The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vanguards Academy, Ustadh Zafaran Adeniyi says modelling students to become achievers is a culture of the school, a leading secondary educational institution in Ogun State.
Dr. Adeniyi, author of many soul-inspiring books, made the remark at the grand finale of the 20th anniversary of the school, held on Saturday at the school football field, Odosengulu, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
Vanguards Academy is a household name, especially among Muslims in Southwest Nigeria, with a reputation for quality education.
Founded in September 2002, Vanguards Academy which operates boarding has produced close to a thousand graduands in the last twenty years of its existence.
In his welcome address, Adeniyi appreciated Allah for the successes and achievements made within the two decades, saying, “acquisition of permanent site and various academic feats have characterised the period.”
He said students are trained in aspects of spirituality, character building, social interactions and emotional intelligence, stressing that they have been fantastic and exceptional.
“Modelling is our culture here. Students are like raw materials. We have raw materials, we want to process them. In our own case, parents and guardians bring them here, we screen them and begin their modelling. We want to model how they think with ample evidence that are realities. For example, we have a programme on sex education under our comprehensive training. We let them know it’s real.
“Here, we model them to be spiritually conscious. We model their character. We model them for social interactions: emotional skills, relations with others, dealing with their parents and neighbors. All these areas of human endeavours, we have separate programmes for them. We train them on how to live and survive on their own and enjoy life.”
Describing the two-decade journey of running a faith-based school from its former place at Isiwo town to Odosengulu, along Ijebu Ode-Epe road, in Ogun State, Dr. Adeniyi said, “The journey has been long, just as it’s equally short. But for the 20 years, we have every cause to appreciate Allah.
“We now have a permanent site, and have produced over 961 students, among others. We’ve achieved academically too. Our students have been fantastic and exceptional. They have attended and are in various universities, bagged first class degrees. They are also in industries. It’s a marvelous and rewarding achievement for us,” he said.
The director explained that the management of Vanguards Academy is not relenting as new challenges increasingly appear. He said that the dream of the founders is to have their products at the corridors of Nigerian leadership, even when the name of the school is almost on the lips of everyone.
“We are just starting. For our dream, we want to produce students who will be public modulators in industries. They will help guide society towards the right direction. We look forward to seeing them become icons in education, ICT, etc with the Islamic values immersed. On the leadership of this country, they also have roles to play.
“They are not there yet. We expect that in the next five, ten years. Our products will be there. We want to see how they will paddle the canoe of the nation. For our physical environment, the structure is yet to be complete. More things need to be fixed. We are on it. In short, we are yet to be where we want to be.”
The grand finale of the week-long programme which featured educating and interesting events including lectures, drama, and balad presentation among others, was attended by parents, alumni and students, many of whom were not born when the great citadel of learning was established.
Also at the event were members of the Governing Council, the industrious staff and many stakeholders, including the representative of the Ogun State Commissioner of Education.
There was also a special presentation of a book, ‘The Child I Am’, written by 12 year old Maryam Oluwakemi Zafaran when she was JSS 1. Now in JSS 2, Maryam is one of the beautiful daughters of Dr. Zafaran Adeniyi, the school director, and renowned author.
Visionary school, transforming lives of youths: Ogun Education Director
The representative of the Education Commissioner, Mr Lawal Mikail who is a Director of Education at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Ogun State, expressed delight at the commitment and investment Vanguards has put into the educational enterprise in the state.
According to him, Vanguards is visionary and has been able to demonstrate a high level of competence and seriousness.
“I congratulate Vanguards for their commitment and investment in the educational enterprise and for changing the lifestyle of our youths by combining modern knowledge with spirituality. We need to encourage them. The milestone achievements they have recorded within just 20 years is not a joke. I am overwhelmed.
“This is a school that has a vision. Within 20 years, the school has been able to demonstrate a high level of competence and seriousness because of the development in terms of physical facilities we have seen around and the achievements of the school – especially in ensuring their students are prepared adequately for both internal and external examinations,” he said.
“From what we have seen, a JSS 1 student has written a book (referring to Maryam Zafaran). And that’s not the first one. Some other scores of the students had equally written, meaning that they have been able to key into the educational policy thrust of Ogun State in delivering quality education.
“In Ogun State, we are known for quality. Our forebearers were the first in virtually everything. This state produced the first Chief Judge in Nigeria, the first professor, the first medical doctor. As at today, Ogun State is the education capital of Nigeria because of our investment in education”.
The education expert charged Vanguards Academy to lay more emphasis on the delivery of qualitative and comprehensive education, noting, “If education is not qualitative and comprehensive, it will be devoid of the required standard anybody can attain in life.”
For him, it’s not about providing education but quality education which banishes poverty and unlocks opportunities in various forms.
“Development in any nation is as a result of qualitative education. We want Vanguards Academy to keep forging ahead with the content of their instruction to meet modern pedagogy and be in line with global best practices.”
What stands Vanguards out, Adeleke explains
The Chairman, Governing Council of Vanguards Academy, Dr. Imran Adeleke noted that Vanguards is well recognised with a reputation of excellence and good performance in external examinations, especially that of the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE)
He said records show excellent performance of the students, whom are not allowed to cheat during examinations. “Our students are from across various parts of Nigeria and they perform excellently well. Their parents also appreciate our efforts”, he said.
The chairman explained that, though the board is thinking in the direction of establishing a university, but so many things still need to be done to upgrade the college.
“Part of the projects we are looking to complete include having a digital library, ultramodern laboratory and an administrative block. So, if we have a standard college, we can easily metamorphose into a university,” he said.
Adeleke aporeciated the Ogun State government for their support so far, pleading, however, for financial assistance in fixing the projects and to achieve their aims.
I never regretted enrolling my children at Vanguards – Parent
A parent who spoke with our reporter, Dr. Fadeyi Muse, an Abeokuta-based medical doctor, said he never regretted enrolling his children in the Vanguards Academy, noting the school has proven itself among its peers over the years.
“That is why I brought my children to the school, to really achieve both the Western and Islamic education with excellence. I have four children that have passed through the school. Three are still attending, while one has graduated and is now in the university.
“Honestly speaking, Vanguards is a place you can actually put your child and have the confidence he’s going to be transformed into what your heart desires. I have never regretted bringing my children to Vanguards. It has been a thing of joy for me, seeing what they are transforming into in terms of character as well as in academic pursuit,” the parent said.
He advised the school to further prioritise the welfare of the teachers, noting that the present economic situation is pushing people to look for greener pastures all over the place, a development that could take away some of the best hands among the staff.
The principal, Mr Lukman Alatise thanked the invited guests who set aside other functions to attend Vanguards Anniversary, praying to Allah to reward them abundantly.
