By Adaeze Atueyi-Ojukwu
Over the last few days, only few events have grabbed more headlines more than the unexpected demise of Mrs. Sheila Solarin, famous educationist and widow of the late Dr. Tai Solarin, foremost human rights activist, and founder of the Mayflower Schools, Ikenne, Ogun State. The news took a prominent position in the Nigerian media. Mrs. Solarin, a Briton, who was known for her immense contribution to the country’s education sector, passed on, last Sunday, leaving behind a huge community of mourners and sympathizers who have continued to spill emotions in flowing quantities.
She was aged 88. Until her passage last week, the grandmother was bubbling with life and beaming with passion for what she had been known for – imparting knowledge on younger generations of Nigerians. The famous Mayflower Schools, one of the most respected secondary schools in Africa, are a landmark educational group that would continue to testify to the late principal’s priceless contributions to national development as far as molding and nurturing individuals is concerned.
Having invested several decades in developing and mentoring many young minds, the octogenarian bowed to the ultimate call following injuries sustained from a minor domestic accident. She was reported to have fallen off a chair while at the family home in Ikenne, Ogun State and never came out of the pains and trauma alive. Corin, the first of Sheila’s two children, recalled to the paper circumstances leading to her mother’s death. She said that the ordeal started on Sunday, July 15, when her mother slipped and sustained a broken leg and was subsequently admitted at the Babcock University Medical Facility. “She was already recuperating when on Sunday, October 21st, she became very animated and said she wanted to join her senior brother, Uncle Bill, who passed on last year,” Corin recalled.
“She was also saying that she wanted to see Tai, late papa. She was singing, “Will your anchor hold”. We were singing and talking with her when she passed on. “We would miss her charity, patience and love for people. She was a wonderful woman, highly intelligent, very modest and an ideal mother. She was an action woman. Apart from taking her regular classes, she taught English, she also taught non-literate adults to read and write even up to a few weeks before her demise.
She worked till the end of her life and I feel honoured to be one of her children.” Describing his mother’s situation, about half an hour before her passage, Tunde, the last child of the family, said she was feverish and was trying to speak. “She was connected to a heart-monitor machine,” he reveals. “The doctors at the Babcock Hospital did their utmost best but the age at which she sustained the leg injury did not help matters.” In spite of the huge setback, Tunde is proud that his mother’s life has been, and would continue to be a positive influence to all. He was full of thanks to old students of Mayflower and, indeed, everyone who had spared some thought for the family. Otunba Tiwalade Sobo, a son-in-law of the legendary educationist/teacher, could not hold back his feelings.
He had good words for the departed, insisting that she lived a good life. “Mama has been a blessing to humanity,” said Sobo. “She has lived a successful life. She died without any problem. We all know that Mayflower School is one of the first schools in Nigeria, having been established in 1956. Her husband came all the way from England to establish the school. Mayflower has trained thousands of Nigerians doctors, lawyers, ministers and others. Most of those she trained still call her mama even in death.” Continuing, he said, “ I would miss a lot about her.
She is somebody that we love so much and we are going to miss everything about her. She advises us on how our kids should go to school and also advices the kids on the kind of education they should pursue. At the end of the day when they go to different universities and take mama’s advice, they excel. I don’t think in the next five years we would be able to see somebody like her to give us that kind of advice and the way she stood by us. If I come back to this world again, I would take her to be my mother-in-law,” he said. It is not only the Solarins that have been ruing the loss of their daughter, individuals from all walks of life have also shared in their pains, too.
Traditional ruler of Ikene town, Oba Adeyinka Onakade Moruwafu 1, the Alekenne of Ikene, described the late Sheila Solarin as a valuable treasure that would be missed. “The educational activities of mama are immeasurable,” he said in an interview with our reporter in his palace on Tuesday. “It was she and her husband who brought light to Ikene community. The adage is that “ knowledge is light”, they brought us knowledge and the light has been shinning so brilliantly ever since.” He states further that mama won’t be forgotten especially for her roles and encouragement to the people. “We won’t forget her forever in this town because the role she played is very valuable to our community. We have lost a very important educationist in Ikene town and we mourn her death and we pray that after her death the community would not go into darkness.”
The principals, teachers and students of Mayflower schools were not also left out. They had heartwarming words for their departed heroine. Many of them told the reporter that the influence she had on their lives was indescribable. To them, she was not just a leader but also a mother who made each person’s welfare her priority. Olarewaju Ola, Principal of Mayflower Senior Private School, said this of the departed Solarin. “I always take her as God personified. This is because she has always demonstrated unalloyed love to everybody, regardless of the race, creed or where you come from. “Her love for educating people is immeasurable.
All her life, she was not thinking of anything but how to educate others. She made sure that things are done in the right way, showing compassion for every student particularly the girl child. She has always said that no girl must remain uneducated. She was a firm believer in the maxim that ‘if you educate a girl, you are educating a nation.’ She would always ensure that the girls are always around to tap from her wealth of experience and knowledge. She would always do her best to put them aright, correct them when they go wrong and she was quick to forgive. She does not keep malice. She does not believe in witches or wizards. “Mama believed in leading a pious life.
She believed that living a life of purity is great gain. She had no time for malice. She nursed no ill feeling against anybody. When anybody does anything wrong, she forgives, forgets and forges ahead. She believed strictly in doing things meticulously. If she gives you an assignment, she wants you to be meticulous about it because that is what she would do. “Sometimes ago, she won the price of N2 million for taking part in the who wants to be a millionaire game show.
