BY DAYO ADESULU
LOOKING ahead of what the future world holds for education and entrepreneurship, the Administrator, Grace Schools, Gbagada, Mrs  Adetokunbo Edun has identified China as one of the leading economic nations of the world that has the potential of become the world power in the nearest future.

Speaking in an interactive session with the press recently at the school boardroom, Adetokunbo stated that what informed her introduction of Chinese Language as a compulsory subject in the school is the fact that the institution does not want to be taking unaware, considering China as a country that will soon emerge as the super power.

If it happens, she said, the students that passed through Grace Schools  will not find it difficult to communicate with the language as Chinese is their lingual franc a  in China.

Due the foresight, Adetokunbo noted that the school has gone as far as employing five Chinese from their government who take the students through the rudiments of the language so that within few months or years, the students would have understand and speak the language fluently.

The Administrator who now speak Chinese Language sparingly reiterated that the introduction of Chinese Language as a subject will however not going to be at the expense of Yoruba, Igbo, Housa, English Language and French.

The passion and foresight of the Administrator does not end in introducing Chinese Language to enhance the future productivity of the students but also brought to the fore her concern for the poor and intelligent children in the society.

According to Adetokunbo, the school has been running a scholarship scheme since 2004 to take full responsibility of the educated but poor students from secondary to university level.

“In order to give back to the society by assisting the under privileged to achieve what they could not readily afford, the Board on yearly basis since 2004 give scholarship opportunities for very brilliant but, financially constrained scholars.” she said.

From 2004 to 2011, she pointed out that seventeen indigents have been given scholarship adding that each N1.3m is expended on each child every year.

Asked, how they identified such students, she maintained that the school took the pain to follow them   to where they live to have a full knowledge of their circumstances saying that they want to be sure that such opportunity does not fall into wrong hands.

She, however, lamented the scenario in Nigeria where the private schools owners who are supposed to be encouraged and supported by the government financially as they are both building the sector together are instead bombarded with series of heavy task as if it a crime to run a school. Citing America for an example, Adetokunbo reiterated that the government gives school owners subsidy.

On etiquette, she insisted that Grace Schools students are disciplined students because they take them through the etiquette of life maintaining: “It is not the school alone that should bring up a child, but the collective effort of the school, community and the parents.”

We should ensure that our children understand where they are and work for what they do. They should apply the value they posses both moral and education to live situations.”