Public relations practitioner and education advocate, Moshood Isamotu, has called for stronger collaboration between parents, schools and students, describing the relationship as the foundation for raising responsible citizens and building a prosperous nation.
Speaking at the 2025/2026 Graduation Ceremony of Mayode Schools, Lasunwon Estate, Ikorodu, on Friday, Isamotu said no child could attain his or her full potential without the active partnership of the home, the school and the child.
Delivering a guest lecture titled “The Home, the School, and the Child: A Winning Partnership,” he likened child development to a traditional three-legged African stool.
He further explained that the home, the school and the child are three indispensable pillars that must work together.
“Whenever one leg becomes weak, the entire structure becomes unstable,” he said. “Education is never a blame game. It is a partnership built on shared responsibility.”
Isamotu described the home as the child’s first classroom, stressing that parents remain the first teachers who shape character before formal education begins.
According to him, children learn honesty, discipline, compassion, responsibility and integrity primarily by observing the behaviour of their parents.
“Children may not always listen to what we say, but they never fail to watch what we do,” he said, urging parents to model the values they expect from their children.
He also emphasised the critical role of schools in refining children’s potential through structured learning, discipline and mentorship.
Paying tribute to teachers, Isamotu said every professional and leader first passed through the hands of a teacher, describing the profession as one of society’s noblest callings.
“Teachers may never build skyscrapers, but they shape the minds of those who do,” he noted.
Addressing the graduating students, Isamotu reminded them that success ultimately depends on the personal choices they make after leaving school.
He urged them to remain disciplined, embrace lifelong learning, choose friends wisely and protect their character above their reputation.
Drawing inspiration from the story of an eagle raised among chickens, he challenged the graduands not to allow their circumstances or environment to limit their ambitions.
“You were created not merely to exist, but to make a difference,” he said. “Your character will always speak louder than your certificates.”
The speaker also commended parents for the sacrifices they make to educate their children and encouraged them to remain actively involved in their children’s lives by becoming trusted counsellors and mentors as they grow older.
To teachers, he expressed gratitude for their enduring influence on generations of learners, urging them never to underestimate the significance of their profession despite its challenges.
As practical guidance for the graduating class, Isamotu outlined five principles for life: commit to lifelong learning, guard personal character, honour parents and teachers, choose friends wisely, and measure success by the positive impact made on the lives of others.
He congratulated the graduating Class of 2026 and encouraged them to pursue lives marked by integrity, humility, courage, compassion and service to humanity.
The Proprietor of Mayode Schools, Pastor Michael Odetoye, urged the graduating students to live what they have been taught and become good ambassadors of the school.
He stated that the outgoing students have all it takes to become great leaders and influence society positively.
Pastor Odetoye emphasized the importance of education in the life of any nation and described it as the bedrock of society. (vitalnewsngr.com)
