On Thursday 15th April, 2021, one of the wave making schools in Lagos, JNissi Schools, made up of Nur, Primary and Secondary situated at Peacock Drive, LSDPC Medium Estate, Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba-Lagos celebrated their annual event, tagged “Festival of Arts”, where the children and their parents showcases different type of Culture and Tradition.
The 12th Edition of 2021 JNissi Schools Festival of Arts held at CLAM Events Centre, Opposite Omole Phase 1, Ikeja, with the theme “Proudly African: Good People, Great Continent, Beauty in Cultural Diversity. And it had many big wigs in the Media industry in attendance, the likes of Evangelist Mike Bamiloye the founder of Mount Zion Ministry, Tunde Kelani, the grandfather of professional filmmakers/Cinematographers in Nigeria, Adedayo Liadi, a professional dancer who is known for his energetic dance steps in Olori Oko song, and off course, the media mogul Ambrose Olutayo Somide.
WHAT THE PROPRIETRESS SAID
Speaking on the 12th Edition of Festival of Art, Pastor (Mrs.) Bukola Oladiyun (J.P), the Proprietress and Director of Studies, JNISSI Schools said “Last two years we explored “African Culture and Values” where the rich cultures of Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Tanzania were displayed by our transformational pupil leaders. This year, our theme is “Proudly African, Good People, Great Continent; Beauty in Cultural Diversity” and we shall be exploring the rich cultures of Nigerians with a focus on 3 basic languages (Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba), the Kenyans, the Batswana and the Moroccans.
African culture is expressed in her Arts and Crafts, Folklore, Religion, Clothing, Cuisine, Music and Languages etc. The expressions of these cultures are in abundance across Africa with different cultural diversity even within each country. Life is a work of Art. God; the creator is an embodiment of Art. He created us with our uniqueness and diversity of culture. In Gen 11:1-8, men spread out to embrace their diversity and eventually with time, Africa emerged as one of the continents of the world. Fortunately, as one of the continents of the world, Africa is one of the most richly endowed continents with good people, attractive scenes, diverse cultures, great and outstanding creativity and languages.In Nigerian for example, Yorubas will say “Wa”, Hausas will say “Zo”, Igbos will say “Bia”, we are saying the same thing which means “come” in our different languages. Kenyans speak English and Swahili; Batswana speak Setswana while Moroccans speak Arabic.
Therefore, we as Africans in the West, especially Nigeria with multi-cultural attributes should embrace the beauty in our diversity. Not only do I love Africans but I am proud to be one!As we rightly know that no one exists without a culture, exposing the young minds to our various culture as well as the cultures of other neighboring countries in Africa has become part of our Educational Objectives. Art is an expression of our feelings via many means such as drawing, painting, dancing, music etc. and Festival of Arts explores all the means of expression in diverse ways. This festival will be a show case for a wide variety of cultural concepts that our pupils/students have learnt and practiced in the last few weeks. The children are poised to treat you to interesting activities including African dances (Botswana, Morocco, Kenya), our Nigeria Efik, Owo and Benue dance and a lot more interesting and inspiring activities.
JNISSI Schools, apart from being world class Christian Educational Institutions where children with sound moral, impeccable character and integrity are raised for transformational leadership, we also have the divine mandate to showcase the innate and natural abilities of our children in arts and crafts. These we do with great delight. Our fostering of these cultural awareness and inclusion in the school curriculum will:
• Encourage acceptance and help prepare our leaders to thrive in diverse climes.
• Promote awareness and create a connection with diverse cultures to prevent our leaders from developing prejudices in life.
• Allow them to relate/interact with people different from themselves since they’re more aware of the experiences someone from a different country or cultural group may face.
• Expose them to a diverse range of opinions, thoughts, and cultural backgrounds thereby encouraging them to be more open-minded later in life.
With the rise in globalization, it is more important to be able to work with people from different cultures and social groups if children are exposed to diversity and learn cultural awareness right from the elementary school, they are set up to flourish confidently anywhere they find themselves later in life. The seed is being sown in JNISSI schools.
