The graduation ceremony of the class of 2024 at Lead-Forte Gate College, a coeducational COBIS and ISA accredited international full-time school and Sixth-Form College, took place on Saturday, 29th June 2024 at the school auditorium at Coscharis Bus Stop, Awoyaya, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
It was an elaborate ceremony attended by personalities from all walks of life, led by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the school, Dr. Tunde Lemo, OFR, and the Executive Director, Mrs. Yemi Lemo.
The class of 2024, aptly named “The Pathfinders,” is an exceptional group of students who have broken academic and co-curricular barriers and set amazing records, which were rightfully recognized with several awards during the event.
Setting the tone for the event, the school’s Principal, Olubunmi Dosunmu, explained that the set was named “The Pathfinders” because the school management believes that with God’s guidance, the graduates will find their path in life no matter how tough and challenging the climate or environment. He added that graduating from the school means not only having the best academic, co-curricular and cross-curricular exposure but also character: a sound character with divinity.
In front of a star-studded set, fiercely contested academic awards were handed out to the graduates in various categories. In the special award categories, an all-rounder, multi-talented music lover, virtuoso instrumentalist, gifted stage actor and tech guru, Edima Umoh, was the centre of attention. He won the Most Resourceful Student, Best in Role Interpretation and Digital Creativity and Tech Visionary awards.
The Chairman’s Special Award for two students who embodied the ethos of Lead-Forte Gate College and best reflected its core values in character and learning went to Christabel Akeme, the school’s outgoing Principal, and Oluwademilade Oluwalade, the school’s outgoing Assistant Principal.
In addition to the Chairman’s Special Award, Oluwademilade Oluwalade, another shining star of the set, also received special awards for outstanding performance in external intellectual competitions. He was recognized as the best public speaker and debater par excellence, after appearing in Nigeria Info FM’s national debate competition “I Beg to Differ”. He also received the Digital Creativity Award as an emerging tech leader, and achieved an excellent 2024 UTME score of 319 and an astonishing score of 1550 in SAT.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of the Class of 2024 best student, Oluwabusolami Ayomikun Oke. The school’s Deputy Principal, Israel Iyamu, who gave the commendation, described the best student as an academic star with a rare intellect and an uncommon, breathtaking drive, dedication and determination to excel. She demonstrated a culture of continuous self-improvement and a rare dedication to intellectual pursuits, with a series 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 the first to cross the 1500 mark in the SAT with an impressive 1510 in the June 2023 SAT.
The school orchestra serenaded the audience with wonderful performances of classical and contemporary music. During the musical interlude, Flourish Macauley and Jadesola Olayinka, both Year 11 students, enthralled the audience with solo performances that sent the audience wild with ecstasy. The highlight of that section was the farewell message from Temidun Samagbayi, another Year 11 student, whose superb poetic language captivated the audience and the graduates, who received the farewell message with thunderous applause.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of Lead-Forte Gate College, Dr. Tunde Lemo, OFR, thanked the parents of the graduates for entrusting the school with the education of their children. He particularly appreciated Bar. Ochi, who has trusted the school for years, as all his five children have 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 one of the graduates.
