The immediate past Principal of Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Grammar School (BFMSGS), Ojodu, Lagos, Mrs. Adebola Kolawole, formally went into retirement on Friday, November 23, 2018 after 35 years of meritorious service.

The retirement ceremony held at the school’s premises turned out to be a carnival of sorts as the event was spiced with cultural displays representing the major ethnic groups in the country, good will messages from relations, friends, colleagues and top government functionaries.

In attendance were Mr. Tunji Bello, Secretary to the Lagos State Government; Mrs. Lola Akande, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State; Mrs. Onadipe Oluwafunmilayo, Tutor General/Permanent Secretary (District Six); and Mr. Olatunde O. A, who represented the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, among many other dignitaries.

During her service years, Mrs. Kolawole won many national and state laurels. She was awarded the Principal of Best Junior School in Nigeria in 2013. She also received award for excellence as Principal of Best School in Nigeria; Special recognition by Nigerian Union of Teachers as Principal of Best School in Nigeria and Lagos State (2013) among many others.

In his speech at the well-attended event, Mr. Tunji Bello said: “Mrs Kolawole is a teacher/school administrator par excellence. She is an embodiment of what a school administrator should be. She is a role model that colleagues, teachers and students should emulate at all times. Little wonder she is a multiple-award winner in the education sector for so many years.”

Bello added that the state government could not afford to lose such a rare gem and hardworking civil servant to retirement at a time Mrs. Kolawole is still agile and capable of taking up even greater assignments. He said for this reason, the government was considering giving another responsibility to the amiable educationist.

Other highlights of the event included cutting of the celebrant’s birthday cake (her birthday having coincided with the retirement ceremony), unveiling of her new website www.adebolakolawole.com, and signing off ceremony, which was supervised by Mrs. Akinfenwa Omolara, a retired director with Quality Assurance Company.