Nigerian Students Shine with Prestigious British Council Awards
Peace Obi
In an effort aimed at recognsing the exceptional performances of some Nigerian students at Cambridge examinations, the British Council and Cambridge International Examinations have honoured 58 students with various categories of awards.
The three categories of awards which recognised the outstanding achievements of students in Nigeria in the November 2015 and June 2016 Cambridge examinations series, had eights students honoured with the prestigious ‘Top in the World’ awards, which saw 49 students taking the ‘Top in Nigeria’ while three others were presented with the ‘Best Across’ awards.
Eights recipients of the ‘Top in the World’ awards were also recognised for gaining the highest standard of marks in the world in a single subject, while the 49 students who were honoured with the ‘Top in Nigeria’ awards and three students who received ‘Best Across’ got the awards for attaining the highest cumula- tive total standard marks over a set of subjects. The event also saw two British Council partner schools being recognised for their work in implementing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and child protection policies.
Speaking during the inaugural British Council recognition and outstanding Cambridge learner awards, held recently, in Lagos, the Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Cambridge International Examinations, Juan Visser, said the awards event is designed to recognise the exceptional performance of learners around the world in Cambridge examinations, adding that it’s programmes help learners reach their potential and ensure a lifelong love for learning and passion for discovery.
According to him, “the awards reflect the talent and hard work of learners, and acknowledge the dedication and commitment of both teachers and parents. It is extremely encouraging to see the growth in popularity of Cambridge examinations in Nigeria. 2015 and 2016 were excellent academic years for Cambridge learners in Nigeria who have demonstrated enormous talent, hard work and a strong passion for learning. It is rewarding to witness learners’ dedication and commitment to education, and to acknowledge the support provided by schools and families. We hope that this recognition of your academic success will encourage you in your future and careers.”
The Director, Nigeria British Council, Connie Price, said being UK’s principal cultural relations organisation, that works with diverse individuals, communities and organisations, it aims to develop sustainable partnership and relationships that is based on mutuality. “Across the country, we continue to build on our innovative work in the arts, education, English, exams, society, peace building and gender equality to integrate it with our work with young people. At the focal point of our work are our policies which include equality, diversity; inclusion and child protection,” she said.
In his remarks, the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who congratulated the awardees, encouraged them to remain good ambassadors of their families, communities and the country at large. He advised them to positively apply the knowledge and opportunity their access to British education presents, saying, “you have the opportunity to take this country to the next level.”
One of the recipients of the ‘Top in the World’ awards Honour, who is a student of the Greensprings Schools, Lagos, Master Olatunji said his love and passion for Mathematics has increased since he learnt about his award.
Olatunji who intends to study Electrical/Electronics in Massachusetts Institute of Technology expressed his delight about the honour, saying , “I found the Cambridge curriculum very interesting because it is skills-based and makes you think critically. It was really helpful in exposing and preparing me to do well in international schools and universities in future.”