Canadian college official rates Nigerian students high

DIRECTOR of Admissions and Financial Assistance, Ridley College, Canada, Julie Cameron, has described Nigerian students studying at the college as very intelligent children with great thirst for knowledge.

  Fielding questions from journalists shortly after a reception in her honour recently at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Cameron said the school remains committed to preparing children that would thrive well internationally and rise to become leaders of tomorrow. 

  She said, “Without doubt, the children that come to us from Nigeria are definitely well prepared (and) we are just taking them to the next level. We are building on the knowledge they already have. In anything they might have a gap in, we certainly are there to support with those gaps, but the reality is the kids that come to us are coming out of excellent schools here in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, we are building on that knowledge base they already have. 

 “They are not only incredible gracious young people, they have a thirst for knowledge and they are very special to us. We are exposing them to opportunities to expand their skills and also get the learning experience required to thrive in higher academic programmes in any part of the world.”

  Commending parents for entrusting their children into their care she assured them that the school had provided a secure learning environment for their wards.

  “The concerns of parents are the same all over the world. The college is on 100 acres of land and there are only two gates. We have 155 cameras all around the school and we have never had a breach of security in our 125 years of existence. We have parents from other countries, who were former pupils and now their children are pupils of the college. I come to Nigeria at least twice in a year to build relationships and renew our commitment to parents who have trusted us with their wards.”

  “Education is the greatest gift you can give a child, if you have that opportunity to seek out the best education for them I will strongly urge families to do so.”

 Executive Director of Advancement of the school, Mr. Andrew Weller, said the desire of the school to have a multicultural campus made its owners to establish presence in Nigeria and other countries.

  He added that the college, which presently has about 30 Nigerian students, was looking forward to receiving more students.

 Weller said, “We have a diverse community of pupils who have demonstrated strong grades. I do not think there is any school, which has pupils from 41 countries like Ridley. It is a part of our tradition to promote a multicultural campus because the world is so connected. We prepare meaningful and flourishing lives, who will transform the globe. We are looking for pupils who are ready to make a difference, but must demonstrate willingness to learn.”

  A parent, Mr. Andrew Esuabanga, lauded the school’s management for replicating a homely environment for international students, adding that the school provides the needed atmosphere for higher academic pursuit.