•Founder, Dr. Mrs. BEAUTY OBODO
Dr Mrs Beauty Obodo is an Educationist. She is also an astute songwriter and a worship leader. She is one of the lead singers in the National Mass Choir of The Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Over the years, Beauty has led intense worship and praise both in her local church community and in several other altars of other denominations. Her love for worship has made her a regular feature in the monthly Holy Ghost Services, Annual Conventions and Holy Ghost Congresses of The Redeemed Christian Church of God.
She is also an Assistant Pastor by ordination in RCCG and she currently worships with RCCG Dominion Sanctuary Acme, Ikeja, Lagos State.
She is the Proprietress of Sagab College and Sagab Montessori Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
During the 17th Anniversary of the college, she spoke to City People about Sagab at 17.
Below are excerpts.
Can you introduce yourself please?
I am Dr Mrs Beauty Obodo. I am not a medical doctor(laugh). I am an Educationist with the following qualifications; B.Ed (Science) Biology-1989; M.Ed (Measurement and Evaluation) -1995 and Ph.D (Guidance and Counselling) -2006. I am an ordained Assistant Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God where I serve in the National Mass Choir as one of the lead singers by the grace of God. I am also a Music Artist and have several albums. I wrote and passed Preliminary, Grade 1, 2, 3 & 4 examinations in Theory of Music with Distinctions respectively from The Musical Society of Nigeria School of Music (MUSON). I am married to Prof John Ohaju-Obodo, a Professor of Medicine and University Lecturer. Our marriage is blessed with 3 sons.
How do you feel today?
I feel really grateful to God, I am just excited, I am happy, my joy is full, that we are able to do this for God today, I am really really happy.
What can you say about Sagab College at 17 and you are still standing well and strong? How did it start and how did you get here?
It’s a long story, the truth is that when God gives a vision, he will make provision available for the accomplishment of the vision. I never thought of starting a school, sincerely, it was not one of my ambition. Yes, I am an Educationist but from day one, it was not about starting a school, my aim was maybe running an NGO or something else but, somehow, I found myself here. I have been teaching all my life precisely for 35 years now.
THE LAST PLACE I WORKED AND THE DREAMS
The last place I worked before starting this school was Caleb Group of schools. I got into Caleb International College in 2000 when I just relocated from Edo State to Lagos State as the School Counselor. After 4 months, I became the Acting Principal of the College and when I clocked 1 year in the College, I was promoted to the Institute to head the place. I spent 4 years in Caleb Educational Institute as the Provost of the institute before I resigned my appointment to start Sagab College, Ikorodu in 2005. I was still in Caleb when I started having this dream that came very regularly. I kept seeing this little baby that I was expected to care for but I was not paying attention to the baby because of the workload I had in the dream. I knew I wasn’t planning to have more children and all my children were grown already so I kept wondering what the dream meant. On one of the occasions in the dream, I was in front of Caleb Educational Institute and had a lot of clothes to fold into a very big bag and the baby was playing just by me. He needed my attention but I planned to rush through to finish up the clothes and then attend to the child. As I kept folding these clothes, an invisible hand kept pushing more clothes out for me so it became difficult to finish up. I concentrated more on the clothes that I forgot the baby. When I raised up my head to look at the baby, he was no more by me, then I lifted up my head and saw the baby far away down the street, just where they fry akara, the baby was almost siting on the hot oil, so I screamed and shouted Jesus!!! suddenly I saw an invisible hand that put water in between the oil and the baby’s buttocks. The baby sat on the oil, there were burns on the buttocks but not as severe as it would have been if not for the invisible timely intervention.I carried the baby, there were blisters on the buttocks and I started crying in the dream and I cried out of my sleep. This gave me much concern cos I cried out of my sleep. I got so disturbed but didn’t understand the dream until one day during a program in my church I had a clue to the dream.
