completely all these years unattended to for whatever reason (s).

 

But I strongly believe, God will help me and my beloved wife including our precious children to give our best and take the school back to those good old days and even beyond in Jesus' mighty name, amen!

I therefore encourage all of you that are in this programme to spread the news that Proprietor is back and tell everyone to bring their wards to God's Reward International School. I am assuring you, God helping us, we will renovate the school, put some necessary teaching, learning materials and equipment and not just  bringing back the good old  days but move the school to higher level in Jesus' mighty name, amen!

God bless you all.

Adm.(Pst.) Ebi Nurseman Isaac, FnbR, FCIA, PhD, Proprietor/ Sch. Administrator