“MY JOURNEY TO SUCCESS STARTED AT SIPS” by Ihuoma Chukwu-Ibeh
My name is Ihuoma Ibehchukwu and I am an alumna of Salvation International Preparatory Schools (SIPS). When the director (Uncle Femi who happened to be my classmate in SIPS back in the days) asked me to write a testimonial for this maiden edition of our magazine I was excited and felt greatly honoured. I was excited because, I seize every opportunity to spread the Gospel of SIPS and I felt honoured because I was going to be part of this history making magazine – THE LEGCAY. I recently graduated with a First Class Honours in Biomedical Science (B.Sc) from the London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom and this is my testimony of how it all began in SIPS.
I started SIPS from the inception in 1998. Then I was in Primary Five (V). During my years in SIPS, I had the privilege to experience top-quality, excellent and world-class education. SIPS offered a dynamic and relevant portfolio of challenging subjects, equipping me with the knowledge and skills to accelerate in my career path. I began to develop intellectually because an atmosphere of openness to new and innovative approaches was created.
SIPS has always impacted the fear of God in the lives of the students and discipline has always been paramount. Students are constructively criticized when they perform or behave below expected standards. I clearly remember our Proprietress’ (Evangelist Mrs O. A. Toyinbo) word then words ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’. Without mincing words, I can authoritatively say that her words of wisdom, encouragement, push, drive to succeed and motivation have successfully shaped me into the woman I am today.
I was able to identify and realize my potentials because of the opportunity to study with the right people, in the right environment. My teachers then where well read and knowledgeable in the different subjects they taught. They made sure we understood every topic taught and duly tested our abilities.
I remember my days then in SIPS. I still have fond memories of my fellow classmates, seniors, juniors, teacher and Big Mummy or ‘Madam’ as we called her then. I started Primary Five in SIPS and graduated in SS Three – a total of seven years! It was seven years filled with some of the most treasured, interesting, challenging and inspiring moments.
Studying in SIPS imparted me with so many virtues, prime amongst them is INDEPENDENCE! The ability to read, understand and deliver in an examination without external, illegal and ungodly aid in the form of examination malpractice. Here in the United Kingdom, examination malpractice is highly forbidden and prohibited. In fact, it is literally impossible because of the strict and stringent measures, put in place by examination bodies to curtail and impede examination malpractice at every form and level. As a result of this you see many foreign students (Nigerians included) failing woefully in exams. Reason not farfetched from the fact that they have been taught to rely on ‘chukuli’, ‘chips’, ‘key points’, ‘expo’ and other such nefarious activities to pass examinations, so when they are faced with situations were such are out rightly banned, they cannot perform! So many were rusticated and later deported for crimes like this. I will forever be grateful to the ever efficient team at SIPS for allowing God to use them to impart in me, the ability to sit down, read on my own, believe in myself and pass any examination. Two weeks ago, I graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Biomedical Science from the London Metropolitan University, all Glory and thanks be to God in SIPS.
Another way my stay in SIPS influenced my life was that, they helped me discover my strengths and weaknesses and it was with this knowledge, I chose to study Biomedical Sciences when the opportunity arose for me to study in the UK. I never gave up and from the moment I gained admission into the university. I set a goal to come out with First Class, I relied on God for support and I worked ceaselessly to achieve it. Now I am a First Class Honours graduate.
I will forever be grateful to my father for bringing me to this GREAT school! I will forever be thankful to the staff and management of SIPS for all their laborious efforts on me, aimed at making me a better person in life. I chose the right path and now, I am living an exemplary life. This would not have been made possible without the help of God Almighty, my family, Evangelist (Mrs) Toyinbo and indeed, the dynamic team at SIPS.
Ihuoma Chukwu-Ibeh
Ex-SIPS Student (Class of 2006)/London Metropolitan University Graduate
“SIPS still and would always be THE BEST!!!” by Aanuoluwapo A. Akin-Taylor
My name is Aanuoluwapo Ayomide Akin-Taylor, a graduate of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo. I attended Salvation International Preparatory Schools Located at 24B-28 Oko/Ogba road, along Airport road in Benin City, Edo State.
Salvation International Preparatory Schools (SIPS) is an institution that God has been using to touch and transform the lives of children and youths and I was not excluded from this transformation.
I had my secondary education at SIPS and I was taught the life and doctrines of Jesus Christ and through conscious efforts of the staff and management, my morals were developed in line with Christian values. I learnt how to put God first in my education and entire life and as a result I learnt how to pray, rest and study effectively to be independent while taking tests and exams. This always worked as I always succeeded.
