Promise Emmanuel, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State has advised the 2023 graduating students of ChrisLand High School Abuja to develop courage to pursue their dreams.

The CPS also known as Kogi Rebel, gave the counsel on behalf of his principal, Chief Edward Onoja who served as a special guest of honor at the Valedictory service on Saturday.

In his short charge, the scribe to the Kogi Deputy Governor beamed his remark on “The 4Cs of Excellence” and admonished the students to apply courage, competence, compassion, and character in their life endeavors.

Assuring his principal’s continued support for education in Nigeria, he added: “Dreams are free but excellence is bought. You must hone the courage to pursue your dreams.

“The aggregate of your skills is what we call competence.”

With the theme: “Poised for Greatness,“ Promise encouraged the students to utilize their talents in making the world a better place. “Every success is meant to drive self-fulfillment and global impact. You must learn to feel. You must learn empathy.”

“Those who have mastered the art of courage, competence, and compassion are nothing without character. Character is the aggregate of moral qualities used to judge anyone, he added.”

Also speaking, Senator Ogoshi Onawo, a member of the Nigerian Senate urged the students to believe in themselves and God, stating that it is the most important guiding principle in life.

“Whatever you do in life ensure you’re prayerful and believe that God can always do it for you.

“Don’t be afraid of failure, if you don’t fail you can’t be able to achieve something great in the future.”

He tasked the students not to engage in negative vices while wishing them well in their endeavors going forward.

He also tasked parents not to over-pamper their children, but create an enabling environment for them to thrive and achieve their goals.

The Chairman of the occasion, Rt. Hon. Abia Stanley Ugochukwu, two-time former speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly said the expectation from the students is high, especially from parents.

Adding that, they must possess an attitude of perseverance and determination. “Academic achievement is good, but there must be other talents to back it up.”

He urged parents to let their children pursue their dreams while urging the parents to remember all they have been through.

On his part, Prof. Oluranti Ojo from the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, University of Abuja said students must be dedicated and hardworking in their pursuit for greatness.

“You must not disappoint your parents, teachers, and above all yourself. Embrace hard work, determination, set achieve able goals, have confidence in yourself, make adequate preparations, and be self-disciplined.”

“Do not be under any illusion that things will work accordingly, sometimes the road may be rough, do not give up. Make every failure an experience and learn from it.”

The ceremony was attended by the founder High Chief W. A. Awosika (OON), Managing Director ChrisLand School Limited Mrs. I.O. Adeyemi, guest speakers, teachers as well as parents.

Highlights of the ceremony include hymn citations, songs, dance, presentation of awards, and goodwill messages to the graduating students.

Founded in 1977, 2023 marks the 5th Valedictory Service of ChrisLand High School.