Imaad Secondary School Student Emerges ‘Top in the World’ in IGSCE English

Funmi Ogundare

A student of Imaad Secondary School, Lekki, Miss Maryam Remawa Bello, recently received the British Council recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner awards for emerging ‘Top in the World’ in IGSCE English as a second language.

The awards, held at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is a yearly event where outstanding students are celebrated in various categories.

Bello who was full of excitement, recalled how she prepared for the October/November 2022 examination series.

“Preparing for the IGCSE English exam was a challenging yet rewarding experience that tested both my knowledge and determination,” she told THISDAY. “As exam approached, I dedicated countless hours to studying past questions, honing my writing skills, and practicing comprehension exercises.”

The syllabus, she added, covered an array of texts and topics, “and I tackled each one methodically, aiming to grasp not just the surface, but also the deeper meanings and nuances.”

Bello said she practiced writing essays, crafting compelling arguments and organising her thoughts effectively, adding that tackling comprehension exercises helped her improve on critical reading skills and ability to extract key information from complex texts.

The ‘Top in the World’ scorer stated that when she finally sat for the exam, she had a mixed feeling of relief and anticipation, adding that when she got the results a few weeks after, she was overwhelmed with joy.

“The weeks that followed were marked by a sense of impatience as I awaited the results. The moment of truth arrived when the results were announced, and my heart raced as I viewed the results,” stated Bello. “Seeing 100 percent under my name was an overwhelming feeling that words can hardly describe.”

She added, “It was a testament to the hours of hard work, perseverance, and determination that I had poured into my preparation. The joy that accompanied this achievement was not only personal, but also a recognition of the support from my teachers, family, and friends who had cheered me on throughout my journey.”

Bello explained that the experience “taught me that dedication, focus, and a passion for learning can truly lead to remarkable accomplishments.”

Bello described the IGCSE English exam preparation as not just about earning a high score; but about the growth she experienced as a learner and an individual.

“The sense of achievement from being recognised as the best in the world in English was a moment that will forever remain etched in my memory, reminding me that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible,” added Bello.

The principal of the school, Mr. Lateef Femi Adedeji, expressed delight about Bello’s feat saying that a lot of efforts always go into the preparation of the students for all internal and external exams.

“It’s no doubt a thing of joy that the awardee has proven to the world that something worthwhile is actually happening in the school,” he stated.

Her teacher, Mr. Said Oyedeji, who noted that Bello was his student from year 7 to 12, explained that having discovered early enough that she is a high flying student, he used different strategies to hone her interest in learning and ensured that she fully attained her potentials in English language proficiency.