Education

FOSLA Academy holds 7th graduation ceremony in grand style

Published

5 years ago

November 1, 2020

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s Premium Independent Football Academy, FOSLA Academy held her 7th graduation ceremony at the academy’s headquarters in Karshi, Abuja on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

A total of 28 students were on parade for the ceremony made up of JS 3 students who are stepping into the senior class as well as SS 3 students who are biding the school farewell after spending six years in the school where they have been modelled and nurtured both in academic work and moral values.

In her welcome address, the principal of the school, Ms Ebhodaghe Josephine enumerated the strides the school recorded within the academic year to include how the management of the school made best use of the Covid-19 lockdown to hold e-learning for the students at no cost.

While noting that a total of 28 students were honoured in the ceremony in which deserving students received various awards for their excellent performances socially, academically and character-wise, she described the period of the covid-19 lockdown “as strange” that the school, like every other sector in the country, was impacted greatly as the smooth running of the day-to-day activities of the school were hampered.

While thanking the graduating students for their exemplary life in the school, she encouraged them to be worthy ambassadors of the academy.

“It is a great delight to welcome you to this 7th graduation ceremony of 28 students who have completed their three and six years course and are taking the bold step of moving into the ever-demanding society for the actualization of their divine talents.

“To be frank, this session has been strange and tasking owing to the emergence of the deadly coronavirus, COVID-19 which impacted on the day-to-day activities in which educational institutions are used to but in all, we have been able to pull through due to timely advice and prayers which acted as support and has led us this far.

“The school, FOSLA Academy, started this journey to greatness with 23 students in the 2011and in the year 2017 graduated its first graduands who have gone on to excel in their respective endeavours within and in diaspora having taken in moral values, academic resourcefulness, and an innate ambition to be the best in the world,” she said.

She enumerated achievements the school recorded within the session (2019-2020) to include adaption and embarking on e-learning during the pandemic to ensure students were active academically during the six months national lockdown which was at no cost; enhanced motivation and timely intervention during the pandemic carried out in order to put members of the staff in the right frame of mind; a student of the school (Derrick Kalu) emerging first in a national essay competition (senior category) organised by System Specs during the 2020 Children’s Day celebration in May.

Others are: success in all external examinations put in for the students; running the academy in spite of the obvious challenge posed by the pandemic; construction of an athletic track in the academy to host standard athletic needs; creation of FOSLA Football Club, FFC to serve as the bedrock of the FOSLA DREAM as well as the construction of a standard stadium to cater for the FOSLA Football Club, FCT Football development, etc.

Highlights of the ceremony was the presentations of awards to deserving students of the academy with a total of 20 students all making it to the podium.

Abdulkadir Muhammed got award as the best student in JS 1 while Alfa Benjamin got same award for JS 2 class. Ezike Kingsley was awarded the best academics in JS 3 just as Derrick Kalu emerged the best student in his class, SS 1.

In SS 2, the award of best student went to Emmanuel Yakubu just as the school Head Boy, Bulus Yusuf was recognised as the best student in SS 3.

In terms of character, other students were also recognised in this category. Attah David was awarded the honour as the best-behaved student in JS 1 whereas same position went to Attah Samuel in JS 2 just as that of JS 3 best-behaved student award went to Tukura Joel.

In the senior class, Samuel Abdul got the award for SS 1, Janet Bawa for SS 2 and Habib Kazeem for SS 3.

Awards were also presented to deserving players of the academy with Ubebe Silas being crowned as the Most Valuable Player, MVP in the junior category. Aminu Nasiru won the Highest Goal Scorer for the same category while Gabriel Shedrack was recognised as the best goalkeeper for the junior class.

At the senior category, Habib Kazeem emerged the MVP while Highest goal scorer award went to Simeon Zakari. Peter Emmanuel went home with the best goalkeeper award.

In the female category for the senior class, Bawa Janet collected double awards as she emerged the MVP and Highest goalscorer while Folorunsho Fumilayo emerged best goalkeeper.

In his valedictory speech, the Academy Head Boy, Bulus Ezra Yusuf thanked the management of the school, staff and fellow students for the great sacrifices, love and support they gave them and promised that they will be good ambassadors of the Academy.

