Renowned educationist and Nigeria’s first Air Survey Navigator, Surveyor Dr. Segun Osifeso, has urged the Federal Government to formally honour Kenechukwu Morayo Uba, a student of Caleb International College, Lagos, who emerged as the top-performing candidate globally in the 2024 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) English Language Examination.
The examination, conducted by the Cambridge International Examination Council, saw Kenechukwu clinch the highest global score in English Language (as a second language, speaking endorsement), a feat officially recognised by the British Council through its Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Friday, Dr. Osifeso described Kenechukwu’s achievement as a landmark moment that brought international acclaim to Nigeria’s educational sector.
“Kenechukwu is not only a rare gem, but a beacon of excellence and inspiration to Nigerian youth,” he said.
He commended both the student and the management of Caleb International College for etching Nigeria’s name into the Guinness World Records, stressing that the Federal Government should recognise the accomplishment with a national honour.
Osifeso further appealed to the Minister of Education to personally facilitate an audience between Kenechukwu and President Bola Tinubu, where she would be formally acknowledged and conferred with a presidential award of excellence.
“This is not just a personal victory, it is a national triumph. The President’s recognition would send a powerful message to young Nigerians that academic excellence is valued and rewarded at the highest level,” he added.
He also praised Caleb International College’s unwavering commitment to excellence, noting that the school’s support was pivotal in nurturing Kenechukwu’s world-class performance.
At the award ceremony in Lagos, Louise Hendey, Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, International Education at Cambridge, equally celebrated Kenechukwu’s feat, describing her as “a pride not only to Nigeria, but to Africa and the world at large.”
Osifeso concluded by stating that the student’s success belongs to every Nigerian, adding that her story has written a new chapter in the nation’s educational history.
