26th March, 2023
By Isa Isawade
The Ajasa-Command environment of Ikola, Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State was in a celebratory mood on Saturday, February 11, 2023 when the pioneer private school in the community, St. Lawrence Greater Height Schools, rolled out drums in appreciation of God for graciously seeing the institution through the last three decades.
St. Lawrence School was established on 28 September 1992 in the then sleepy town of Ajasa by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) trained educationist, Mrs Kehinde Lucia Adeosun.
The 30th Anniversary celebration was shifted to Feb. 11, 2023, owing to the school’s tight academic programmes.
The whole environment of the school bore the green, colour of the Ankara uniform cloth chosen to mark the occasion. The apparel made the day quite colourful and memorable.
It was to the applause of all that the Proprietor Mrs Adeosun majestically stepped into the stage in her gorgeous attire. She clearly radiated a great sense of fulfilment and appreciation to her Creator.
Adeosun, after delivering a moving speech, sang praises of God and danced happily. She was joined by her long-term friends and classmates during her schooling days who graced the event to share the joyous occasion with a friend they were all proud of.
The woman, widely regarded as a disciplinarian, was full of appreciation to all the people used by God to make her dream come true.
She traced the genesis of the name, St. Lawrence Schools: “It was named after my late father who cherished children’s education but unfortunately did not live long to see us through. I did this to appreciate his love and labour. May God grant him eternal rest. September 28th unknowingly was Saint Lawrence of Ruiz Day (in the Catholic Calendar). So the birth of the School is divinely arranged.”
Adeosun mentioned some of the laurels won by the school: “As a result of our spelling feat, we have produced a day ‘Governor of Lagos State’, Adeosun Toyin; Maltina Teachers of the Year 2020, Anani Bunmi, Fatai Bello and Akodu Faith to mention but a few. We have produced a lot of academic professionals that are all over the globe. St. Lawrence Greater Height School is well known for her academic excellence throughout the country. It was approved in 2008 by the Lagos State Ministry of Education.
“As we are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of this citadel of learning, we thank God that we are all alive to cheer our joy and success together. God has been performing wonders in St. Lawrence Schools, to Him be all the glory.”
She appealed to all learners “to always remember their purpose of coming to the school. They should be more studious. They should know that education is the only solution to all problems and it is the best legacy.”
She appreciated everybody’s love and contribution to the success of the school such as past and present parents and guardians; past and present PTA Executives; teaching and non-teaching staff; Ultimate Micro Finance Bank, Ipaja; Letshego Micro Finance Bank, Ipaja; Accion Bank, Baruwa and the First Bank, Ayobo.
Others are Ajasa, Ikola, Isoto and Agbenaje communities of the Alimosho LGA; the late Oba Bello of Ajasa, and the current Ajasa King, Oba Sulaimon Suberu Odualabe.
“The story of this school is not complete without showing gratitude to my husband, late Chief Ebenezer Kolawole Adeosun, for bringing me to this town that I always refer to as my Canaan Land. I thank him for his love and tolerance. May his soul continue to rest in peace,” the appreciative woman paid tribute to her love.
St. Lawrence Principal’s comments during an interview with P.M.NEWS at the event:
My name is Pastor Timothy Jegede, Principal and General Supervisor of the School. I joined this school in January 2017. We have been able to overcome most challenges. Academically, St. Lawrence Greater Height has been wonderful as a school reaching higher realm among other schools. We are leading them by the grace of God.
When we talk about challenges, moving to the aspect of children as regards their attitude towards learning, this is the 21st century, we discovered that through the use of social media- WhatsApp, Facebook, and so on, majority of them got corrupted. Therefore, at St. Lawrence, we try to make sure that we inculcate discipline and good moral that changed their lives. That is why you can see that many of our learners that have passed out here keep on achieving their aims and purpose.
So, St. Lawrence celebrating thirty years today is a thing of joy. I really love to be part of it. I’m highly excited to be here today to witness this day and I congratulate the icon of the day in person of Mrs Kehinde Lucia Adeosun. God has spared her life to see today; being part of today is a joy to me. It’s a mark of success on my own part because everything going on today has something to do with my name as well. Even though, I’m not the owner, as a Yoruba adage says that a king that rules when the city is in trouble, his name will never be forgotten and a king that rules when the city keeps experiencing peace, joy and progress, his name will never be forgotten. So, during my own time, I can see progress, success and divine elevation. Then, no record of casualty. Our learners have never had issues with kidnappers. God has been preserving our lives. Then, the founder is healthy and sound. We also keep on celebrating with the teachers in the aspect of marriages, academic attainments and so on. Success has been their portion. So, we keep on increasing daily. That is why my heart is full of joy today.
Mrs Lucia Adeosun is a great disciplinarian. She doesn’t tolerate nonsense from learners and the staff and you can see the role she is playing in the life of old learners of the school among whom today are doctors, lawyers, engineers and so on; everything by the help of God and through the impact and a vital role being played by the woman. She is indeed an icon.
My advice to parents is that they should join hands together with the school to form good future leaders because, in this era of technology, we need the cooperation of the parents to bring out the virtue in the life of these children so that at the end of the day, we all join hands to celebrate 40th Anniversary and the children as well.
Comments by the St. Lawrence Head Teacher interviewed by P.M.NEWS at the event:
I am Mrs Elizabeth Oraweme. I have been in this school since 2007. That’s going to 16 years now. I have gained a lot of experience. I am very happy to have witnessed today when St. Lawrence is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. Thank God that we have not been counting deaths in this school, we have only been counting additions, progress and increment.
Mrs Adeosun is a woman of valour. She is a disciplinarian. She wants the children to learn and be great in life. She wants them to be disciplined children. Many of them today look at the way Yahoo Boys cut their hair and dress, she is trying to train them the way she knows best. The rest is left to the children. She always says that she will try her possible best to train them as far as they are still in St. Lawrence. So, when they leave St. Lawrence, the remaining one is left to their parents. If they like the way she is correcting them, they can continue from there because she will have no control over them again. But, as far as they are still in the school, she wants discipline.
My advice to parents is to cultivate the habit of training their children the right way because many youths, all they do is to press their phones even overnight instead of reading their books. Some have even joined Yahoo Boys because of money. So I will advise the parents to monitor their children as much as possible because they are their future. If they train them well, they will enjoy them tomorrow and have rest of mind.
