Saturday 1st February 2020, Atlantic Hall School celebrated its 30th anniversary to pomp and pageantry worthy of an iconic institution of its revere, standing, and reputation.
Welcoming an eminent gathering of friends, alumni, business, diplomatic and political leaders to the Bells Centre, Onikan Lagos, the Chairman of the Atlantic Hall Education Trust Council Chief (Mrs.) Taiwo Taiwo noted that “Atlantic Hall was born out of the dreams of five young idealistic and passionate friends, who envisioned a first-class co-educational secondary school, fit to arrest the narrative of decaying secondary education in Nigeria”.
Chief Taiwo commended the tenacity and enthusiasm of the founders: Lady Gbeminiyi Smith, Dr. Kehinde Dina, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, Mrs. Olabisi Towry-Coker, Ms. Lola Aboderin, Chief Mrs. Marlies Allan, Chief Ms. Abimbola Bode-Thomas, Chief Mrs. Morenikeji Okunowo, and late Mrs. Grace O. Fadayomi, whose quest for world-class education right here in Nigeria birthed the Atlantic Hall School.
Highlighting the charitable causes of the school, Chief Taiwo noted that the annual scholarship program had successfully provided for scores of indigent young people to receive world-class education right here in Nigeria stating that the most recent beneficiaries as William Anosike and Esther Ojooluwa Adebowale had settled in quite nicely.
Chief Taiwo announced plans for the school to transform student learning through international collaboration with Carleton University, Ottawa, a ‘collaboration that will provide opportunities for exchange of people and ideas’.
Delivering the keynote speech, the Vice President of the Federal Republic, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, noted that:
“the core values of Atlantic Hall School have over time led to countless notable alumni going on to accomplish outstanding feats in diverse fields of endeavor”.
Professor Osinbajo also observed that:
“A school is ultimately about the quality of its fruit, the young people it bequeaths to society. A school is fundamentally about the quality of its students – their learning, capacity to compete favorably across the globe. It is about character, the quality of young men and women that emerge from here. It is about the impact, the difference that a school prepares its young people to make in their spheres of influence. Today, we see the products of Atlantic Hall and we are all honored to witness the school’s unveiling of its ‘Ten Ambassadors of the Decade’, in celebration of the exemplary old students whose outstanding accomplishments in their various fields are pride to the school and the nation.”
He further added; “this great school has produced award-winning filmmaker, television director, and leading light in Nigeria’s movie industry, Kemi Adetiba. This school produced the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General and CEO of Solar Energy, Damilola Ogunbiyi, who at 28 built and managed five Lagos Independent Power Plants, and has gone on to become Presidential Adviser on Power, responsible for the construction of Nigeria’s largest solar power plant at the Bayero University, Kano. We have the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Anambra State, the youngest commissioner in the country, Mr. Mark Okoye. In the diaspora, the school also has the youth counselor for Newcastle City Council, Scotland, and Most Excellent Order of the British Empire O.B.E medalist, Matthew Otubu. The values of Atlantic Hall School are manifest in the fruit that it has produced and in those that it continues to produce; the fruit is good and worthy.”
The First Lady of the Federal Republic, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, represented by Mrs. Abiodun Seriki Ayeni, commended the school for its ‘commitment to a first-class education and for the tall and lasting legacy it represents to future generations of young people’.
The evening of pomp and festivity was graced by scores of eminent personalities, including the Chief Executive of The Guardian Newspapers, Lady Maiden Ibru; award-winning actress, Joke Silva; the board of trustees and academic staff of the school; and an endless array of friends and alumni.
The celebrations were punctuated by revelry as Ranti, the artiste, delighted guests with her crowd favorites.
More pictures from the gala below.
