It was an elaborate ceremony attended by personalities from all walks of life, led by the chairman of the school’s board of directors, Dr. Tunde Lemo, OFR, and the executive director, Mrs. Yemi Lemo.
The Class of 2024, appropriately dubbed “The Pathfinders,” is an outstanding set of students who broke academic and co-curricular barriers and set amazing records, which were duly recognized with various prizes during the event.
Setting the tone for the event, the principal of the school, Olubunmi Dosunmu, explained that the set was named “The Pathfinders” because the school’s management believes that, with God’s guidance, the graduands will find their paths in life, regardless of how tough and challenging the climate or setting may be. He added that graduating from the school means leaving with not just the best academic, co-curricular, and cross-curricular exposure, but also character—sound character with godliness.
For a set brimming with star performers, keenly contested academic prizes were awarded to the graduands in various categories. In the special awards categories, an all-rounder, multi-talented musical buff, virtuoso instrumentalist, gifted thespian, and tech guru, Edima Umoh, was the cynosure of all attention. He earned the Most Resourceful Student, Best in Role Interpretation and Digital Creativity, and Tech Visionary awards.
The chairman’s special award for two students who encapsulated Lead-Forte Gate College’s ethos and best projected its core values in character and learning went to Christabel Akeme, the school’s outgoing head girl, and Oluwademilade Oluwalade, the school’s outgoing assistant head boy.
In addition to the chairman’s special award, Oluwademilade Oluwalade, another shining star of the set, also received special accolades for excellent performance in external intellectual competitions. He was recognized as the best public speaker and debater par excellence, having featured in Nigeria Info FM’s “I Beg to Differ” national debate competition. He also received the Digital Creativity Award as an emerging tech leader and achieved an outstanding 2024 UTME score of 319 and an amazing score of 1550 in SAT.
The climax of the event was the announcement of the valedictorian for the Class of 2024, Oluwabusolami Ayomikun Oke. The vice-principal of the school, Israel Iyamu, who gave the citation, described the valedictorian as an academic star with rare intellect and an uncommon, breathtaking drive, commitment, and determination to excel. She showcased a culture of continuous self-improvement and a rare commitment to intellectual pursuits, with a trail of outstanding achievements and academic accolades: Best Checkpoint result, best IGCSE result with all 7A*s, highest and record-breaking UTME score of 344, and first to cross the 1500 mark in the SAT with an impressive 1510 in the June 2023 SAT.
The school’s orchestra serenaded the audience with amazing renditions of classical and contemporary music. During the musical interlude, Flourish Macauley and Jadesola Olayinka, both Year 11 students, thrilled the audience with solo performances that sent the audience wild with ecstasy. The high point of that section was the farewell message delivered by Temidun Samagbayi, another Year 11 student, whose superlative poetic language captivated the audience and the graduands, who received the farewell message with rousing applause.
In his closing remarks, the chairman of Lead-Forte Gate College, Dr. Tunde Lemo, OFR, appreciated the parents of the graduands for entrusting the school with the education of their children. He especially recognized Bar. Ochi, who has kept faith in the school for several years as all of his five children passed through the school. His fifth and last child, Miracle Ochi, received the Most Valuable Sports Person of the set and the Digital Creativity Virtual Innovation awards and was among the graduands.
