Justin (right) and Taofeek at the awards.

•Learn Africa rewards 111 candidates

It was double honour for Isolog Group of

Schools as two of its former pupils were

presented with the Learn Africa-NECO awards

for recording the best performance in the

2015 Senior School Certificate Examination

(SSCE) conducted by the National

Examinations Council (NECO) last Tuesday.

With five A1 and four B2, Justin Nwaoha of

Isolog College, Ojodu, had the best result in

the examination in Lagos State; while Taofeek

Adelaja, who sat for the examination at

Isolog College, Alagbole, Akute, had three A1

and five Bs – the best result in Ogun State.

The award programme, which was to reward

the top three candidates at the state

category held at the Head Office of Learn

Africa Plc in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Justin, who also had the best result in the

May/June 2015 West African Senior Secondary

Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Lagos

State, is the second overall best in the NECO

SSCE nationwide and would be rewarded at

the national category award to be hosted by

Learn Africa on December 2 at the Protea

Hotel, Ikeja.

The 17-year old, who has been admitted to

study Medicine at the University of Lagos

(UNILAG), attributed his feat to God and hard

work.

“I knew that it is just by God’s grace. For

other students I will say it is hard work and

also prayers because God crowns efforts with

success,” he said.

Group Administrator, Isolog Schools, Mr

Kehinde Olowe, said the school was delighted

to achieve such feat, attributing it to a

reward from the Almighty for the investments

they made to achieve quality education

delivery.

“Starting from the quality of teachers that

we have; we have not compromised on that at

all. And the facilities in school are such that

a very ready student to learn will find it

comfortable to learn and do well. And we have

not been disappointed from our

performances,” he said.

Olowe said the results were achieved without

recourse to examination malpractice.

Taofeek’s mother, Mrs Monsurat Bolatito

Adelaja, attested to the school’s focus on

integrity and hard work.

“You know they are Deeper Life; they don’t

teach people in the examination. What they

do is that they will train them before the

examinations. Parents used to complain. Me,

I used to say that ‘this is too much.’ They

would resume by 7am and close by 5.

Sometimes this boy would not sleep before

2am. He will say Mummy wake me up by 3, I

will not wake him until maybe around five

because I will be afraid so there won’t be any

problem,” she said.

Taofeek was nicknamed Sleeping Handsome in

school because he used to sleep during classes

as a result of late night studies. The 16-

year-old who has already been admitted to

study Chemical Engineering at UNILAG,

praised the school for its efforts on the

pupils.

“The school is known for honesty. During

examinations external subject teachers are

not allowed close to the hall. Our director

really detests cheating,” he said.

Justin and Taofeek got N40,000 each and

certificates for their efforts. Second placed

Folorunsho Temitope from Ota Total Academy,

Ogun State; and Kenechukwu Okuze of

Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Anthony,

Lagos State, were rewarded with N30,000

each; while third placed Paul Ofili of Jextoban

Secondary School, Ketu, Lagos, got N20,000.

Teachers that produced the best candidates in

each state were also rewarded with N40,000

each.

The teachers’ prizes for Lagos and Ogun went

to Isolog Schools teachers, Mrs Ena Kpagban,

who teaches English; and Mr Stephen

Adekunbi, who teaches Chemistry.

Managing Director, Learn Africa Plc, Mr Segun

Oladipo said in his speech that the awards

were instituted to encourage excellence.

“They were instituted to underscore the

significant role that excellence in education

can play in achieving our national goals and

aspirations. We trust that the awards will

encourage strong commitment to learning,

celebrate diligent scholarship and healthy

rivalry among students,” he said.