SIPS does not tolerate bad behavior or any form of laziness and is very strict when it comes to discipline. This in no small measure helped me cope with the rules of the university I attended. SIPS staff and management ensure that students and pupils complete their notes to ensure proper readiness for quizzes and exams. This helped me a great deal when I got into the university; I was used to the idea of having complete notes and I hardly missed lectures. This with putting God first made me successful in all my exams and at the end of the day, on Sunday, June 7th, 2015 I graduated from Babcock University with a First Class Hons. degree in Information Resource Management.
I will forever remain grateful to the staff and management of SIPS for building me into a total child and laying solid foundation in my life for all round success.
SIPS still and would always be THE BEST!!!
Ms. Aanuoluwapo A. Akin-Taylor
Ex-SIPS Student/BABCOCK University Graduate
“I ALMOST LOST HOPE!” by Nwachukwu Ebuka
My name is Nwachukwu Ebuka and I am a bonafide student of Salvation International Preparatory Schools (SIPS).
I was really happy when I was asked by the Director to write my testimony, for this second edition of our wonderful magazine – THE LEGACY. I felt honored because it is a great pleasure, letting the world know about the wonderful and tremendous things that are happening in the lives of students here in SIPS!
Before I came to SIPS, my life in my former school was without bearing and focus. I was so notorious; my name rang a bell in the ears of my teachers, class mates and school mates. I was a deviant and very restless. Sometimes I scaled the fence in the middle of the night to go and buy some items. One time, I did it; it was the last. I was caught and expelled from the school.
The day I was expelled, it was as if I should die at that moment. I lost all hope in my future and my parents were sad about the incident. They were about to send me to learn a trade and forget about school when a friend of my mum told her to take me to Salvation International Preparatory Schools. She said the school is the best place for me and they would reform me; not only academically, but spiritually and morally.
My mum immediately brought me to SIPS to register as a student. The entrance examination alone was so challenging. I began to wonder ‘what kind of school is this?!’ Upon my admission into the boarding house, we would read in ‘prep class’ for six hours every day. It was really challenging. However, with constant encouragement and motivation from mummy and other staff, I began to study on my own and excel. I had to adjust and cope with the super high standard I met in SIPS.
One thing that shocked and surprised me was the examination. I was flabbergasted when I saw that students wrote their exams by themselves without examination malpractices. In all my life this first school that I have seen that does not allow examination malpractice because where I was coming from, teachers teach us in the exam, the same things they have been teaching us for the past term and give us answers to question they set themselves!
SIPS really changed my life. When I was in my former school, to read for an hour was a very big problem. SIPS made it possible for me; I can now read for five good straight hours without stress. In fact, it is now a normal thing to me because we do it every day in SIPS boarding house.
The hard work and diligence of my teachers and the management coupled with my own efforts to improve my academics finally paid off. I wrote the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) examination early this year and when the results came out, I had scored 233! I was gob-smacked, shocked! When I tell people my shock at the results, they do not understand. Whilst filling the JAMB form, my belief in my performance was so low, I filled in Medical Bio-chemistry as first choice but when my result came out and I saw my outstanding performance, I immediately contacted my dad to proceed straight JAMB office and change my first choice to Medicine! Before SIPS, I never knew that it was possible to write an exam on your own and come out very successful.
SIPS has opened so much great potential in me that I never knew were there and could never have discovered in other places. I cannot be thankful enough to our mummy (Evangelist Mrs. Olaide A. Toyinbo JP) for the immeasurable love and care she showed me and indeed every student and pupil in this institution. I will never forget her discipline and the morals she imparted in my life.
Of a truth you are a God fearing mother and it is only God that can adequately reward you for your effort in SIPS. I pray that God will open the eyes of parents out there to bring their children to this school where God is transforming the lives of children daily.
Nwachukwu Ebuka, Class of 2015
“GOD changed my life IN SIPS!” by Emmanuel Osarenren
First of all, I want to give all glory, honour and adoration to God almighty for making this day a reality. It is a day filled with joy and fulfillment for my family and I.
Mummy, I want to sincerely thank God for giving you this great vision in my generation. You are a mother indeed; a pacesetter and a mentor who has not only impacted her generation, but has undoubtedly transformed many lives!
To us who schooled under your tutelage, it seemed a hard place of learning, but I must confess that you have been truly sent by God to build us and develop the total child in us. To us then, you were harsh; but I have come to know that it was all from a standpoint of discipline that the best was brought out of me.
Oh! Now I realize now that you were only putting smiles and songs of joy ahead of me when I finally get my result. Mummy, I now see all your actions as pointing to one thing – OUR SUCCESS!
I am indeed grateful to you, for all your inputs (Spiritually, Physically, Mentally, Socially and Educationally) in my life. I promise I will never to let you down.
Once again thanks to you and all the staff of Salvation International Preparatory Schools.
God bless you Mummy.
Your son,
Emmanuel Osarenren
Ex SIPS Student/Law Student at University of Portharcourt