26/03/2018
BEING A SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRINCIPAL OF DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL, PYATA, MR. MOHAMMED SANI USMAN, AT THE MAIDEN INETR-HOUSE SPORTS COMPETITION ON THE 24 OF FEB, 2018.
Protocol
Today, my joy knows no bound, as I stand before these very important personalities to welcome you to our maiden edition of Inter-House Sports Competition. Today's event will forever remain evergreen in my memory for two reasons: one, it is my first official gathering to host distinguished persons and personalities in this school and as well, the first Inter-House Sports Competition to be hosted, since I became principal.
Distinguished Guests, let me inform you that this event marks the first Inter-House Sports Competition to be organized by the school. So, for these many reasons, I am today particularly overjoyed that the event is indeed happening.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen, it is said that a parachute works perfectly, if and only when opened, so also, our children perform excellently, if and only when given the necessary platform and opportunity. As children, all they need is support, opportunity and the conducive environment to operate. Therefore, Sports and physical activities, as we know, bring endless benefits to communities, through improved health education, rehabilitation, youths engagement, gender equality and crime prevention, hence I call on the government and our parents, to accord our children and the youths, the needed opportunity to explore their hidden skills and talents in the area of sports.
STEWARDSHIP
Invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, barely 5 months after taking over the reigns of leadership as the principal of this school, deliberate efforts had been made and are still being made, to rewrite the history of the school and to address some glaring challenges, faced by the School. The greatest of which, is for us all to stamp our feet and say, our students will never again, miss their classes.
Consequently, apart from realizing the place and importance of clubs and societies, and sports in our school, which we use to attract and sustain the interests of students in the school, we have gone ahead to engage both students and parents, for them to see the need of school attendance. so with the support of my Vice Principals, staff and the school PTA Executive, we resolved to change the ugly situation. First, we introduced functional clubs and societies (jets club, press club, Road safety club, Red Cross) in the school, and secondly we made available sporting facilities and declared every Thursday morning, from 11 am to closing time as games period. This was the measure we employed to bring our students back to classes and it worked. Today truancy has, finally been laid to rest. Though, pertinent to note, is that students did not only return to classes, but that our clubs are perfectly functioning at the moment.
Similarly, after achieving this feat, we realized that the students hardly participate in programs outside the school, either governmental or privately organized events. So what we did was to make sure that our students attend programme both academic and non-academic, outside the school so as to expose them to activities beyond Day Secondary School, Pyata.
CHALLENGES
Invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, as an organization, we are not immune to challenges but then, challenges are meant to be faced, and we shall always do just that. As a conventional school, one of our serious challenges is the shortage of science teachers, classrooms, laboratories, scientific equipment and Examination Hall. Though an Examination Hall is currently being built by the school’s PTA, still we will be very glad if corporate organization, spirited individuals will come to the aid of the school on the aforementioned areas of need, and bearing in mind that government alone cannot do it all.
APPRECIATION
At this juncture, may I specifically thank and commend the efforts of Mr. Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, for investing heavily in the Education sector. Of course this is not coming as a surprise to many Nigerlites, bearing in mind that the Commissioner for Education is an Educationist of high repute, with excellent track records, in the person of, Haj. Fatima N. Madugu. The truth is when you put the right people in the right places you will always get the right results. Indeed, in education sector, we have the right person and we are getting the right results. Thank you, Ma.
Also worthy of appreciation, are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, the Executive Secretary, Secondary Education Board, the Executive Director NSSTSB, and other distinguished members of Min. of Education etc. We thank you for your wonderful support and we appreciate all your generous contributions and inputs. The PTA Chairman, and members of his Executive Team, our dear parents, words are not enough to thank and show the depth of our appreciation, for your support, all the way here. Let me assure you that, the journey is only just commencing, thank you.
To the village head of Pyata and his cabinet, your fatherly advice and support, was immensely appreciated. It’s no doubt vital to the success of this event. I must state here that, we shall always come for your royal blessings, support and advice, whenever the need arises. Thank you.
Of course, my appreciation will not be complete, if I fail to mention the contribution, resourcefulness and material support from the elites of Pyata, led by Professor Galadima, indeed, you have all shown that you are the true sons and daughters of this community, and posterity will live to remember you, for your genuine thirst, to bring development to this community, I thank you all.
Distinguished invited Guests, ladies and gentlemen, behind every successful leader, are his lieutenants and subordinates. The success of today’s event squarely lies in the efforts, support and commitment, purposefully displayed by my able Vice Principals, who strongly stood by me and my workaholic members of staff. I cannot thank you enough, but surely the Lord will reward you accordingly.
And to my students, today you have shown to the world, you are no different from other students in the cities, no matter the imbalance, in the available opportunities. You have not only made us proud, but you have also performed excellently beyond measure, thank you all.
To many others I cannot mention, please forgive and pardon me, you are also very much appreciated.
Thank you all for your attention and God bless you all.
