Our Lady of Apostles Girls' College
Akwanga, Nasarawa State of Nigera — Our Lady of Apostles Girls’ College (OLA) is an all-girls boarding school belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Lafia in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The school started in 1955 as a teacher training college. During the era of government “take over” of schools, OLA was equally taken. Eventually in 2004, the school was returned to the Catholic Diocese of Lafia. At that time Bishop Matthew Ishaya Audu now the Archbishop of Jos Archdiocese invited the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) to administer the school. The Sisters responded to this invitation in 2007. Since then, School Sisters of Notre Dame have ministered at OLA as principals, counselors and teachers.
For SSND, education means enabling persons to reach the fullness of their potential as individuals directing their gifts towards building the earth. Sisters continue to empower the staff and people around us by sending them to workshops for skills acquisition and sharing responsibilities with them.
Sisters do not only believe in the academic development of the students, they equally emphasize character formation. This is why every year during the graduation of the senior secondary students; we crown the ‘OLA Queen’ with two others who have demonstrated good behavior from the second year students. Many parents are appreciative of the formation their daughters receive from the administration and staff of the school. Past students of the school are doing very well in various universities and society. They visit from time to time and talk to the students as their younger sisters.
As a school community, we strive to work together building team spirit among ourselves and having a good relationship with the students, parents, the parish, as well as our surrounding community. We also strive to provide spiritual enrichment for our students. Each year some students receive the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
We are enriched by the people through their faith, hope, and love as we equally strive to make Christ visible by our very being.