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Garlands as British Spring College Founder Marks Her Golden Jubilee Birthday

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By Chukwuemerie Anyene

The founder of British Spring College, Awka, Lady Uju Dike literally sent the schools staff and students into wild celebration on February 7, 2025 as she marked her golden Jubilee birthday.

In anticipated moment, staff and students of the institution, took to birthday party, days after, to share in the joy of such an accomplished woman.

The birthday party started with the majestic entrance of the great amazon, Lady Uju Dike into Sir Dr G.N. Iheaku Auditorium of the school. Dazzling in her golden black, she was led in by her entourage vests crested ‘Lady Uju Dike @50.’

Band beating, birthday songs came with trumpet, in burgeoning lyrics, for the woman of excellence, vision and compassion. A classy woman with a heart of gold! The entire school stood up for the celebrant, a trailblazer, path leader, and iconic caregiver who had taken education industry to the international realm Lady Uju Dike.

In his opening prayer, the Head of Springfield Academy, Mr Alex Eze, thanked, praised, glorified, honoured God, for the icon that he had placed in lifting the nation; saying it was by his mercies that the celebrant, Lady Uju Dike clocked 50 years.

“It is by keeping her alive that all of us are here today. So, we should thank God for his goodness upon her life and the life of her family.

Addressing the school community, the Principal of British Spring College, Mr K. Cent Obi, saw the event as a gathering of the erudite. The school centre administrator led the College to lots of online contents and whatsapp status of many people in the past two weeks, which confirmed Lady Uju Dike as a blessing to humanity, especially in education sector. His address reads in part.

“We’re here to celebrate a highly placed but a humble heart. A lady who doesn’t need anything from anyone yet she relates even with the lowly as if they were just the same, an approachable woman! Ordinarily, I know some places where you can’t see those who are at her level, even if they are in their offices.

“But you see these small ones (pointing at the students), every now and then, as long as they know that she is in her office, they rush in. And she listens to every details of their stories and attends to all of them. That is the lady we’re talking about today.

A woman who devoted her life just in service to humanity. To make the young ones over there and the ones we left behind at Onitsha happy. Someone who knows the names of even the newly admitted pupils and students. You can imagine that person: She is Lady Uju Dike.

Lady Uju Dike

“Ma’am, today is for dancing and eating but just know that the good Lord has blessed you. And he will continue to bless you because you are the Lady that if anybody works with you, he will have beautiful things to say about you.

“In fact, there’s no one I have seen that worked with you, left, without having beautiful things to say about you. It’s because you’re stainless, you’re a gold. Soar like the eagle you are,” he detailed.

Also speaking, the Head Boy of the school, Igbo Great, described the Director as incredible, saying the Director was a leader with the true heart.

Lady Dike Cutting her 50th Birthday cake

“British Spring College thrives with you. It is with joy and energy that we wish you endless heights, on this special day. You’re blessed with triumph, laughter and happy cheers. As you stand through every challenge, may your journey ahead be crowned with strength and joy, at your command, he recited.”

The Head Girl of the school, Nwojo Ezinne, and the Social Perfect, Ojimba Sophia, also took turns to portray the Director as a great charisma and epitome of beauty.
“You’re forever loved, Lady Obianuju, Ada Osina’ filled the air.

With that the artists comprising students and graduates of the school, took over the stage, in breaking touch, to dance with craft and creativity, in pink, black, and beautiful costume, for the leader of learning, Lady Uju Dike. Starring the audience was the popular Udeani Divine, of the Class of 2024, on golden yellow outfit.

Next was the cutting of the birthday cake, followed by toast. The guests stood up with confidence, raised and waved their glasses, and clinked it with people around them. They smiled and sipped the drink, for the iconic caregiver who had done a lot for humanity.

The event got to the climax with the presentation of gifts by staff of British Spring College, Awka, Springfield Academy, Onitsha, and the Class of 2025 on behalf of the students. Meanwhile, the Supervisor of Springfield Academy, Lady Joy Mbaegbu, who reminded and led the chorus that Springfield gave birth to British Spring College, as Lady Uju founded Springfield Academy before establishing British Spring College; declared that the Director was the leader of learning. On behalf of Springfield Academy, she took the Director, accompanied by mammoth crowd, out of the Auditorium, and brought her back again, to unveil their gift. It was wow! Their paintings and inscriptions include ‘Happy birthday, our boss!’ ‘Our boss @50,’ ‘Happy birthday, Ada Osina,’ ‘Happy birthday, Lady Uju Dike!’

The celebrant being led round the school

In her vote of thanks, the Director of Spring Group of Schools, overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, recounted how she up as her dad’s favourite, a shy little girl, to a golden age, with unprecedented and laudable achievements, across the globe. Recalling the happy memories and built friendship, the leader of the two learning institutions went down the memory lane on how her family dragged her into celebrating her Golden Jubilee in a historic way.

“Just like I told my family, apart from one birthday which I can’t even remember when it happened, I don’t think I have celebrated any other birthday in a big way. It has always been official matters.

“But when I was about to turn 50, my family asked me if I wanted to throw a big party, I told them no, I don’t want a big party. They all insisted, and I said okay, just family. And that was how I spent my birthday,” she recounted.

The school founder further narrated how she decided to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in the school, out of love, relationship and compassion she had for her students and staff.

“And I said, I want to do something with the staff and students but you surprised me today. It was just like yesterday. Look at me, look at small Obianuju, the shy one of the family, the fragile one according to my dad but I don’t see myself as fragile. Am I fragile? (Yes! The school community erupted with joy).

“Look at me. I want to thank God for where I am today. And let me tell you: There cannot be Lady Uju Dike without each and every one of you here. Yes, I was first a banker, working, doing my best. Nobody really knew me till Springfield Academy. And I tell you, when I say Springfield Academy, it’s not just about me. It’s about each and every one of you.