He thanked and appreciated the proprietor of the school, Alhaji Sani Lulu for given them the privilege and opportunity to see through secondary education.

Eminent personalities who graced the occasion include the Paramount ruler of Karshi, the host community of the academy, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed Danladi who is also the Chairman of the school board.

Others are, Group Captain Tanko Adamu, Prince Tanko Suleiman Abubakar, the Galadima of Karshi and a host of others.

The 2020 FOSLA Academy 7th graduation ceremony was celebrated in strict implementation of COVID-9 guidelines as stipulated by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC as hand sanitizers, wearing of face maskuse of temperature check and social distancing were used and observed.

FOSLA Academy was established in 2011 with the aim of giving the less privileged members of the society the opportunity to acquire sound education and at the same time actualize their football talents. Over 75% of the students are on scholarship courtesy of the benevolence and magnanimity of former Nigeria Football President, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi.

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Education

NELFUND assures students of smart system to improve loan access

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Mariam Abeeb

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has assured students it was working assiduously towards building a technology driven system that would improve easy access to its loans.

This was as the FUND disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid with many more currently undergoing verification process to enable their payments.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr gave the assurances in Abuja, while addressing Polytechnics , Monotechnics and Institutes at a Stakeholders Engagement Session/ Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.

Sawyerr noted that the FUND was targeting a platform where students could access loan with confidence and without stress in a manner that was transparent and accountable.

He said: “At NELFUND our mission goes beyond giving loans. It’s about opening doors, it’s about making sure every young Nigerian who is willing to learn and grow has a real shot regardless of their background, location, or chosen path of study.

“For too long, many students, especially in technical institutions, have faced steep financial barriers; some drop out, others have never even applied. This is the gap we at NELFUND are here to close. But we know we can’t do it alone.

“This is a shared mission. It belongs to all of us, government institutions and the private sector alike. This technical workshop marks a major step forward.

“We’re not only providing financing, we’re building a technology-driven system that makes it easier for students to apply, for institutions to verify, and for funds to be disbursed with speed, fairness, and accountability.

“We’re aiming for access without stress, a platform students can use with confidence; transparency and trust so that no one is left wondering where their application stands; partnership with purpose because your feedback, your data, and your cooperation are critical to making this work. We rely on you as our institutional partners to help us bring this vision to life.”

Sawyerr who commended the institutions for providing technical expertise, practical hands-on training that fuels industries and empowers communities over the years, said besides teaching skills, they have built careers, created employers and strengthened economies.

“You know your students, you understand their struggles, your insights will help us tailor this system to reflect the realities on ground, not just assumptions on paper.

“To NBTE, we value your steady leadership in shaping and regulating technical education. Your collaboration is key as we move forward fully.”

The NELFUND boss urged the institutions to partner with the FUND to deliver a system that was not just functional or sustainable, but one that was transformative

“As we move forward fully, integrating NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, let us remember at the heart of all of this is a student, a young Nigerian with dreams, with ambition, and the courage to pursue them. Everything we do must serve that student.

“The only way to make it happen is by working together, listening to one another, and staying grounded in real-world challenges. I encourage you all to engage fully today share what’s working and what is not, and together let’s build something that lasts.”

NELFUND ‘s Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, disclosed that apart from the 320,000 students who have so far been paid, more verifications are currently ongoing.

Mustapha, who explained that the failure of not having the number of registered students tally with the number of students whose application process was deemed successful was from the part of students and not NELFUND, said there was an urgent need to bridge the gap.

He also disclosed that the FUND was considering connecting directly to institution’s portal to get the data they need, and how student could apply to their institutions portal without necessarily reaching out to NELFUND.

“One other thing that we’re trying to do going forward is to send some of our IT to all the institutions so that we can see how possible it is we connect directly to your portal instead of saying please send us data. How can we connect using an API which makes it easier to get the data of any student coming to us directly from your portal and not from our portal. So we don’t need to be collecting any data again.

“At the same time, we’re thinking of seeing how is it possible that a student can apply to your portal without coming to us. So it makes it so easy for the student when they’re doing registration, when they’re doing payments, they can select either to apply for NELFUND loans and the process will go through your portal. So you have all the data without ever reaching to NELFUND. All we need is for you to give assurance these are your students and if we have that, we pay you directly. It makes it simpler and faster for all the students.”

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