WHEN GOD SPOKE
As I said earlier, I am a member of RCCG and worship with Dominion Sanctuary Acme , Ikeja, Region 19 Headquarters. In our parish, the Good Women Fellowship called Ornament of Grace Sisters Fellowship usually holds this early morning prayer meeting on Saturdays with the theme ‘When Women Pray’, and at one of the prayer meetings, Pastor Debola Atoyebi shared the word and during her teaching, she kept saying ‘Laban Will Not Let You Go’ . I felt that she was talking to me, I was disturbed. During that period, I was rounding up my Ph.D program and at the same time I was the Provost of Caleb Educational Institute, I had resigned my appointment the first time cos I needed time to concentrate on my Ph.D but the CEO was so magnanimous. He gave me back my letter and permitted me to attend to my Ph.D freely but that I should ensure that the work went on smoothly. This was a big relief as I was able to attend all my classes etc. He then went further to increase my salary. I felt really appreciated. I loved my job and so I sacrificed to ensure I met the target always. God helped me always to break through new grounds. The Institute ran only OND with OOU when I was transferred there but by the grace of God, within the short period of my stay, we were able to increase the number of programs. We added NCE and IJMB A’Levels which led to increase in students population from the initial about 200 handed over to me to about 800. So as you can see, I loved my job and I had a good relationship with my boss. This was the reason I got bothered because I never planned to resign from my job. However, I heard God as Pastor Debola shared her message that morning but didn’t know how to go about it. I was afraid of leaving the known for the unknown. I then sought for counsel and present at that meeting that morning was Dr Mary Iyayi, the CEO of Cayley College then. I went to her and explained all my fears, my conviction and worries. She counseled me to wait on God for 7 days in fasting and that she will pray along with me. I did just what she said and I started getting more understanding as to how to proceed to the next level of my life. God spoke to me about the school precisely in March 2005, then the actual plan started on July 5th 2005 as I prayed. He showed me the colour of the school and told me to go to Ikorodu. Before this time I had only been to Ikorodu once so for me that was strange. I lived then at Ikeja and thought I should just have looked for accommodation in Ikeja but he said Ikorodu so I headed for Ikorodu. I asked a friend to help look for accommodation at Ikorodu while I was still praying. I was still with my job so I didn’t have that luxury of time for such. Then came the Annual Convention of the RCCG in August 2005. On one of the nights, as the program was on, I started glancing through the pages of the event booklet and my eyes met the logo, design, theme and the cone shaped emerald glassy photo. As if I was in a dialogue, I started hearing instructions, initially I thought I was just soliloquizing but it became clearer as it continued. He said, go to the Hebrew Dictionary and search for the word ‘Excellence’ and he said ‘that is the name of the school’. Then he asked me to turn the cone like emerald photo which had it’s broad base facing up to face down so that the narrow tip is at the top etc, then the eagle at the tip of the top of the cone. He said that is the logo of the school and went further to give me details as to the meaning of everything he has said to me. Don’t let me bore you with all that details. This was how Sagab was birthed. The word SAGAB is an Hebrew word for excellence.
THE SUPPORT I GOT FROM A FRIEND
I had a very close friend then Dcns Dupe Aguda whom I explained all I heard to and since we were together in the National Mass Choir of RCCG then and she was a fashion designer, she joined me to sketch out the design for the school uniform and she actually made the initial sets of uniforms for the school at the early years of the school. God bless you Dcns Dupe Aguda for your wonderful contribution to Sagab College.
LEAVING THE KNOWN FOR THE UNKNOWN
As soon as I was sure God wanted me to resign my appointment, I did just that in September 2005. Initially my director persuaded me not to leave cos in his words, ‘they have not found a replacement for me’ but I explained to him my conviction and I didn’t want to play games. He didn’t believe me thinking I got a better offer somewhere else, he even increased my salary immediately but I told him I was still leaving cos I needed to move on. We agreed I needed to groom someone to take over which I did for 3 months and I finally handed over in December 2005 and was sent forth officially on the 4th of January 2006. Leaving the known for the unknown was a very difficult decision to take but I had to and thank God he gave me the courage and grace to do it.
