By Olayinka Latona

Upper Room Baptist Church, Ketu in Lagos, recently identified some school teachers, students and schools in Kosofe LCDA educational district 11 who have excelled in their academic work for special recognition.

The excellence award which also formed part of activities marking the 30th anniversary celebration of the church, was in four categories: Overall best three students, Best teacher in English Language, Mathematics, Biology and Economics, Overall best three schools and Principals of the overall best three schools.

Trophies, plaques, water dispensers, laptops, IPADs and others were given to recepients irrespective of ethnic or religious considerations.

According to the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Oluleke Akinola, the award is part of the church’s way of complementing government’s effort at raising the standard of education in the state.

Its also aimed at celebrating the students for their outstanding performance and encourage them to aim for excellence in their academics pursuits.

In his words: “Some years ago God gave us vision for public secondary school students in Kosofe Zone Education District 11 to complement government in the area of education by rewarding overall best three students in West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, (WASSCE) as well as the teachers and best outstanding schools.”

“As a church, we lay premium on education and we will continue to do all that is within our power to support government and parents to ensure that Lagos State students excel in their academic pursuits,” he added.

Pastor Akinola then urged Nigerian youths to focus their attention on things that would bring progress and development to the country.