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Greensprings marks 40th anniversary

Photo: Greensprings Schppl
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Greensprings School celebrated its 40th anniversary with a thanksgiving service at the Fountain of Life Church on Tuesday.

The CEO of Greensprings, Mrs Lai Koiki, in her keynote address, reflected on the challenges and triumphs that shaped the institution’s legacy.

Koiki recalled how her struggle to find a suitable school for her daughter inspired the idea of Greensprings School.

She said, “Greensprings School started, as a result of actually seeking a school for my daughter”

Koiki recounted many challenging moments along the journey, including an incident involving a petrol tanker accident near the Anthony campus. She expressed gratitude for the “divine intervention” that saved the situation.

“At the Anthony campus, there was some form of accident. Not a collision, but something hit a vehicle parked beside a petrol tanker, sort of punctured the petrol tanker and fuel started gushing out. It started gushing out, and we got wind of it. And we took all the children out of the school. You can imagine evacuating the school, you know. And we did it pretty successfully because we practised all those emergency drills.

“But the significant thing is that of the petrol. Number one, the tanker did not explode. Number two, when we came back, we realised that the fuel, as it was coming down, indeed, did not even come into our premises at all. It took off as if an angel guided it, and it went into the gutter, to the drainage on the street and went across the road to the swamp on the other side of the road. And that is grace. God’s grace. That’s plutonium in gold. And for that, we are very, very grateful. Can you imagine evacuating over 500 students, including preschoolers?” she narrated.

She also shared the story of securing land for the school’s current Lekki campus, which the government later deemed it acquired.

She said through the suggestion of a board member she was able to secure 15 hectares from Ecobank but shortly after construction began the government re-allocated the initial land to the school.

These incidents, she said, “Showcased divine intervention and fortuitous timing”.

“As it started, I didn’t realise that I dipped my hand into something that was possibly bigger than me, but maybe not,” said Koiki. “So that was it, to me, a sign that God didn’t want us to go that far away from town.”

Koiki further expressed gratitude to the school’s community, including parents, staff, board members, and alumni, for their unwavering support.

“Through it all, we stand, giving God praise,” she said, emphasising the role of faith and resilience in the school’s journey.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbo Hundeyin, said he could relate with Koiki’s testimonies as a ‘parent-alumni’ of the institution.

“As an alumni parent, these milestones resonate deeply with me, as I know firsthand the transformative impact this institution has had on young lives, including my beloved children. Today, we gather to celebrate an educational institution that has upheld discipline and academic excellence as its guiding principle for four decades,” he said.

The governor commended the school and acknowledged some of the school’s achievements and firsts’ in Nigeria.

“This 40th anniversary is truly worthy of celebration, and Greensprings School deserves to beat its chest with pride. It is on record that Greensprings School’s pioneering spirit and consistent pursuit of excellence has firmly established it as a leading educational institution in Nigeria.

“This is demonstrated by a remarkable string of firsts. From being the first Nigerian school to offer Cambridge IGCSE exams in 1995 to becoming the first in Africa to win the prestigious Nottingham Cup in the United Kingdom in 2014, Greensprings has consistently pushed boundaries and shattered barriers,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor described education as a vital tool for sustainable development, saying his administration was committed to empowering children in public schools to reach their potential.

“We know and understand that education is the foundation of sustainable development, and through collaborative efforts, we can continue to empower our children to realise their God-given potential. This is the reason that education is a key pillar in my administration’s themes-first developmental agenda. The Lagos State Government is doing everything to ensure that the public school’s children are equally enabled to fulfil their God-given potential.”

Fountain of Life pastor, Mrs Tolu Odukoya, an alumni of Greensprings, praised Koiki for her tireless zeal.

“Mrs Koiki, we love you. In the heart of our church, we love you. And my parents loved you. And it’s an honour that you’re having this here today,” she stated. “I honor your courage, your doggedness, your tenacity, your commitment and your love, this is the fruit of your labour.

Odukoya also commended the teachers and the non-teaching staff of the school, acknowledging their efforts and contributions.

 

 

Credit: THE PUNCH.

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