By Frederick Peters, KADUNA
NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Bentina Solid Academy, Kaduna, marked its 2026 Speech and Prize-Giving Day celebration with pomp and pageantry.
The event, held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Gora Street, Kakuri, Kaduna, featured the graduation of 10 pupils—five from the nursery section and five from the basic classes. It was attended by students, parents, teachers, friends, well-wishers, and community dignitaries.
In an interview with our reporter, the Chief Executive Officer of Bentina Solid Academy, Mrs. Augustina Comfort Ogbole, reflected on the school’s seven years of existence and expressed profound joy at celebrating the graduating set.
”Honestly, it is a season of joy. I do not know how to express my feelings. I am honored. Today is a great day in my life. It has been a long time since I longed to be like this. I kept struggling, falling down, and getting up, but with God, I was able to overcome. God says, ‘Connect with me, you’ll do all things. Disconnect with me, you can do nothing.’ With God, all things are possible. So, I am very, very happy today,” Mrs. Ogbole said.
She called on parents to take advantage of the school’s strides by playing an active role in their children’s education:
”Parents are advised to take their children seriously. It is not only about themselves, but also the children. When you enroll a child in school, you have to take responsibility for that child—not sending a child to school with no book, no pencil, and no writing material. You are not doing a great job. Ours is to teach and give your children good morals, but yours is to provide. Provide the necessary materials for learning to facilitate our work.”
According to her, there is also a need for the government at all levels to support and complement their efforts:
”I grew up on these streets, and I said there is a legacy I must leave behind. I have been working tirelessly. I need government assistance to chip in so that we can take the community to the next level. We need assistance so that we can go far.”
She concluded by dedicating a song to her sister:
[Singing]
Wonderful, beautiful sister
Sister that I love to embrace
During the course of my journey
You always stood by me
Oh, you always stood by me
You are the one I will praise
You are the one I adore
You give the healing and grace, oh
Hopelessly lost their way
Oh, hopelessly lost our way
Counselor comforter healer
Deborah Omada Apochi
During the course of my journey
You always stood by me
Oh, you always stood by me
You are the one I will praise
You are one I adore
You give the healing and grace, oh
Hopelessly lost thy way
Oh, hopelessly lost thy way
Addressing students everywhere, she advised, ” my advice to the students all over the world is to calm down, learn, and become what you would like to become in your lifetime. Some of them are future leaders like doctors, nurses, engineers, lecturers, architects, and medical doctors. For you to achieve that goal, you must bend down, learn, and read very well. Without doing all those things, you cannot achieve your goal. So, my advice to children out there is to study hard.”
The Chairman of the occasion and Regional Sales Manager with Solarfoam and Chemical Industry Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf, stated:
”First of all, I want to give accolades to the proprietress and also the teachers. They have done very well to impact knowledge on the students. From seeing their presentation, I think they have done well and are still doing well. I know that as time goes on, they are going to build sound students who will stand as ambassadors of this nation.”
He said, ” the performance of the children alone is a direct advertisement to parents that this school is worth attending. If you check the performance of the students on stage, that alone advertises to attending parents that there is substance in this school.
”My advice to the proprietress is, firstly, to be patient with parents because all hands are not equal. They should not take it personally if some parents are not paying school fees on time. They should not be discouraged. In life, you never know when you will succeed, and within the twinkle of an eye, if God wants to bless you, you will reap the reward here on earth and also in heaven.”
Representing her mother, Mrs. Janet Sunday, Miss Abah Victoria shared her impressions: “The ongoing event is quite inspiring. I am impressed, and it reminds me of my younger self. Seeing Bentina College [Academy] go this far is quite inspiring, and I wish the school the very best.
”Our advice to parents is to bring their kids here, because Bentina is like a growing seed, and I believe in a few years it will be an outstanding school and the talk of the town. Bring your kids here so they can be groomed, even in their vocabulary.”
Addressing the school management regarding stage productions, she added:
”As a theater artist, I will say regarding drama—at least these are kids, and I know they are trying to groom them to become better artists in the future—that a better approach is to make them understand that acting is not a casual game. They have to be serious, be on their A-game, and bring their best to the stage.”
