The Group Chief Finance Officer at Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc, Babatude Daramola, has urged students to imbibe the culture of integrity, discipline and diligence, after the order of Daniel in the scriptures.

Speaking at the recent 28th valedictory service and graduation ceremony of Jextoban Secondary School, he advised, ‘as you go forward, choose integrity over convenience, discipline over distraction, knowledge over ignorance, service over selfishness, perseverance over quitting, humility over pride, faith over fear and excellence over mediocrity.’

Themed, ‘The Daniel clan nobles of excellence,’ he further shared lessons from Daniel for every graduate as, excellence begins with character, requires continuous learning, courage and service.

On her part, Principal Lagos campus Akinyemi Oluwakemi said, “As students, there is nothing they cannot do if they are determined and have the courage. Like Daniel in the Bible, through his hardwork, dedication and other values enabled him to excel. As they leave the school, they should not forget all the values we instilled in them.”

Speaking, Chairman Board of Governors, Pastor Emmanuel Ojo, was excited about the successes recorded in external examination. According to him, one of the students who sat for the Cambridge IGCSE had the best result in computer studies, which fetched the student an award. “We spent only nine months to prepare our students for that exam, others spend minimum of three years.”

Advising the students, Ojo said that they must be transparent, not follow others to do evil. “Character formation and disposition matter, not just academic brilliance. They must always comport themselves anywhere they show up.”

The valedictorian of the Lagos campus, Habeebah Olamide Odusanya thanked the school for providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning, stating the school environment cultivates the spirit of excellence, pushing students to look beyond textbooks as well as become great citizens. “The transformative experience, from the rigour of academics to extra curricula activities equipped us with the confidence to face the world. The institution nurtured our potentials and provided the essential foundation that would allowed us to navigate the complexities of life with clarity, purpose and unshakable character.”