Helmbridge Study Centre, has urged schools and universities across Nigeria to place greater emphasis on ethical values, character development and leadership.

It argued that the country’s greatest challenge is not a shortage of educated people but lack of principled leaders.

This was at a press briefing to disclose the Centre’s year-long golden jubilee celebration. The Director of the Centre, Wilfred Dieke said Helmbridge had, for five decades, remained committed to combining academic excellence with moral formation, producing graduates who have distinguished themselves through integrity, discipline and service to society.

He advised policymakers to draw lessons from Helmbridge’s model by restoring schools to their traditional role of fostering intellectual growth alongside civic responsibility, ethical leadership, patriotism and respect for the rule of law.

He said the anniversary activities, which began on July 1, would run until June 1 next year 2027 and include fundraising initiatives to support the centre’s development projects.

According to him, the official inauguration of the celebration will take place next week, beginning with a Holy Mass at 11 a.m., followed by the formal launch of the anniversary programme.

Reflecting on the institution’s journey, Dieke said Helmbridge had consistently pursued a broader vision of education beyond examination success.

“For 50 years, Helmbridge has remained steadfast in its commitment to promoting culture, character, academic excellence and leadership. While many educational institutions measure success solely by examination results, Helmbridge has consistently pursued a broader vision by producing men who combine professional competence with moral integrity,” he said.

He noted that thousands of alumni have excelled in public service, law, medicine, engineering, business and academia, adding that many earned respect not only for their professional achievements but also for their integrity and commitment to excellence.

According to him, students at Helmbridge are encouraged to broaden their intellectual horizons through exposure to culture, the humanities and critical thinking beyond the conventional curriculum, while those who choose are also offered spiritual formation through Opus Dei of the Catholic Church.

“As Helmbridge celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it is a reminder that the ultimate purpose of education is not simply to produce educated men and women, but upright individuals whose knowledge is guided by conscience. Academic excellence may open doors, but it is character that sustains leadership, inspires confidence and builds enduring nations,” he said.

Chairman of the Helmbridge Study Centre’s 50th anniversary planning committee, Kola Olusola said the centre will use its golden jubilee celebrations to improve its facilities and strengthen its family-focused programmes.
Olusola said key projects lined up include the construction of a robotics laboratory, the upgrade of the football field to standard specifications, renovation of the basketball court, and installation of a solar power system to support the new facilities.

“We want to have a robust robotics lab. We have to upgrade our football field, and we also want it to meet standard requirements. We also want the basketball court to be upgraded. Those are the areas that we are looking at,” he said.

He added that the planned solar installation would power the robotics laboratory and other activities at the centre.

Olusola also stressed that Helmbridge’s programmes are designed to strengthen family values, stating that the centre helps fathers and sons build stronger relationships.

Former Director of Helmbridge Study Centre, Christopher Itua said the institution’s greatest endorsement comes from its alumni, who encourage relatives and friends to enrol their children after witnessing the impact of its character formation programmes.

Itua added that the centre charges a yearly contribution of N70,000, but disclosed that more than half of its students are on scholarships to ensure financial constraints do not prevent boys from accessing moral and leadership formation.