By Godwin Vambe
From the dusty roads of Akaajime, Gboko, to the national stage: What is Princess Adeja International College doing differently, and what can other schools learn from its remarkable story?
There are moments when a single school’s achievement becomes a source of pride for an entire state. My experience at the Nigerian International Secondary Schools Model United Nations (NISSMUN) conference in Abuja was one such moment.
In 2018, I was at the opening ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, when I first encountered the name Princess Adeja International College, Gboko. What followed was an impressive display of intellectual confidence, eloquence and diplomatic finesse. The school’s students were remarkably visible across the conference committees, making their presence felt in debates, deliberations and other activities. They were, quite literally, the cynosure of all eyes. Their composure, confidence, articulation and poise were qualities worth studying.
Having had the opportunity to work in the education sector in Benue State, I have often observed, with considerable interest, the peculiar place Gboko occupies in the state’s secondary education landscape. During school holidays, it is not unusual to see motor parks in Makurdi bustling with students travelling back to Gboko. The Makurdi–Gboko road becomes a familiar corridor for parents and students returning to what has become, in many respects, an important destination for secondary education.
I have often wondered: What exactly is Gboko doing differently, and why can’t some of these practices be replicated in Makurdi and other parts of Benue State?
That day at the ICC, however, my pride went beyond the performance of individual students. I was immensely proud that a school from my home state could stand confidently alongside some of Nigeria’s highly regarded secondary schools and command such national attention.
What made the experience even more remarkable was the school’s location. From the dusty roads of Akaajime in Gboko to the prestigious international-style gathering at the ICC, these young people demonstrated that excellence is not the exclusive preserve of schools in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt. Talent, when properly nurtured, can flourish anywhere.
I subsequently tried to learn more about Princess Adeja International College. Although publicly accessible information about the institution appears relatively limited, one particularly interesting claim about its educational positioning is its reported association with Cambridge International education. Its Cambridge Associate status makes it an important example of how international academic frameworks can be brought closer to learners outside Nigeria’s major urban centres.
So, when news of the school’s latest recognition as Best College in Nigeria for the fifth time emerged, it was another heartwarming moment for those of us who remain deeply interested in the direction of education in Benue State.
But beyond the celebrations, photographs and awards, there is a more important conversation to be had.
What is Princess Adeja International College doing differently, and what can other school owners learn from its story?
FIVE LESSONS BENUE SCHOOL OWNERS SHOULD TAKE FROM PRINCESS ADEJA
1. Excellence must be deliberate, not accidental.
2. Education must go beyond the four walls of the classroom.
3. Invest in confidence, communication and character.
4. Benchmark against the best, not merely against neighbouring schools.
5. Build a school culture that outlives individual personalities.
Godwin Vambe is an Advocate of Progressive Education