“Just like I heard you say. Let me use your sentence, Springfield gave birth to British Spring College. So, British Spring College came up. Still that small me, there cannot be Lady Uju Dike of British Spring College without the entire staff and students of British Spring College.

“‘Biko a na m asi unu dalu.’ Thank you so much for what you have done for me today.’ I can only describe this as genuine love. This is just pure love! Love! And I thank you. Honestly, when I saw the gift from British Spring College, I was like, in this economy? You didn’t have to do that. I thank you Mr K. Cent for what you did – you and your team. I am grateful.

“‘Ndi Springfield! Ndi nga nga juru aru.’ This your gift is too much. It’s too much! You see, I don’t know, your salary, your monthly salary, you should not have done this! I will return this to each and every one of you (No! Springfield staff insisted on Director collecting their gift). It’s too much! Okay, I accept the gift. I am grateful. Thank you for the love. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for understanding me. You know my heart. Thank you for loving me.

“Ndi British Spring College, thank you for loving me the way you do. I appreciate everyone of you. Thank you for what you have done for me. I am going to sleep like a baby.

“And to the entire students, I want to tell each and everyone of you that you are the reason I wake up smiling: I love you, I love you, thank you. Please, the party is just about to start. We’re going to dance, rok and give glory to God,” the Director appreciated.

Immediately after the Director’s speech, the event was heightened. It was a dance galore, as the mammoth crowd joined the super-rare personality on the stage.

Insightful, the five-hour-long historic birthday party featured quiz, amazing and humourous dramatic performances, and photoshoots.

The profile of the celebrant reads in full.

“Born on 7th February, 1975, into the family of Late Sir Dr Godson Nwosu Iheaku and Lady Esther Iheaku, Lady Uju Dike hails from Osina in Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo State; but later got married to Sir Chijioke Dike in a neighbouring Urualla community, in the same Local Government. The educationist, innovator, philanthropist, banker and marketer with overarching influence, was raised by her parents at Onitsha, her place of birth in Anambra State.

“By dint of hardwork, Lady Uju Dike started making strides in her studies, both within and outside Nigeria. She studied Banking and Finance at University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. The captain of industry had Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.

“Lady Uju Dike began her banking career at the age of 22, and had worked as a Marketer/Treasury Officer at Global Bank, now Access Bank. Other multinational companies she contributed to their growth were Standard Chartered Bank, now Stanbic IBTC; and All States Trust Bank, now Eco Bank. In 2005, Lady Uju Dike resigned from the banking sector to set up a primary school at Onitsha, branded Springfield Academy.

“Though a banker, the mother of four also met other home demands, which had led to the academic success of not just her children but also thousands of young people under her care.

“My greatest passion is seeing every child succeed. What method has worked for me, I also use to raise every child who has come in contact with me,” Lady Uju Dike said.

“The interest the professional had in child upbringing made her late mum advise her to go in that direction in her career. As a great teacher of repute, who gives priority to the safety and well-being of students, Lady Uju Dike, had attended a lot of training and conferences within and outside Nigeria. In 2011, the pioneer also founded British Spring College (renowned for academic excellence). The school is, today, an international brand in developing young minds infused with the power of innovation. The Director of British Spring College, Awka, and its primary school arm (Springfield Academy, Onitsha) invested a whole lot in education.

“Lady Uju Dike has won many laurels in recognition of her remarkable standard in knowledge impartation and effective school administration, educational growth, and building the lives of future leaders. In 2014, Lady Uju Dike’s Springfield bagged an Outstanding Private School Merit Award of the House of Representatives Committee on Education, in collaboration with Family Affairs Consultancy Services. The Educational Administrator was the 2017 recipient of Nigerian Society of Engineers’ Award of Excellence. In 2022, Lady Uju Dike was presented with an Education Ambassador Award by the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, in Anambra State.

“Being a devout Christian, St Augustine Anglican Church, F.H.E., 33 Women Ministry, also presented Recognition Award to Lady Uju Dike’s Spring Group of Schools for her special capital development. As part of giving back to the society, the Director created Lady Uju Scholarship for pupils at Springfield Academy, the primary school arm of British Spring College; and British Spring College Mathematics Competition for all pupils outside Springfield Academy, a scholarship scheme for pupils in Primary 5 and 6.

In addition to giving scholarship to pupils who stand out as the best, their teachers and the schools they attended were also rewarded with cash prizes, laptops, printers and photocopying machines. Lady Uju Dike’s British Spring College had also set high academic standard across the globe. Apart from running its internal competition called the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); the school has made feats in external competitions at state and/or federal and international levels. In 2024, Lady Uju Dike’s founded British Spring College, bagged the Chandelle Global Education Achievement Award, having emerged the best secondary school academic champion 2024, internationally. This was in addition to the Presidential Award of the Young Scientists of Nigeria, the Olympiad, the Cruxlearning Mathematics Contest Africa, the National Mathematics Competition, as well as the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

“Lady Uju Dike messianic roles are also felt in the lives of teachers and other workers, as she continues providing welfare services to over four hundred staff, under her payroll. Those who knew how Lady Uju Dike began this fascinating voyage in time and space, would marvel at the startling discovery about her progression. Her focus has been on building skills and creating a strong foundation for the future, in young people.

“Filled with necessary knowledge and strength to make things happen, Lady Uju Dike’s laudable achievements stand her out as light that shines on people’s life, turning their passion into a largely successful future. These inspirational urges have attracted huge wave attention in the worldwide era.

“Lady Uju Dike, a wonderful and gifted caregiver, holds the reins with assurance! Diligence, hardwork, humility and generosity have always been the basis of her personality.

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