A brilliant 16-year-old Nigerian student, Naomi Olayinka from Chrisland Schools, has achieved a remarkable feat by being named Top in the World in English as a Second Language. This prestigious award was conferred by the Cambridge Assessment International Education for her performance in the June 2024 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations.
A Global Stage of Academic Excellence
The IGCSE programme is a globally recognized Cambridge International curriculum designed for students in Year 10 and Year 11. It is the world's most popular international qualification for learners aged 14 to 16. The June 2024 IGCSE examination series was highly competitive, seeing participation from a massive 295,972 students from 4,581 schools across 140 countries. These students accounted for nearly one million subject entries, marking a significant seven per cent increase in participation compared to the previous year's series.
The Journey of a Young Scholar
An elated Olayinka, who attends Chrisland in Ikeja, expressed her profound gratitude to God, her dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and everyone who encouraged her. "It was such a surreal moment, and all I could think about was how the hard work had really paid off. It feels amazing to be part of such a proud legacy," she shared.
Her love for the English language is deep-rooted. She appreciates its power to beautifully express thoughts and emotions. "I believe it is a way of thinking and connecting with people. That perspective really made me fall in love with it even more," Olayinka added. Her disciplined study routine was key to her success. She dedicated time every day to reading, writing essays, and reviewing past questions. She also consistently read novels, articles, and newspapers to expand her vocabulary and comprehension.
Overcoming Challenges with Support
The path to success was not without its hurdles. Olayinka acknowledged facing moments of overwhelm while balancing her subjects and responsibilities, and even occasional self-doubt. "But I learned to take things one step at a time and reminded myself to trust the process," she stated. She credited her parents and teachers for their constant encouragement. Furthermore, the constructive feedback from her teachers on practice essays was instrumental in her continuous improvement.
Looking ahead, the young scholar aims to become a lawyer. She aspires to use her voice to stand for what is right and contribute to building a fairer society.
A Culture of Excellence at Chrisland
The school's leadership was effusive in their praise. The Director of Schools, Mrs. Ayoola Akinyeye, described Olayinka as an inspirational school leader. She emphasized that at Chrisland, excellence is not an exception but the default. "Every year, we present hundreds of students for national and international examinations, and a remarkable number consistently achieve distinctions and awards that place them among the best in the world," Akinyeye affirmed.
Dr. Olajide Onigbogi, the Executive Head of Schools, Communications, attributed this consistent success to the school's strong mentoring culture and core values of discipline, integrity, professionalism, love, and excellence. "At Chrisland, teachers are more than instructors; they are mentors and moral guides. We run a structured pastoral care and mentorship system that identifies each learner’s strengths and areas of growth. Every student is seen, known, and supported," he explained.
