The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, was on Friday honoured with the “Beacon of Education Award” by Beautiful Beginning Academy in recognition of her contributions to educational excellence and youth development.
The award, presented at Nile University, followed the Academy’s disclosure that the NUJ FCT under Ike’s leadership played a key role in its pupils’ success at a national media quiz competition, in which the school went on to win.
Presenting the award, the Academy’s Proprietor and Managing Director, Dr. Mrs. Rosemary Nasa Okolie, described Comrade Ike as a leader whose quiet acts of generosity have changed the lives of many children without seeking public recognition.
She recalled reaching out to Ike just two weeks before the competition and immediately finding a committed partner, who ensured the pupils received welfare support, gifts and logistics throughout the contest.
“She came in and changed the narrative. There is nothing I can give her that equals what she has done for these children,” Okolie said, adding that the intervention contributed significantly to the school’s emergence as the overall winner.
An emotional Ike, who said she had not been informed she would receive the honour, described the award as both a surprise and a renewed call to service. She dedicated the recognition to Ms. Adaeze Tochukwu Taha Okeke, a special-needs student whose personal story deeply moved her during the graduation ceremony.
“I dedicate this award to Adaeze,” Ike said, pledging to use her platform and influence to advocate for children living with special needs. “I will amplify their voices, tell their stories and continue to use journalism to draw attention to their needs so society can better support them.”
She also commended Adaeze’s family for their unwavering commitment, promising that their story would continue to inspire advocacy for inclusion and equal opportunities.
The presentation of the “Beacon of Education Award” drew a standing ovation from guests and became one of the defining moments of the 2026 Beautiful Beginning Academy graduation ceremony.