MY DIVINE APPOINTMENT AND INAUGURATION
My new office was an uncompleted building, poor ambience, we had only 1 student ( Temi Adenekan) to start with, then 2 and gradually 5. By the close of that Academic Session, the total population was 9 students. What a tough and rough beginning. Since the building was decked and incomplete, when it rains, our records would be wet so we pleaded with my first staff now Mrs Awoyemi Busola but Miss Oduola Busola then to help keep our records in her family house to which the family obliged us. Our first school fees was #12,500 which was not enough to run the school. My main financier then was my husband Prof John Ohaju-Obodo. I must confess to you that it wasn’t easy but I wasn’t discouraged because of the fact that I heard God. I was so sure I did not miss it so I spent more time praying for students to come and we engaged people with pasting of posters and handbills for publicity. We had an awareness walk with music round the community led by my younger brother Mr Deremon Onowhakpor to announce our presence. The official inauguration took place November 19th 2005. My church (RCCG) members believed in me and my vision so they graced the occasion with their presence. We had a full house that day ranging from Altar Ministers to both Parish, Zonal and National Mass Choir members and Some gave us financial support. A few persons came from my previous office. I really felt loved that day. We also had some community leaders at the ceremony. This was our first major outing. God was glorified.
MY INITIAL CAPITAL…
It would interest you to know that all the capital I had when I was about to start was the sum of five hundred thousand naira only (N500,000) which my husband was saving for me in Treasury Bills then. So when I told him what God laid in my heart, he said I should withdraw the money and use it for the purpose. I got that incomplete storey building on lease for 5 years, did some work in the front flat with some partitions just enough for what I needed for a start. I Interviewed my first set of staffs on 25th September, 2005 and employed 6 staffs for a start. I also joined in teaching some subjects since my first Degree is B.Ed (Science) Biology, I taught Integrated Science for a start. I also taught music because of my knowledge in Theory of Music from Muson. When we started having senior secondary school students, I taught Biology in addition. I stopped teaching as the school grew and I was able to employ more staffs, so I concentrated on Guidance and Counselling which was the course I studied at the Ph.D level. I am still the school Guidance Counselor till date. I enjoy doing this and feel so fulfilled when I see students especially the very difficult ones turning around for good. I’m so grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to impact these children for good.
On the 29th September 2005 we conducted our first entrance examination. Only 2 students turned up. These were the two we started with. The details as regards the history of the school can be found in the school’s prospectus. For every stage God has been present. I have depended on him solely and he has never let me down. I have constantly kept the vision in view and try as much as possible to sell it to everyone who steps on board to work with the school in any capacity. We increased from 2 students to 5 students and by the end of the first academic session, we had 9 students. By the end of the second academic session we have 25 students and by the end of the third year they became 75 till we got to where we are now all by the grace of God. Our students have been excelling in their performances. We have a lot of our products who have graduated from reputable higher institutions of learning, some are studying abroad and others are doing great in their various fields. In the work life, we have them doing very well. God have been helping us to uphold our name ‘Excellence’. The school was fully approved on 28th June, 2012 by Lagos State Ministry of Education with approval number MED/PESP/PS/003/945/257. It is a Day and Boarding Co- educational school.
THE BEGINNING AND INAUGURATION OF THE BOARDING SCHOOL
In 2012, we realized that we needed to start a boarding school because we had prospective parents who wanted their children in the boarding house. I was worried on how I would be able to run it but some of my staffs came together to encourage me to start but I felt I needed a very responsible person to look after the students that is a male care giver and a female care giver. One of my staffs who was just rounding up her Youth service year Mrs Nweke Evelyn formerly Miss Odagwe Evelyn volunteered to help out with managing the hostel. That gave me courage to start. At that time, we had some male Corpers who were rounding up their service year but wanted to be retained so they took over the care for the males while the lady took over the care for the females. So we got a new apartment close to the school and started the Boarding school from there. It wasn’t easy when we started but I will not bore you with that long story. Our first student in the hostel was a female by name Peace Chidiebere. The boarding school was officially opened during the Graduation Ceremony of 26th July 2012 by Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu. This was done after the unveiling of the prototype design and the foundation laying ceremony conducted by Pastor Ololade Salami. The hostel has grown within these years and we are glad we ventured into it. Board Members were also present at this ceremony.
