It was a very great and fun filled day to both the students and staff of Mawo International School, the 1st Private School in Minna, on 1st November, 2016, when they celebrated the Annual Cultural Day featuring launching of a book of poems, entitled, The Great Beyond and Other Poems, written by the JSS 2 students, an event that coincided with the 75th birthday celebration of the proprietress, Evangelist Lois Nnakun Kolo.
Speaking at the occasion, Evang. Lois praised Almighty God, for seeing her through her struggles in life and by allowing her contribute her quota to the educational development of the nation, and appreciated the dignitaries and other invited guests who found time, despite their tight schedule, to grace the occasion.
Evang. Lois charged the students to take their studies very seriously in order to be successful in life and be good ambassadors of the school and the nation, saying, “Cultural day is an annual programme organized by the school to inculcate and preserve the nation’s cultural heritage, most of which we have lost to Westernization, and to foster peace and unity among diverse ethnic groups for national development”.
Meanwhile, the NICO Minna State Coordinator, Mrs. Olufunke Iyabo Ndukwe, who served as the guest speaker at the occasion, encouraged the school to continue with the good work, and adding: “No nation will achieve its desired goal economically, socially and morally without instilling and propagating the norms and values of the nation in younger generation”.
She enjoined the proprietress to make the study of Nigerian languages compulsory in the school against the adoption of French language, which the students are made to take as part of their curriculum.
Mrs. Ndukwe also highlighted the need for the children and other stakeholders to join and take active part in the ongoing Weekend Nigerian Indigenous Languages Programme organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), promising to establish NICO Cultural Club in the school.
Also speaking at the occasion, the school’s Head of Languages, Mrs. Temitayo Oseni, commended the efforts of the students and encouraged them to do more, saying that the sky will be their limit.
She said: “It is pertinent to commend the effort of JSS 2 Students whose poems were featured in this collection, while at the same time challenge them not to rest on their oars; rather they should see this effort as a starting point of a great prospect in the world of poetry”. Mrs. Oseni further stated: “I must confess that the various contributors had displayed a high sense of ingenuity of young writers, with a promising potential to become great writers of international repute, like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, JP Clark, etc. to mention but a few”.
Excerpts from the book:
“Make Nigeria a Great Nation” by Zainab Yakubu
I will make Nigeria a great nation
I will make Nigeria a great nation
Right now and forever
I will labour to make Nigeria
To be a great country and nation
I will make Nigeria a great nation
Right now and forever.
“My Mum is Amazing” by Rabi’at Mamman Achiba
She wakes up early in the morning with a smile
My mum is amazing because she loves me
My mum is amazing because she cares for me
My mum is my map of Africa.
My mum is amazing because she directs me
My mum is amazing because she’s great
My mum is best of all mums
My mum is amazing because she stands for me
I love my mum forever and ever
May I become a beautiful, caring and loving
Mum like you.
“Never Give up” by Morenikeji Olajumoke
Never give up because you don’t
Know whether you can make it;
Never give up because you don’t
Know whether you are near;
Never give up because you don’t
Know whether you can do it;
Never give up because you don’t
Know whether you can shine;
Never give up you will lose hope.
The event featured Nupe, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Kambari and Gbagyi cultural dances as well as exhibition of their foods.
Saidu Ibrahim Musa
NICO, Minna