By Gabriel Dike
An educationist and the Executive Director of Greensprings School, Lagos, Mrs. Lai Koiki, says the nation’s educational system must recognize the potential of children and help to nurture them.
She also acknowledged that there are glaring missed gaps in our educational journey and stressed the need to address them.
Koiki stated this at the symposium to mark the 40th anniversary of Greensprings School with the theme: “Educating for Impact: The Transformative Power of Education and Values in Nigeria”.
Among stakeholders, who spoke at the 40th anniversary symposium were former Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria/Founder, The Centre Group, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Pan Atlantic University (administration), Lagos, Dr. Peter Bamkole and former Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo.
She noted: “We stand at a crossroads. While there is much to celebrate in our educational journey, there are also glaring missed opportunities. Too many children are still denied access to quality education. Too many classrooms lack the tools and resources needed to inspire innovation. Too many graduates enter the world unprepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
“These gaps are not just failures of policy or practice; they are missed opportunities to build a better Nigeria.”
According to her, for four decades, Greensprings School has been steadfast in its mission to nurture young minds, not just in knowledge, but in character, discipline, and purpose.
Koiki said the school takes pride in the countless lives it has touched and the positive impact our alumni are making across the globe, stating, “yet, even as we celebrate these successes, we must also acknowledge the immense work that remains to be done.”
The educationist described Nigerian children as a testament to resilience and that despite the challenges they face, they continue to rise, demonstrating creativity, determination, and hope.
She argued that stakeholders owe it to these children, and to the nation, to create an educational system that not only recognizes their potential but actively nurtures it.
“Education is the foundation upon which great nations are built, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that this foundation is strong, inclusive, and future-ready.”
Koiki reminded parents that they are the first teachers, thus the values they instill at home—discipline, empathy, responsibility would help shape the worldview of their children.
She said: “Let us strive to raise a generation that is not only academically excellent but also morally grounded and socially conscious.”
The executive director reminded teachers that they are more than dispensers of knowledge but architects of the future of the children entrusted to them.
“Your role extends beyond the classroom. It is about equipping students with critical thinking skills, real-world problem-solving abilities, and the ethical compass to navigate an increasingly complex world,” Koiki stressed.
She admitted that policymakers and political leaders hold the keys to systemic change, saying, “we need policies that prioritize teacher development, ensure equitable access to quality education, and integrate future-ready skills into our curricula.”
Koiki acknowledged that private sector and corporate leaders’ partnership is essential to bridge the gap between education and industry by helping to create a pipeline of talent that is not just employable but innovative and entrepreneurial.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Adefisayo, stressed the need for stakeholders and policymakers to transform education to take cognizance of the current reality on ground.
She added: “Let us make our education system relevant to the reality in the world. Going to university is no longer the in-thing. Do we want to turn out students, who just want to pass exams?
The former education commissioner acknowledged Greensprings School as one of the best education service providers, noting, “I have watched Greensprings provide quality education for many years.”
On his part, the DVC of Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Bamkole, said the provision of education must be in the overall interest of the people and the nation.
“Education helps people to think about how to solve societal problems. Our educational system must be built on producing wholestic people,”Bamkole added.
He recalled how Mrs. Koiki, started Greensprings School with three pupils at the age of 30 years in 1985 and what it has come to represent today.
In her contribution, Mrs. Awosika, said she is proud of the legacy Greensprings has attained in the last 40 years.
The former First Bank chairman described home as the first foundation to build up a child and school as the second place to impact and develop them.
Awosika disclosed that Greensprings has chosen to focus on the areas that are critical to the development of children. She called on parents and schools to join forces to impact positively on children as well as imbibe the right values on them at a young age.