THE AWARD FROM WAEC AND IT’S EFFECT
In 2015, the school had the 2nd Best Aggregate result in the May/June 2015 WASSCE in Lagos State and was awarded the Winner of WAEC Endowment Fund Prize Books. The ceremony took place on the 1st December 2016 at the Multipurpose Hall, WAEC International office, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos during the 54th Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee of West African Examinations Council. This was a great honour done the school as it brought attention and fame to the school generally bringing the school from the backside of the desert to limelight. These books also helped in furnishing the school library. Thanks to WAEC!
ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES AND THE LOANS
You wonder how we were able to acquire landed properties within the period. We are in 2 acres of land right now and all belong to the school. We didn’t acquire all at once, they came in bits and as God led us we obeyed. We have largely used facilities from the banks for capital projects. We take loans and when we resume school, the banks take their money. Though the interest rate is so high especially for the Microfinance Banks but what can one do? We have to go ahead with the risk and God has always helped us meet up with the target. He has covered our shame over and over again.
STAFF APPRECIATION
God has been helping us and my staffs are all happy working with me. By the grace of God we try not to owe salaries because no matter how little you pay your staffs, if it comes at the right time, it gives them confidence to work. God has blessed me with a set of wonderful and hard working staffs. From the 6 initial staffs, today we have a work force of 78 staffs excluding the contract staffs cos all our shuttle buses are on contract. initially we had school buses which grew from 1 to 6 but at some point we saw that we couldn’t break even with the transport system and the loses were just too much so we sold all the buses and decided to use contract drivers which is preferable than when we were using our own buses. We had peace and the loses reduced. All my staffs are worth celebrating cos they work with their heart. They put in their totality hence I celebrate them whenever I have the opportunity to. Today we are celebrating 2 of our staffs who clocked 15 years; Mrs Oyejide Ifeoluwa and Mrs Bamidele Medinat. Our first staff is 17 years today and she is still with us, she is Mrs Awoyemi Busola popularly called Sola. Every year we celebrate those who are outstanding in various assignments such as the most punctual, best in record keeping, value added, most resourceful etc.. We also celebrate 5 years, 10 years and 15 years in service. We celebrate their birthdays so everyone is happy. We are grateful to God for blessing us with wonderful teaching and non teaching staffs. Kudos to all my staffs.
DESTINY HELPERS
God has always raised helpers of destiny for the school since we started. People have always taken interest in us to want to support us with advice, prayers etc. I feel I should not tell this whole story without mentioning some of them. People like Mr Adepeju Akinyemi, Mrs Atinuke Ayeni, Pastor Bolaji Olayemi, Pastor Dipo Joseph, Pastor Chuks etc some were committed to praying for the school and praying with me whenever the need arises. Lately Pastor Simeon Adeyanju and his team joined the group of those who take it upon themselves to pray for us. Mr Ola Gbadebo helped with the initial WAEC approval process and other assistance which can never be forgotten. God bless Mr Ola.
THE VISIT
OF MUMMY G.O
I remember when we were preparing for the dedication of the first school building and my 1st food vendors ( Iya Dotun as she is fondly called) suggested Mummy G.O Pastor Folu Adeboye, I felt that was a height I could not reach. She said something which I learnt from and will never forget all my life. In her words ‘ try ma, if she is not available she will only say no and then you can go for another ‘ hummmm! So I tried as she suggested and surprisingly Mummy G.O came herself. She didn’t send a representative. I am eternally grateful to Mummy for that visit because she brought with her the glory of God that set us apart forever. Mummy G.O also counseled that day she came that I should make enquiry about the land behind the building and purchase it if it had not been purchased. That was what gave me courage to go ahead and today we own the 5 plots behind the main school building. Thank you Mummy G.O!
