Canadian Gateway School Holds Valedictory Graduation Ceremony, Celebrates Students

Canadian Gateway Schools, Okota, on Saturday, 18 July 2026, held its 5th valedictory/graduation ceremony.

This year’s event, titled “Think Globally and Lead Boldly”, gave school management and the parents of graduating students an opportunity to review the academic progress and social development of their wards.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Canadian Gateway Schools, Dr. (Hon.) Timothy Awogbemi, said the theme aligned with the school’s motto, “Raising Global Leaders for a Better World”. He stated that his vision was to make the school a fertile ground where students are infused with leadership qualities that would make them stand out from their peers both within and outside the country.

Speaking further, Awogbemi said, “To accomplish the vision, we must strive to go beyond ordinary or superficial ways of doing things. Ours is a mini university of hard knocks. In this nexus, we are determined to stretch the mental and physical capacities of our students in academics and extracurricular activities, and rejig the totality of the child.”

“Our resolve to give our children the best is to make them break barriers and any encumbrances that may stand in their way within their immediate environment or beyond. The challenges and opportunities we face today extend beyond our classrooms, cities and countries.”

“To succeed in this rapidly changing and competitive world, we must learn to think globally—understanding different cultures, peculiarities, traits, interests and pursuits, and recognizing our roles and functions as global citizens,” he stated.

In her keynote address, the guest speaker, Dr. Mrs. Oluwaloseyi Popogbe, Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Lagos, charged the students to see themselves as agents of global transformation.

According to Dr. Popogbe, “Thinking globally means understanding that what you do today can travel across oceans and change lives thousands of miles away.”

“And to lead boldly does not mean you need a crown, a political office or a microphone.

“To lead boldly means that when everyone else is complaining about a problem, you are the one who steps forward to say, ‘I do not see a problem here; I see an opportunity to fix something and make an impact.’ It means having the courage to do what is right, even if you are the only one doing it.”

“We are living in an extraordinary time in human history. The world is no longer divided by geography; it is connected by ideas.

“Today, artificial intelligence, digital innovation and entrepreneurship have flattened horizons. A young girl sitting in Lagos can write a line of computer code that solves a medical problem in London. A young boy in Isolo can start a business on a mobile phone that sells products to someone in Tokyo.”

 

Continuing, Dr. Popogbe said, “We face global challenges, ranging from climate change and economic transformation to the rapid rise of automation. However, within those challenges lie the greatest opportunities the world has ever seen.”

Various awards were presented to overall best students and winners in other categories. In her speech, the outgoing Head Girl, Miss Ramat Lawal, expressed gratitude to God and the school management.

“Over the years, we have reaped more than we sowed. Canadian Gateway Schools have inculcated in us many virtues that we may not have gained elsewhere. We have been moulded for hard work, discipline, courtesy toward elders and one another, and above all, selflessness in uplifting each other whenever the occasion demands.”

Expressing his appreciation, the outgoing Head Boy, Master Bryan Okechukwu, thanked the Chairman of Canadian Gateway Schools for providing an enabling environment for him and other pupils to pursue their dreams.

“I want to use this golden opportunity to thank our great proprietor and father, Dr. T. Awogbemi, for the immense contributions and immeasurable assistance he gave us. Sir,

 

“I appreciate you profoundly for all your kind gestures. May God in His infinite mercy lift you to greater heights. To all our teachers, I say thank you. We are most grateful for your time and patience in bringing us to this level. May God reward each of you immensely.”

Various gifts were presented to the graduates and their parents/guardians.

Some parents attested to their wards’ academic improvement and excellent social engagement, commending the school management and staff for their care and unwavering commitment to the students’ academic advancement.