Behind every lesson, every smile, and every success story at Risidale Primary are our dedicated teachers — the true heartbeat of our school. Without their passion, patience, and commitment, the classrooms would be just empty spaces. We’re excited to share a few personal insights about three of our incredible educators who inspire, guide, and nurture our learners every single day.
Mr Uhunoma Ogbeifun, BSc, MSc, PGDBM, PGCE
Mr. Ogbeifun is well-educated by the school of life as well as the highly esteemed Northwest University. He is an Author, Educator, Lecturer, Leadership Coach, Leadership Trainer, Group Coach, and Motivational Speaker.
He has writtten books, both motivational and academic, including several best-sellers on Amazon.com.
- Non-Academic (Motivational Books)
- Your Potential Makes You Essential
- What You Tolerate, You Cannot Terminate
- Wisdom – Man’s Greatest Potential
- Your Vision Determines Your Association
- Cost of Deprivation
- Love Is Not Enough
- Victory Is Not a Product of Right, but a Product of Fight (and many more, just to mention a few)
- Don’t Make Friends, Only Have Strategic Relationships
Academic
- The Differential Geometry of the Fibres of an Almost Contact Metric Submersion
- Maximal Non-Traceable Graphs
- The Search for a Sustainable Competitive Advantage (A Stakeholder’s Management Perspective)
An extract from one of his Non-Academic (Motivational) books:
“When a man is not well informed, he will be deformed; when he is deformed, he cannot perform. Information is the vital key for transformation.”
The tragedy of September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Centre was brought down by terrorist-hijacked planes, remains evergreen not only in the USA but all over the world. In Nigeria, the Sosoliso plane crash of 2005 could as well go down as the worst tragedy in the lives of some people in Nigeria. As terrible as these tragedies are, none compare to the tragedy of a man without vision (potential).
To every challenge in life, there is hope for change, but to the man without vision, no hope exists.
Mr. Ogbeifun has taught Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Physical Sciences at all levels for the past twenty-six (26) years. He started his teaching career at the Early Child Development (ECD) stage and progressed through all other stages up to the senior, Further Education and Training Stage, and the University.
His vast experience in the teaching profession has made all his students fall in love with his teaching methodology. Hence, he has produced graduates in the medical field, engineering, accounting, teaching, and many others, just to mention a few. He has acquired essential skills in systematic research, analytical thinking, and information evaluation.
In his master’s degree, he was the only student in his department who won the Excellent Master’s Thesis award. During his studies, he gained a deeper appreciation of the investment framework in the EU (European Union). Mr. Ogbeifun has enjoyed academic freedom and active pluralism. He attended several management courses, which broadened his view of management accounting and management techniques.
Mr. Ogbeifun has won many teaching and non-teaching awards, including:
- Best Lecturer of Statistics/Mathematics (University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria) – 2003
- Best Student Co-Ordinator of the Year – 2005
- Best Dressed Lecturer (2001 to date, 2025)
- Northwest University Doctoral Scholarship Award Winner – 2017
- Dean’s Award Winner – 2018
- Amazon Best Seller – 2024 (Your Potential Makes You Essential)
He set up the Transaction Security Department, responsible for information security, compliance, risk management, fraud, and internal control (Nigeria Army).
He developed several policies and procedures in information and transaction security, audit, and fraud, for which management specially commended him. He was also in charge of key management, hardware security module, and PKI implementation.
He conducted a successful information security risk assessment using the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework for assessing risk.
He played a major role (including project management) in the implementation of the Army Electronic Payment Systems, which is now operational. The project is the backbone of the Army’s operations.
He successfully investigated two cases involving fraud and negligence, the recommendations of which were implemented. He also conducted the first internal audit of the Army.
Mrs Claasen
Mrs. Claasen is a dedicated and passionate educator who has been an integral part of the Risidale Primary School community for nearly nine years. Throughout her teaching career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering a positive and engaging learning environment for her learners.
Her approach to education is rooted in practicality and interaction—she firmly believes that children learn best when they are actively involved and having fun. Her lessons are often filled with creative activities, hands-on experiences, and lively discussions that make learning both meaningful and memorable for her Grade 3 class.
Beyond her classroom, Mrs. Claassen’s warmth and compassion shine through in everything she does. Known for her tender heart, she is an active member of the school’s staffroom care committee, where she contributes her time and energy to supporting colleagues and promoting a spirit of kindness within the school Community. Her nurturing nature and genuine care for others have made her a respected and much-loved member of the Risidale team.
Mrs. Claasen deeply values her family and draws inspiration from the joy and balance they bring to her life. In her free time, she enjoys exploring her creative side through photography, capturing the beauty of everyday moments, and immersing herself in a good book.
Her love for learning and her enthusiasm for life are qualities that she passes on to her students daily, inspiring them not only to grow academically but also to develop a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.
Through her dedication, compassion, and creativity, Mrs. Claasen continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of her learners and the wider school community.
Mrs Sharon Niemand
I was asked to write an article about myself and my teaching career at Risidale Primary School. This in itself has been a challenge as I prefer speaking to writing; writing a paragraph or essay at high school and college was a pure nightmare.
Here goes! My name is Sharon Rose Niemand. I am 64 years old and turn 65 in April 2026; you have guessed it… retirement is looming. My mind says no, but my body says maybe. I started teaching at Risidale Primary in January 2013. I taught Grade 6 Afrikaans and, though I love the language, the children did not. A new teacher and a challenging subject for most children made for an interesting year. At the end of 2013, the Grade 5 Mathematics teacher was leaving, and I went to Ms. Kasperson and eagerly requested that I teach Mathematics the following year. A firm yes was given, and I have had the privilege of teaching Grade 5 Mathematics ever since. My goal being that the children should not be fearful of the subject, but only do their best.
There is so much more to being “just a teacher with a half-day job!” We become a parent, a nurse, a coach, a counsellor, a confidant, a referee, and so much more. I have loved and still do love teaching your children. They, in turn, have taught me so much too.
May our children always be passionate about learning and growing, for knowledge is indeed power!