SUPPORT FROM SENIOR PASTORS
Other very Senior Pastors in RCCG who have graced our occasions with their presence and prayed for us on site; Some conducted the foundation laying ceremonies at one time or the other include; Pastor CAF Obasa, Pastor Ololade Salami, Pastor Segun Osusan, Pastor Wale Atomori, Pastor Noruwa Edokpolor, Pastor Rebecca Adeyemi (Mummy Mate), Daddy Kuo, Pastor Arc.Bimbo Ogunbiyi, Pastor Mrs Ifueko Thomas, Pastor Kole Oluwajana, Pastor Mummy Oluwole, Mr Fola Aguda, Pastor Ifeoma Menekaya, Pastor and Pastor Mrs Airuoyo, Pastor and Pastor Mrs Akintemi to mention but a few.
SUPPORT FROM FAMILY MEMBERS
My family members are not left out here in the list of the support team. My Aunt, Dcns Agnes Ofugara, my Elder Brother, Prince Randy-Babor Erumagborie, my In-Law Honorable Eugene Inoaghan, my younger siblings Mr Garry Erumagborie, Barr. Greg Erumagborie, Mr Deremon Onowhakpor and my very own biological mother Her Royal Highness, Mrs Victoria Erumagborie have made out time to come celebrate with us. Most of them were present at that dedication ceremony. I sincerely appreciate all of you my blood. You know how it feels to have your family support what you are doing, the courage to go on is always very high.
SUPPORT FROM THE CHOIR DEPARTMENT
I am a music artist and I belong to the National Mass Choir of RCCG. By the grace of God I am one of the lead singers there as I said earlier. Do you know that one of the men of God who have supported me most in this project is our Intercontinental Music Director Pastor Kunle Ajayi? I cannot quantify his support here. He was present when I started and was present during the dedication also. He was my link to Mummy G.O and Senator Oluremi Tinubu. All I can say is that God will continue to bless him for believing in me. I am very grateful sir. Others from the choir department who have supported and graced our ceremonies include Pastor Bisi Ojedokun, Pastor Mummy Adeleye, Sister Mercy and a host of endless list. My zonal/parish choir have been so awesome, the list will be too long if I start. All of you have been so wonderful. You are simply the best! God bless you all especially Tehilla choir of RCCG Dominion sanctuary Acme, Ikeja Lagos.
SUPPORT FROM POLITICALLY PLACED PERSONALITIES
Some politically highly placed personalities have also graced our ceremonies with their presence. These include His Excellency and Her Excellency Prince and Princess Abiodun Ogunleye, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Bar. Bankole Oluwajana to mention but a few.
SUPPORT FROM SOLOMADE COMMUNITY
The community where we operate is not left out. Our most revered Baba Adini Alhaji Aliu Shotomide of blessed memory was of immense support to the school beyond his gracing our occasions in person. He was also at the dedication ceremony at the age of 100 years. He was instrumental to the purchase of the landed properties. Though a Muslim, he had no religious prejudice. Baba treated me like his daughter. He spoke for me any day and any time. He refused the actions of omoniles over me. He defended me and insisted I should build my personal house in the community and live with them cos they wanted me around he said. He was just an enigma. Rest in peace Baba! We wouldn’t have met Baba Adini but for Alhaji Bawa Allah who recommended us to him. Alhajia Bawa Allah was also present at the dedication ceremony and we thought to say a thank you so we visited. That was how the connection started and we also had the opportunity of meeting the late High Chief Solomade severally. They all gave us their support hence we can operate freely in the community. We also decided to give the children of the Solomade Royal Families Scholarship in turns in our college. This is one of the ways we have decided to support the community in return.
