Lumen Christi School, for the fourth time, beats other secondary schools to emerge “Best Nigerian School” in WAEC
By Gabriel Dike
Lumen Christi International High School (LCIHS), Uromi, Edo State, has, for the fourth time, emerged the number one secondary school in the country by producing the best school results in the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) by beating over 14,000 other schools that presented candidates.
The Catholic secondary school founded on October 5, 1986 by His Grace, Rev. P.E. Ekpu (Archbishop emeritus of Benin Archdiocese) was the centre of attraction at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) 53rd Annual meeting of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) meeting/award ceremony held in Akure, Ondo State, recently.
Stakeholders applauded the academic feat of the school which had earlier won the award first in 2007, 2009, 2011 and again in 2014. The Uromi-based school beat the likes of Loyola Jesuit College, Wuse, Abuja, Kings College, Lagos, Queens College, Yaba, Suleja Academy, Suleja, and other top expensive schools to emerge the best in the country.
The Edo State-based school was presented with Augustus Bandele Oyediran trophy which was donated by Dr. A.B.O. Oyediran, then of the College of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, in memory of his father, to the best school in Nigeria with best overall results in the May/June WASSCE. According to WAEC, the trophy is given to any school in the country that has the best aggregate results of its 50 candidates.
In the May/June 2014 WASSCE, Lumen Christi International High School, beat several highbrow schools in Lagos, Abuja, Ondo, Ekiti, Anambra and Rivers States with state-of-the-art facilities, aside high tuition fees paid by parents.
Inside the hall of Jojein Hotel & Resort, Airport Road, Oba-Ile, Akure, venue of the award ceremony, Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Olajide Adejuyigbe, presented the trophy to the Principal of the school, Rev Fr. Theophilius Itaman, amid thunderous applause from dignitaries such as the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Oluboyo, Director, Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education as well as Chair, NNC, Mrs. Anne Okonkwo, WAEC Registrar, Dr. Uyi Director Uwadiae, former Head of National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu and council member, Alhaji Usman Uba Ahmed, President, ANCOPSS (All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools), Hajia Binta Abduiraharam.
The citation on the school read by Deputy Director, Public Affairs of WAEC, Nigeria, Mr. Yusuf Ari, said the school is blessed with industrious and committed staff led by the Principal, Rev. Fr. Itaman.
His words: “History showed that like a biblical mustard seed, Lumen Christi International High School has grown into an international school and a model for all other schools. Guided by her motto: Aut Caesar Aut Nihil (the best of nothing) and her mission statement, Lumen Christi has maintained a track record of excellence. She has maintained 100 per cent in WAEC result for the past 20 years. In 2004, she was ranked the 4th best secondary school in the West Africa sub-region.”
According to the citation, the school growth became laudable and translucent in 2007 when she won the first position in NNPC science competition in the South-South geo-political zone. Ari added: “in the same year, she outshone all the schools in the nation when she received the award for the best overall WAEC results in Nigeria. She further consolidated this by dominating schools in the country by winning the same award in 2009. On December 18, 2010, she received the award for the best secondary in Nigeria, during the 2010 Reward Nigeria Award held in Sheraton Hotel in Lagos. In fact, Lumen Christi is a vision achieved.
“Today, we celebrate this world class and award winning school. The pride of Edo State, the joy of the nation, the school of the century, the home of excellence, oasis of knowledge and the citadel of learning. If it is not Lumen Christi, it cannot be like Lumen Christi,” Ari stressed.
Briefing the press on the feat, Rev. Fr Itaman attributed it to the mission statement and philosophy of the school. According to him, the school is aimed at providing the highest possible academic growth for each learner in a way that encourages fair competition but discourages unhealthy one especially that which will put people down.
Mrs. Okonkwo stated that the WAEC awards are aimed at encouraging the youth to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits, noting that, “it is my hope that some of the youth who are here today to witness this ceremony, will be challenged by these awards to work harder in order to win similar laurels in future.’’
Speaking during the ceremony, a non-council member representing Nigeria on the Board of Trustees of WAEC Endowment Fund, Dr U.B. Ahmed, said the major objective of the council endowment fund is to support awards for outstanding performances by candidates in various countries.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, in his address, warned against any form of examination malpractices by students writing the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) across the state. Mimiko, who reiterated that his administration has zero tolerance for any form of examination malpractice, warned that nobody would be spared if caught engaging in examination malpractice in the state.