Dowen College, Lagos has marked its 28th Founder’s Day and Prize-Giving Ceremony with outstanding academic and extracurricular accomplishments, including a 96.7 per cent credit pass rate in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and multiple international university scholarships for its graduating students.
Speaking at the colourful event held on the school premises in Lekki on 6 October, the Principal, Dr. Adebisi Layiwola, expressed gratitude for the school’s consistent progress since its establishment by Dr. Olumide O. Phillips and Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Phillips 28 years ago.
‘Indeed, as we gather for this year’s Founder’s Day and Prize-Giving Ceremony, our hearts overflow with gratitude for all that God has enabled us to accomplish’, she said.
‘Our theme for the year, ‘One School, One Vision, Endless Possibilities,’ has truly come to life. The Class of 2025 achieved a 96.7 per cent credit pass rate, with 76 per cent distinctions and 36.2 per cent earning A1 grades’.
Layiwola revealed that several graduates had secured scholarships and admissions into top universities in the United States and Canada, including the New York Institute of Technology, Loyola University, University at Albany, Colorado State University, and Simon Fraser University, among others.
She also highlighted the school’s recent achievements, such as first-place finishes in the AISEN Mathematics and Cordros Debate Competitions, as well as gold medals at the World Games in London and the Germany Arnsberg International Swimming Competition.
‘Our commitment to excellence and safety was further affirmed with the Lagos State Government’s Beacon of Safety Award, valid for three years’, she added.
Unveiling new programmes aimed at equipping students with 21st-century skills, the principal announced that the 2025 academic session would focus on the theme ‘Excel Beyond Boundaries’.
‘We are integrating technical, entrepreneurial, and leadership training into our curriculum to prepare students as global citizens and lifelong learners’, she said, while appreciating parents, teachers, and alumni for their continued support.
‘Your partnership remains the foundation upon which our success is built. Above all, we give glory to God for His unfailing grace’.
The Guest of Honour, Group Managing Director/CEO of Cordros Capital Limited, Mr Wale Agbyangi delivered a keynote address, urging students to push beyond limitations in their pursuit of excellence.
‘Boundaries exist in every area of life—some are physical, others are internal like fear or doubt—but boundaries are not permanent walls; they are challenges to be overcome’, Agbeyangi said. ‘To excel beyond boundaries means refusing to be limited by circumstances and daring to reach further than others think possible’.
He encouraged the students to embrace discipline and resilience, noting that excellence ‘is not achieved in comfort, but forged through persistence and courage’.
Agbeyangi also commended parents and teachers for their vital role in shaping future leaders.
‘Teachers, you are not just imparting knowledge—you are shaping futures. Parents, your sacrifices and encouragement form the foundation upon which every student stands’, he said.
The event featured musical performances, special awards, and prayers of thanksgiving, as the school community celebrated yet another milestone in Dowen College’s tradition of academic and moral excellence.
