By Praise Adeagbo
Ferscoat International School, Ipaja, Lagos, recently held its 24th graduation ceremony and valedictory service for 79 SS3 students.
The graduating students recorded outstanding performance in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the May/June 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The event was attended by dignitaries, parents, guardians, teachers, pastors, alumni and they celebrated the academic achievements of 79 graduating students.
The class of 2025 achieved record-breaking results in both WASSCE and UTME. In the school exam, the students passed with credits and above in at least eight subjects and many obtaining between 8 and 5 distinctions (A1s).
In the UTME, 19 students scored above 300, with the highest obtaining 369.
The Head Boy, Idowu Oluwadarasimi Oluwatobi, distinguished himself with 8 A1s and 1 B3 in WASSCE and 361 in the 2025 UTME.
In his valedictory speech, he emphasized that leadership is not about perfection, but about presence and service.
The Head Girl, Towobola Serefunmi, also excelled in the May/June WASSCE and scored 340 in the UTME.
In her address, she described Ferscoat School as a second home that instilled values of excellence, knowledge, and service.
The top students were;Oluwadana Oluniyi Fayoyi who emerged overall best with a UTME score of 369 and 7A1s in WASSCE and 2Bs. Oke Oluwadarasimi Oluwatobi, the head boy, obtained 8A1s and 1B in WASSCE and scored 361 in the UTME. Oluwadaisi Oluwadamilola scored 360 in UTME. Ayoola Udo scored 349 in UTME as well as the most well rounded in sciences and humanities. Chinweke Iraemond scored 336 in UTME and overall best in arts and social sciences.
Mr. A.R. Babalola, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, praised the 79 graduating students for their discipline and determination.
The Principal, Pastor Fredrick Opata, described their results as testimonies of resilience, integrity, and faith.
Parents expressed gratitude for the transformation of their children. A mother said her shy son left Ferscoat School as a confident leader with distinctions. Another parent celebrated her daughter’s 8A1s and scored 361 in the UTME, praising the school for instilling both knowledge and morals.
Alumni and parents testified about the school’s lasting impact, with one noting that his child, a Ferscoat graduate, now maintains a perfect 5.0 GPA in Medicine and Surgery at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The ceremony concluded with awards, cultural performances, and thanksgiving. The Class of 2025 left with pride, prepared to carry Ferscoat’s legacy of academic excellence and moral uprightness into universities and the society at large.
In his address, the Director of Studies, Pastor Felix Opata, said, the occasion marks another milestone in the annals of the school and that 24th graduation event is dedicated to the 79 students who have set a record in the history of the school.
Opata disclosed that the graduating students performed well in the 2025 UTME and WASSCE.
He disclosed that the best WASSCE result in the history of the school was recorded this year and the student started his entire education at Ferscoat School with outstanding result of 8A1s and 1B3.
His words: “In the year 2024, we had our top ten scoring between 7A1s and 4A1s but this year, 25 of them scored between 8A1s and 4A1s.”
The director used the occasion to commend the teachers for the wonderful job they have been doing. He also lauded parents for investing in their wards secondary education, which he said has yielded positive results.
Principal of the school, Fredrick Opata, acknowledged that the students worked hard, persevered through challenges, and achieved what many might consider impossible.
“Your journey through SS3 has been marked by late night study sessions, early morning classes, and countless moments of determination. Each trial, project, and examination has prepared you for the path that lies ahead.”
The valedictorian, Idowu Oluwadarsimi, said, the students journey began with nervous steps, wide-eyed unsure of what lay ahead.
He applauded the school management, teachers and their parents for nurturing them to achieve outstanding results in UTME and WASSCE.