She donated the money to the school to buy science equipment and materials. She wanted the students to have a good science lab. And to ensure that the money is spent judiciously and on what it is meant for, she created a special account for it, of which I was a signatory. She ensured the money did not go to any other thing than she dedicated it to. All her life, she always thought of how to educate the students. In his tribute, David Akinnuga, Principal Mayflower Senior Public School, observed that the late Sheila was an embodiment of humility.
“The late Sheila was an embodiment of humility, hard work, discipline and humanitarianism,” he says. “While she was here, she stood behind her husband like a rock. She was hardworking and, therefore, made the first principal of Ikene High School. She helped students who did not have enough money to further their studies. She was a truthful person; she was someone who likes neatness. If she is around, and sees a piece of paper on the ground she would tell the closest person to pick it up, or she would personally pick it up; and I imbibed that from her.
We would miss her around here, because while she was here, it looked like she was a guiding angel for the school.” Kweku Attah Kakra, vice principal of the Mayflower Private School said the grand old woman was not only interested in graduating students, she was more concerned in training people who would leave secondary school and be ready for the labour market. Kweku, a Ghanaian who has worked with mama for 25 years, says it would be almost impossible for anyone to fill her shoes. “I think it would be difficult to fit into mama’s shoes,” he continues. “She produced students who, after passing out of secondary school, are prepared to go out there and work. She taught them extra things, not just classroom work.
Students would come out knowing how to bake bread, how to do a little bit of plumbing and electrical work. While other schools are only concerned about education, she was concerned about life in and life after school.” Olumide David Odukoya, a mathematics teacher testifies that mama was interested in the welfare of teachers, helping children from poor background and ensuring that children are educated properly. “She cares a lot for our welfare,” Odukoya says. “Formerly the staffs had the privilege of having free their breakfast, lunch and supper. There was also free accommodation for staffs. We did not pay for it.
“She was interested in helping children from poor background. During the civil war, I was a student at that time and the late Tai Solarin would go to the Biafran area to bring children to the school for free education. He even went as far as South Africa to bring some unprivileged children to learn. “It is very difficult for me to describe her; she is an epitome of womanhood. She is ready to give assistance especially where necessary and she would not mind whatever cost it would be.” The reporter also engaged scores of the students of Mayflower during the visit. Many of them fought back tears as they reminisced on the life and times of the late Sheila.
They could not muster enough courage to describe, in the past tense, a woman they had grown to love and who loved them back. Oke Oyetade, a Senior Secondary 3 student, fought tears as she paid tribute to the late Solarin. “She was a good woman,” she says. “She was always advising us. She would tell us not to look down on ourselves. She encouraged us to unite. Whether you are rich or poor, she always advised that we stick together as one.” Saka Folorunsho, another student who had experienced the 88-year-old in recent time, just before her death, holds fond memories of her as well. He disclosed to the paper that mama taught him how to be excellent in writing and helped him become a good public speaker as well. “Madam Sheila was a woman of courage,” the student testifies. “She was somebody that was always willing to help and was ready to give whatever she had into education. I will miss her. She has impacted on my academics more than any person I know.”
President Goodluck Jonathan, in a condolence message, recognized the great contributions of Solarin to the education sector in the country, describing her demise as a huge loss for the country. “Her remarkably long period in running the popular Mayflower School, Ikenne, and teaching English in that school made her to leave an indelible impact on generations of students who, today, occupy prominent positions in all sectors of the Nigerian society. A great soul, highly respected mother, peacemaker and community worker, I commend her courage and patriotism in making Nigeria her permanent home before and after the death of her husband. Her decision to carry on with the legacy of her late husband, even up to a very advanced age, speaks a lot about her indomitable spirit and a great lesson for others to emulate.”
The newly re-elected Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, stands on the same podium with Jonathan. He admits that the loss of the gem would, indeed, be felt in the area of education. His words: “A great loss to the nation in general and the educational sector in particular, no doubt, Sheila had left a vacuum that may be difficult to fill in education sector. “An educationist par excellence, she was a rare talent, whose experience of two diverse cultures made her unique and rich in terms of knowledge that many benefited from.” Born in Carnforth, England, on May 31, 1924, Sheila, popularly called ‘Madam’, attended Levens School, Westmorland Upper Primary School, Shropshire, England; and Higher Wych Primary School, Denbighshire in Wales for her primary education before proceeding to Whitchurch Girls High School, Shropshire,
England, for her secondary education where she obtained her secondary school certificate and higher school certificate between 1940 and 1941 respectively. She studied as a medical auxiliary between 1945 and 1946 before moving to Manchester University where she graduated in July 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts honours in English. She also went to Ontario Institute of Education, Toronto, Canada for her Master’s degree in Education in 1975. Even though she had enjoyed a sparkling career in the years preceding that time, it was after she ventured into full-time teaching with her husband, Augustus Taiwo “Tai” Solarin, a renowned educator and author in 1952, that she had her life transformed.
She joined him to work at the famous Molusi College in Ijebu Igbo and left in September 1955 to assume office as the Principal of Ijebu Igbo Girl’s School where she was until 1956 when she and her husband established Mayflower School. Since that time, the school has gone on to produce many prominent and exceptional individuals who have emerged as leading figures in the country and the world today. Solarin was the author of the book, English Grammar and Comprehension, which was first published in 1982 by Macmillan Book Publishers and was until her death a prolific writer who bared her voice on important national debates. She would, indeed, be sorely missed by all.
TheSun
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