The KIA Lakeside Academy, a crèche, nursery, primary and secondary school, Abuja, was at the weekend formally unveiled to the public by the Primate, the Church of Nigeria, His Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, who prayed for God to use the school to raise God fearing children to the glory of his name.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Governing Council of the School, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi stated that the KIA Lakeside Academy which was established in 2008 in Jabi, Abuja, has grown from seven pupils at inception to 200 students now.

According to him, the school was established in memory of late Kunbi Irene Adebiyi (KIA), who lost her life in the unfortunate 2013 Dana air crash. “Kunbi was a prodigious child in whom the parents, friends, family members and well-wishers were well pleased. Kunbi was someone who cared for others, especially the less privileged. She graduated BSc in Economics and obtained a Master’s degree in Development Economics. She also had a Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Studies from the Harvard University”.

“In pursuit of her love to care for others, she established, quite early in life, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, through which she sponsored and provided succor to the less privileged persons in Nigeria and Ghana. Her major goal was to give them a chance to survive and grow to become their best in life.’’

Prof. Afolabi revealed that, the goal of the school is to continue from where Kunbi stopped. He maintained that KIA Lakeside Academy is designed to give all Nigerians and every other people the opportunity to access quality and affordable education while also noting that the school was not established for profit making but with a goal to offer world class quality education to all who are opportune to apply and gain admission school.

In his speech, the Special Guest, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Eng. Umar Gambo Jibrin commended the Proprietress, Mrs. Titilayo Adebiyi and her husband Prof. Dan Adebiyi for establishing such a quality and impressive educational institution. For him, “Education is key to development. We encourage people and institutions to partner and collaborate with government in establishing great institutions like KIA Lakeside Academy that promotes development both for the individual and for the society”. The government, he said, is willing, at all times, to support endeavors like this.

The children demonstrated the strength of character on which the school is established as they recited poems, danced and dramatized the core values of the school.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Adebiyi expressed gratitude to the guests comprising among others the former Minister for Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Diplomats, Parents, the Media and others for attending the event despite the short notice. He also thanked all the teachers and Administrators of the school for keeping faith with them even in the face of challenges.