Similarly, a parent and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Eurofoam Kaduna, Mr. James Atto, praised the proprietress: “My children are in Bentina Solid Academy, and I really appreciate everything she is doing there because of the effort I see in her. Though my children attend many schools, God has truly given her the wisdom to impart knowledge to our children. So let parents be very, very humble to send their children to her.
”One thing I noticed when I came to the school several times is that she is a hard-working woman. She always keeps the teachers busy teaching the children. And coming to the celebration today, I see a great change even in my own daughter who schools here. She speaks real grammar, which I cannot speak. The proprietress has transformed our children and the school, and that is why I am supporting her.
”Do let parents support her in anything she is doing. If you experience delays in paying your child’s school fees, you are the one delaying your child, because she is making her best effort for them. Try your best to provide the books she requests. Do not wait to clear everything at once; speak with her. She is a good woman who knows what she is planning for the future. That is why I am here to thank and encourage everyone to move her forward and make our children greater leaders of tomorrow.” he further said
Another parent, Mrs. Maryam Lawan, speaking in Hausa, thanked God for the day and commended the school for inviting them to the graduation ceremony. She added:
”My son, Haruna Muhammad Lawan, is also graduating today, so I thank God for this school and my son’s success in advancing to the next level of learning. I also thank the proprietress of the school for inviting us to this speech and prize-giving day graduation ceremony and for imparting the knowledge required to make our children better. We thank Allah for His mercies upon us and the school.”
While presenting her speech, the Head Girl, Miss Mirabel Friday, welcomed guests:
”The chairman of the occasion, the proprietress, the chairman of the board of trustees, PTA executives, parents and guardians, our fabulous teachers, distinguished guests, my fellow graduands, ladies and gentlemen. I am indeed grateful for the opportunity, privilege, and honor given to me as the head girl of the school to address this gathering on behalf of my colleagues.
”It has been a wonderful journey getting through this institution. There is no doubt that this set of graduands is doing great… I want to appreciate our able and diligent scholar, Mrs. Ogbole, the proprietress of the school, for the quality education she stands for. I thank our teachers and non-teaching staff who have in one way or the other shaped our lives and contributed to our successes. I thank our parents who have been supporting us from the cradle.
”To my colleagues, I congratulate you and I pray you reach greater heights. I admonish other learners in the school to be diligent and obedient, to uphold school morals, and to cooperate with the teachers to ensure stable academic quality. On a final note, I say a big thank you to all our parents for making our day. God bless you.”
Expressing her personal feelings on graduation day, she added:
”I feel happy, and I want to thank our proprietress, who has been supporting us up to this standard and ensuring our proper growth in the school. I thank our parents who have been supporting us, and to my colleagues, I congratulate you and pray you reach greater heights. Thank you.”
During a debate session on whether Artificial Intelligence (AI)should be allowed in schools, the speakers argued as follows:
Miss Mirabel Friday (Opposing the motion that AI should not be allowed)
” My name is Mirabel Friday, and I am here to oppose the motion that says AI should not be allowed in school, with the following points in mind: AI researches academic work; students can gain new concepts quickly and also learn independently. AI supports teachers in preparing learning materials and practicing questions, which improves the teaching and learning process. Finally, any nation that wishes to develop should not discard AI. I know that I am able to convince you that AI is the life wire of society. Thank you.”
On her part, Miss Light Augustine (Proposing the motion that AI should not be allowed)
”My name is Light Augustine. I am standing here before you to propose the motion that says AI should not be allowed in school, with the following points in mind: Does AI improve learning? AI can be used to solve difficult topics that teachers at times cannot solve. So should AI be embraced at the expense of our health? Capital NO. In the developed world, AI is used to fight insecurity, to suffocate people, and to combat insecurity faster than physical forces can, which makes the process easy. Permitting me to say, if Nigeria embraces AI driven by people, then we need this in the 21st century. Thank you.”
Highlight of the school’s speech and prize giving day/ graduation include awards of gifts and recognition to deserving pupils/ students, and parents cultural dances and displays, chorography, miminig, drama and lots more.