By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Emerging Leaders International School (ELIS), Abuja, has clocked eight years of existence, marking nearly a decade of shaping young minds and building a generation of future leaders.
Founded by renowned philanthropist, Chief Mrs. Obby Okwubanego (Ife Nawfija), ELIS has grown into a signal of hope and opportunity for children, embodying her true passion for human capital development and her deep commitment to investing in the future of society through quality education.
Since its inception, the school has distinguished itself with a philosophy rooted in excellence, discipline, and innovation. With an academic structure carefully designed to prepare pupils to compete favourably with their peers across the world, ELIS reflects the vision of its founder, who believes that education is the strongest weapon to break the cycle of poverty and unlock limitless opportunities for the less privileged.
In line with this vision, the school is being managed by the Carmelite Sisters, who are renowned globally for their dedication to moral upbringing and pursuit of academic excellence.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, reliably gathered that, under the Carmelite Sisters’ stewardship, the Emerging Leaders International School has continued to blend intellectual pursuit with moral development, producing students who not only excel academically but also uphold values of character, discipline, and integrity as true future leaders indeed, as the name of the school implies.
For Chief Mrs. Okwubanego, establishing the institution eight years ago goes beyond personal ambition to being a deliberate Corporate Social Responsibility initiative aimed at giving back to society and lifting the younger generation. She has consistently emphasized that true leadership is not measured merely by personal achievements, but by the lives one touches/impacts, and the opportunities one creates for others.
Over the years, ELIS has remained guided by the philosophy that no child should be left behind. The school is intentionally structured to give every child an equal chance to learn, grow, and realize their potential, irrespective of their background or social status. Through this approach, Chief Mrs. Okwubanego has not just built a school, but a platform for raising future leaders who are expected to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria and to the global community.
By these, one needs no eyeglasses to see that as ELIS celebrates its eighth anniversary, the school’s journey and success stories so far are indicative of what vision, philanthropy, passion and commitment to excellence can achieve. The institution, undoubtedly, continues to serve as a model of how quality education, when anchored on values and inclusiveness, can reshape destinies and build a stronger society.
Happy 8th Anniversary, Emerging Leaders International School (ELIS), Abuja.
Ya gaziere ụnụ !
