What’s in a Name? – 5th Annual Convention
The affinity one has for any institutions depends on names and values those names represent. The power of a name and its value has long been immortalized in prose, poetry, and religious ceremony. As everyone recognizes himself or herself by name, so do associations, clubs, and institutions. Therefore, Notre Dame an educational institution was no exception. The motto “Sapientia per Scientiam (Wisdom through Knowledge) serves as the imperious values to all students and teachers.
Notre Dame (Our Lady) Grammar school originated from the perspective of Mary the blessed mother of Jesus Christ born of immaculate conception. The spiritual connotation of that implies that products coming out of such an institution must be perfect and second to none. That was the branding that made the school ostentatiously one of the best not only in the then Usi Ekiti diocese but all over Nigeria. The students differentiated themselves in academics as well as sports. All those accolades were due to hard work, perseverance, and commitment to succeed. Evidently, the attributes of hardworking, commitment, and perseverance stay with all those privileged to attend Notre Dame Grammar School popularly called NODACO! In a vibrant originality, grammar schools in British contexts from which Nigeria got her independence meant pupils were admitted on the basis of ability. The joy and pride of students admitted into such institutions had no bound. The rigors of studies with ultimate mastery of mathematics, linguistics, and literary concepts made the schools exactly like a college, no wonder our alma mater was known and named Notre Dame College (NODACO).
Every civilization agreed to the mounting evidence that a name can influence everything from your school grades and career choice to who you marry and where you live. Someone named Jacqueline or Steven will generally fare better in life than Latrina or Butch, say researchers, who also pointed to a phenomenon whereby the world’s fastest man is called Bolt, a TV weather forecaster Sarah Blizzard, and the local librarian Mrs Storey. Your name can influence the assumptions that other people make about your character and background, and thus the chances you are given in life,” says Richard Wiseman — a case in point, he’s a professor of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. It can also be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. If your name sounds intelligent, successful and attractive, you are more likely to act those things. A flurry of studies in recent years have examined names as predictors of success. Therefore, the names we associated with do have influence, hence Notre Dame Grammar School with a motto of wisdom through knowledge continues to produce knowledgeable individuals making significant impact in private and public arenas all over the world.
Religiously, name matters, “Hallowed be your name” is what Jesus Christ taught His disciples to say in prayer (Matt. 6:9). It expresses a desire that the Father will be revered and praised and spoken about in a manner that befits His resplendent glory and dignity. After hearing God speak and seeing a bush on fire with no apparent sign of being burned up, Moses asked, “What is your name?” In reply, God first said, “I am who I am” (or “I will be what I will be”), then shortened it to “I am,” then to “the Lord”. Thus, God shows himself as the One who exists, eternally and without change, who is utterly trustworthy and dependable.
It’s worth giving honor to the deserving, therefore Notre Dame Grammar school the seat of wisdom deserves the honor and adoration for the knowledge and religious indoctrination impacted on all alumni. Perhaps without the name and what it represents many will not be what they are today. Individual talents honed by this spectacular institution should be used for the growth and upliftment of the citadel of knowledge that has given us much hope and life skills. NODACO was the name, and the preservation of this name rests squarely on all alumni.
Through the name and values the institution has produced leaders of reputable inclinations. The intangible combination of gifts, discipline, information, circumstance, courage, timing, will, and divine inspiration can produce and enhance the branding required to make Notre Dame the best not only in Nigeria but the whole continent of Africa. There is proper season for everything under the sun. A time to sow and a time to reap, a time to compete, and a time to cooperate, a time to receive, and a time to give. Apparently, all alumni have received knowledge and wisdom, this is a time to give something of value to our alma mater on whose name we built the foundation of our lives. UP NODACO!
Dr. Pius Omolewa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor University of Phoenix
Northern California, USA.
