SOL College 20th anniversary: I am achieving my mission in education ―College Proprietor

October 12, 2018 was a remarkable day for Seed of Life College, Ibadan, as the college clocked 20. The development threw the entire college community into jubilation and glorification of God for the success story of the school.

From all indications, Seed of Life College came out of a vision to build an institution that provides a qualitative education that will be relevant to  students’ personal and social needs.

The journey of the college started in 1998  when Mrs Kikelomo  Runsewe, the proprietor,  came out with a vision   to mould and train confident and disciplined young adults  who will become agents of change  in the nation at the secondary school level.

The visionary proprietor, in a chat with Education Tribune recently, shared her 20-year experience in secondary school education development process in the country.

Her words: “I came into education management by God’s inspiration about 27 years ago with a primary education venture, as God gave me the vision to give every child, from crèche level, basic education foundation to prepare them for a  lifelong learning process.

“Here in this school,  we develop a curriculum  that  will help a child  discover his/her  career   potential, exposing them  to series of learning opportunities, both in character and discipline  from their tender age.

“Today, we have every cause to thank God for the academic success of the college since inception. We have produced over 500  graduates and many of them are occupying enviable positions in different sectors of the economy. To God be the glory, I am fulfilled, accomplishing my dream to make   positive impact in education development process in the country. The essence of education, among other things, is for nation building and to produce  skillful graduates.

“Our academic performances in WAEC and NECO examinations since inception have been very impressive. We have record to show for this claim. Similarly, we have outstanding performance records in the various  extracurricular activities we have ever participated in at local, state and national levels. Recently, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) ranked our college the  most outstanding  private school  in the  South-West.”

Asked about the latest academic development in the college, the proprietor said the school had introduced an  integrated curriculum  that would  promote vocational and entrepreneurial education at secondary school level  among the students.

According to her, it has become expedient for Nigerian youths to be   intimated with  self-sustaining skills at the secondary school level. She said the development would  go a long way to produce self-sufficient  future leaders of integrity for the Nigerian economy.

“ This  is   our reason to introduce entrepreneurial education  and vocational  skill training to form part of the  subjects in  our curriculum. We have incentives to encourage learners in vocational training as we do for   academic excellence.

“By and large, our success story could not have been possible if not for God and my God-given husband, who at all  times  gives his support  for the  growth and development  of the college,” she said.

During the thanksgiving service held to mark the 20th anniversary of the college, the old students eulogised the   proprietor and the  entire staff of the college for the role they played to ensure  their academic achievements while in school.

One of the old students, Olusegun Olunlade, a lawyer, said: “Seed of Life College is a secondary school which equips  students with sound  academic knowledge,  leadership skills, integrity and moral values necessary to develop a total child. The hostel life  in the college is communal, where everyone cares about each other’s welfare. The proprietor of   the school, Mrs Runsewe, is a   student-friendly  woman of many virtues, a rare gem.”

The principal of the school, Mr Olakunle Awoyemi  described the college  as one of the  best private secondary schools  in the county with  good   student  welfare. “In this school, at least five students enjoy full scholarship of the college annually. The beneficiaries are the best students in each class during their promotional examinations. The college introduced this scheme to promote excellence among the students. He said:

“This is a school where the staff is given a sense of belonging in the day-to-day management of the school. We have some members of  staff in the college that are beneficiaries of college’s  plots of land  award some time ago, and many of them are now landlords.  Salary is paid as and when due.  To a large extend, the development has enhanced staff productivity  and academic excellence in the college,” he said.

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Some of the parents who spoke with Education Tribune also confirmed the education standard of the college since inception. Mr Kehinde Olanrewaju said: “My  children started their academic pursuit from the primary arm of the college before proceeding to the college. Indeed, the college has imparted a lot of virtues in terms of discipline, good character, self-confidence and fear of God to our children. As a  matter of fact, Seed of Life college is  a centre for child’s intellectual development.

In addition, Provost, Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, Dr (Mrs) Morenike  Ojo, a parent,  described  Seed of Life College as one of the outstanding private secondary schools in the country in terms of academic excellence and moral education.

Speaking in the same vein during the 20th anniversary thanksgiving held recently, Apostle  Sunday Popoola of the Word Communication Ministry stated that Seed of Life  College is a school to reckon with in the state in terms of spiritual, academic and moral education. According to him, he had known the school since inception and he could vow for their academic excellence.  Apostle Popoola enjoined Nigerian school owners, including government, to show more commitment to the moral, spiritual and academic education of the younger generation of Nigerians in order to rid graduates of greed and save the country from perpetual crime and corruption.

Also, wife of Ondo State governor, Her  Excellency, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, commended the  proprietor  for her ability to sustain and improve  the standard of the school  since inception.  According to her, Mrs Runsewe’s contributions to education and Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria in the last 20 years were worth being celebrated. She enjoined her not to relent in her efforts to contribute more to education development in the country.