In JNISSI Schools, we have the culture of continuous improvement, adding colours to whatever we do. This year we are instituting JNISSI SCHOOLS/MIKE BAMILOYE WALL OF FAME at one of the schools’ dominant walls. On this wall we shall be adding two dignitaries who have impacted lives in one way or the other biennially.
Today, our pupils/students’ leaders will be showcasing the different cultures; people, attires, songs, dances, marriages, cuisines and notable leaders of the four African countries in focus (Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Botswana) and lots of more interesting and inspiring activities.
It is my dearest hope that we, especially parents, guardians and educational stakeholders will all rise from this event with a new mindset to support, empower and guide the children to enable them maximize their God given creativity and potentials.
Special Appreciation goes to JNISSI parents committee under the chairmanship of Mrs Adebayo and their friends for their contributions and donations, the staff of JNISSI schools and Dr Hafiz Oyetoro (Saka) for connecting us to the program consultant Mr Arowoogun. We are proud to say it is great working with him. (Mr. Arowogun).
Once again, I welcome and thank you for believing in our vision. I want to assure you that the stage is set to make the day a memorable one. Please sit back, savour every moment, applaud the beautiful performances and get inspired by everything you see our children do today. Thank you and God bless.
JNISSI SCHOOLS HONOURS MIKE BAMILOYe WITH WALL OF FAME
This year’s JNISSI Festival of Arts celebration kick-started with the honour bestowed on the founder of Mount Zion Ministry, Mike Bamiloye. In a grandstanding tribute written by Mrs Oludotun, the Wall of Fame for Arts recognition for Evangelist Mike Bamiloye is coming on the heels of his immeasurable impacts and influence in the advancement of Gods kingdom through his works. Mike Bamiloye has over 3 decades shouldered a very challenging ministry in both on stage and on the pulpit. He has captured many lost souls through his carefully carved out movies from Agbara Nla in the 90s to Abejoye that is currently trending on YouTube.
The award is therefore coming to appreciate his hardwork in propagating God’s mandate on earth.
WHY JNISSI SCHOOLS HONOURED MIKE BAMILOYE WITH A WALL OF FAME
Wife of the founding Pastor of Christ Livingsoring Apostolic Ministry, CLAM, and director of studies, JNISSI Schools Mrs Bukola OLADIYUN, has revealed why Mike Bamiloye was unanimously chosen to the enlisted in the School’s Hall of Fame for Arts. In the welcome speech read by mummy, as she’s fondly called, it was revealed that the Mount Zion Ministry founder, Mike Bamiloye has used his platform to win many souls to Christ and has not rested on oasis. The Wall is dedicated to him in recognition of his great and impactful work in the Creative Arts and Drama especially using it as a veritable tool for evangelism. Personally, I have followed his Christian Drama Ministry for over 20 years. As a family life practitioner, I practically adopted his drama series on family as part of the resources I use in parenting. My family grew up watching Mike Bamiloye Films, for instance Apoti Eri, Agbara Nla, Just a Little Sin, Blood on the Altar, Abejoye, etc. Right from the time when they started stage play especially the one on RAPTURE, he has been consistent, dedicated and committed to his call and passion. Little wonder, God has moved him and his team to global platform and Mount Zion Films International has become an icon in the area of Art. Our school is a world class, Christian leadership educational organization. Consequently, it is not out of place to dedicate our dominant Wall to Evangelist Mike Bamiloye because he has shown exemplary leadership qualities in the Arts not just, he and his amiable wife Pastor (Mrs.) Olushola Bamiloye have successful family life story. This Wall of Fame for Arts is a step higher and forward in creating a big platform for our children in showcasing their talent and looking up to the icons on display on the Wall just as God instructed Jacob to make the cattle of Laban graze before the Polar Rod in Genesis 30:31-43 we believe they will be positively encouraged and urged on to stardom.
– SUNDAY ADIGUN
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