SUPPORT FROM THE PTA
I also want to celebrate the PTA of the school. They have been wonderful. We have had various executives and their tenures were well handled. Our first PTA Chairman was Engr. Alex Nwaguma, the 2nd was Pastor Nyah Samson, the 3rd was Engr. Pastor Sola Adeyeye and the current one is Pastor Kayode Akintunde and the current Exco members include Mrs Oluwadamilare Olubusola (Vice), Mr Adebayo Samson, Mrs Badru Oloruntoyin, Mrs Ajayi Christian etc
SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
The school also has a very functional Board of Governors which includes Prof J.O. Obodo (Chairman), Mrs Betty Igbeyi (Vice), Prince Randy-Babor Erumagborie, Dr. Nnamdi. C. Menakaya, Bar. Bankole Oluwajana, Hon. Inoaghan Eugene, Engr. Aiwize Aiyowieren. I appreciate your great contributions and support in cash and kind. Thanks!
THE IMPACT OF THE WORD OF GOD
Ps 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. The impact of the word of God on the growth of the school cannot be over emphasized. There are men of God whom though they haven’t been to Sagab but their prayers and the spoken word from the altar have done tremendous work in Sagab. These include my father in the Lord, Daddy G.O Pastor E.A Adeboye, Daddy Mate Pastor Adeyemi, Pastor Femi Atoyebi SAN, Pastor Brown and Helen Oyitso to mention but a few.
SUPPORT FROM MY HOME
In conclusion, a woman without a backbone will crumble like a pack of cards. My husband is my backbone, my crown of glory, my pillar set by God to shield me. I am able to come this far because he has always been there to reason it out with me, to caution me when I am taking a wrong step. He is solidly behind me and I want to use this medium to appreciate him. God bless you Prof John Ohaju-Obodo for being there all through the years. A shout out to my young men, wonderful sons. God bless you all.
THE ALMIGHTY HAND
Our God is a perfect God, awesome in majesty, incomparable, undeniably great. He sets up one and brings down another Ps:75:7. A man can receive nothing except it be given him from above Jn:3:27. I am who I am by the grace of God and his grace upon has not been in vain 1 Cor: 15:10. We are immensely grateful to the Almighty God for the privilege and opportunity to impact our generation and contribute to education of our society at large. Our best is yet to come 1 Cor: 2:9.
THANK YOU JESUS!!!
WHY WE ADOPTED MONTESSORI METHOD
The Montessori school here is a Nursery and Primary School.
Montessori is an Educational philosophy that can be applied to children of any age. It is a child-centred approach to teaching and learning developed by Dr Maria Montessori, an Italian physician. It is an approach which engages the children. They work independently and in groups with specially designed learning materials.
I fell in love with the method so I desired it long before I started my own. Though we are not there yet, we are working very hard to get there. A place where we have all of the materials we need for the children to explore and drive their own learning. With what we have now, we are doing our best. The teachers and the Head of School (Mrs Adio Funmilayo) are doing very well. The support staffs are also doing very well. We believe that very soon we will stand out in Jesus name Amen.Our children are doing very well in external exams. At the 2022 National Common Entrance Examination one of our pupils scored 194 /210 which is 92.3% . That was outstanding in Nigeria because the highest was from Sokoto and scored 201/210. We are very pleased and grateful to God. We hope to do better next time.
Our Montessori School is 7 years today and we are grateful to God. We didn’t start like the college. I got worried when I saw the performances of some of the children who came for entrance into the college. Some were unable to read at Primary 6. I felt I could do something about this and some of the college parents spoke to me about the convenience with having all children in the same school and the last push came from the students. They engaged me seriously during counseling classes which I handle in the school. Those students were very convincing in their argument. Don’t let me bore with all that. So we started and here we are by the grace of God 7 years today. To God alone be all the GLORY!!!
