By LAJU ARENYEKA

The Administrator, Bethlehem Girls College, Rev. Sister Felicitas Osinde has said that girls must be spiritually, physically, emotionally and intellectually empowered to appreciate the dignity of womanhood. Osinde said this last weekend at the Eucharistic Mass to celebrate the one year anniversary of the school.

Addressing the audience she said: “It is indeed a thing of joy to celebrate God’s goodness in our lives. Bethlehem Girls College was commissioned on July 26, 2012, and opened her doors for academic activities on September 30th, 2012. The school has gone through the preliminary stages of growth and survived despite numerous challenges usually associated with every growing institution.” Osinde, quoting Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey reiterated: “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

According to Osinde, the college, which is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, upholds as its core values: “the empowerment of the girl child to recognize and appreciate the dignity of womanhood; quality education vis-à-vis moral and academic excellence; the values of integrity, discipline, hard work and the fear of God; as well as training in both creative and analytic thinking for the good of society.”

Rev. Fr. Sebastine Ukwandu, the associate parish priest who presented the homily admonished the girls and other members of the audience to leave a legacy that would last beyond their time on the earth. He said: “Your parents have invested so much into you by putting you in a school like this. To whom, much is given, much is expected. You must ask yourself what you want to be remembered for and leave a legacy that would last beyond your lifetime.”

He also admonished the parents to partner with the school administration to ensure excellence in training the girls.

Mr. Mac Onojake, whose daughter attends the BGC, congratulated the college on her one year anniversary. “In the past one year that my daughter has been here, we have seen undeniable elements of discipline, hard work and commitment on the part of management and teachers. I wish them all greater heights and academic excellence in Jesus.”