St. Bernadette Nursery/Primary School, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, recently rolled out drums to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the school.

The anniversary thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo, with the Director of Education, Rev. Fr. Patrick Oke, Dean of Ss. Anne and Joachim, Ibara Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Eric Olatunji, concelebrating.

Other Priests at the thanksgiving Mass included Parish Priest of St. Anne Catholic Church, Ibara, Rev. Fr. Paul Ijileke   Administrator, Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta, Rev. Fr. Peter Ogiator,

In his remark, Bishop Odetoyinbo commended the management and staff of the school for sustaining the legacies of the founder of the school (Mother Dunstan O'Driscoll, OLA).

He noted that the school has produced many great people that have contributed to the socio-economic development of Nigeria and the world at large.

In her welcome address, the Head Teacher of the School, Rev. Sr. Mary Ede commended the efforts of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) sisters, especially the founder of the school and all who have worked in the institution in the past 70 years. 
Mother Dunstan's contribution to the development of education in Egbaland bagged her chieftains’ title of "Iya-ewe" of Egbaland (Mother of Children). The school started in 1944 as a convent school, and in 1954 it moved to Ibara as St. Bernadette School with only forty five pupils and three members of staff, but today it has grown to over a thousand population, with a staff strength of over ninety (teaching and non-teaching.

Mother Dunstan collaborated with other dedicated men and women, as well as with the support of the OLA Sisters working in Sacred Heart Hospital, Abeokuta brought the school to an enviable height.
The school has exhibited high academic standards, participated in JETS, mathematics, arts, and several other competitions and emerged as a winner.

St. Bernadette Primary School has, over the past seventy years, been graced with dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to maintain the high educational standard of the school, academically, morally, and physically.