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Mayflower School

For other schools, see Mayflower (disambiguation) § Schools.

Mayflower School was founded on 27 January 1956 by Tai Solarin,[1] a Nigerian educator, humanist and civil rights pioneer. Solarin was married to Sheila Mary Tuer, an English woman; they had two children Corin and Tunde Solarin. The school is located on 90 acres of land in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria. It is named after the historical Mayflower ship that brought the first batch of pilgrims to the United States. Like the pilgrims, Solarin founded the school in personal rebellion against religious persecution.

Mayflower School
Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, Ogun State
Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, Ogun State
Location
Map
Ikenne
,
Ogun State

Nigeria
Information
MottoKnowledge is Light
Established27 January 1956 (1956-01-27)
FounderTai Solarin
Gendercoeducational
Number of studentsca. 1,000
Websitemayflowerprivateschool.com

Mayflower preaches a strong educational philosophy grounded in self-reliance, self-sacrifice, public service and physical toughness. In Solarin's words, the students must be "rugged." Since the school was first established, in the boarding house, female students are forbidden from using any form of cosmetics. A rigorous, military-style living regimen requires that every student wake up at 5:00 am for physical exercise including running and in-field stretches. In his days, Dr. Solarin would often be the first to show up for these exercises. He urged his students to always "lead by example."

The school's motto is “Knowledge is Light” and it is noted for the outstanding quality of its graduates, many of whom are leaders in Nigeria and abroad.

Every student is taught the basics of rudimentary and mechanized farming as part of a well rounded, self-sustaining education.

The students wear a uniform styled after Tai Solarin's trademark apparel —simple khaki shorts and short-sleeve shirts. This applies to both male and female students. Graduates of the school are called "Ex-Mays."

The school's alumni includes the first national female chemical engineer.[2]

History

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When Mayflower School opened on 27 January 1956, it had 70 students, and in 1992, it had 1,900, including more than 800 girls.[3] Tai Solarin was its principal from 1956 to 1976.[4]

In 1962, 13 American college and university students spent June and July at Mayflower under the sponsorship of Operation Crossroads Africa. Led by the then College Chaplain of Alma College, the students worked with counterpart students from Wesley College, Ibadan, to construct a building that would serve as a library for the school. As a consequence of the Crossroads experience, a relationship was formed between Alma and Mayflower School. Between 1963 and 1988, annually, an Alma College student spent the year as a teacher at Mayflower. In the course of the relationship several Mayflower students studied at, and graduated from, Alma College; and Tai Solarin was awarded the college's honorary degree.

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Tai Solarin's Widow, Sheila, Dies". Sahara Reporters. 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  2. ^ "Mayflower School is 60". NigerianEye. January 20, 2016. Retrieved 2019-01-24. Mayflower produced Mrs. Modupe Kazeem, the first national female Chemical Engineer
  3. ^ Carrier, Richard (1995). "Tai Solarin: His Life, Ideas, and Accomplishments". The Secular Web. Internet Infidels. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  4. ^ Soyinka, Kayode (4 August 1994). "Obituary: Tai Solarin". Independent.co.uk. Independent Digital News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
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