The QUEEN of May Flower Schools

Mrs. Solarin with Queen Elizabeth 11

Just some few days to Salah, I've decided much earlier not to blog today because I need to have enough rest for this special festival but here I am now writing about a woman who has inspired at least five generations of Nigerians. Many of my friends are product of May Flower School, Ikenne and they proudly call themselves Ex-Mays.

You will not totally blame me if I’m doing this because May Flower school in the 90's in Ogun State  was like the British International School or American International School of today amongst secondary schools in the state; it was a dream school for most pupils furthering their secondary school education. May Flower school's uniform (Short and top for both sexes) is totally different from all the school uniforms I've seen.

My parents will not forget in a hurry the pestering I gave them about going to May Flower School but trust my father he was smarter than me in.

I've to thank my friend Moyo Osifodunrin (he inspired this special piece because of her picture  he used on his  timeline, ore oooose "friend thanks"). Moyo is an ex-may and he wrote this about  the May Flower's QUEEN -Mrs. SHEILA SOLARIN

"The queen shaking the legend without gloves whilst knighting her as a Dame."

Mrs. Sheila Solarin (Nee Tuer) was a Briton married to a Nigerian, late Tai Solarin. On 27 January 1956, they founded the first and only secular school in Nigeria, Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State.

 "Together they established a boarding house in 1997 which serves more than two thousand students of the three public high schools in Ikenne town. Also complementing the now state-owned Mayflower School was the establishment of the privately owned Mayflower Junior School, the primary school arm of the Mayflower institution, a citadel of secular education for self-reliance and all round excellence.

Using breeze blocks made from clay they constructed two classrooms, each able to accommodate 36 pupils. The students also helped in construction of more class rooms.

They had their bunks at the back of the class, and the desks at the front'" said Sheila who has been an English teacher for 50 years.” - Wikipedia

She was awarded with Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth 11 on October 17, 2007, she also won N2million cash prize from Who Deserves to be a Millionaire, an extension of the popular TV programme, ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ sponsored by MTNwhich she donated to the school for completion of its science laboratory.

She retired from active teaching service in 2010, she passed on at age of 88 on Sunday October 21, 2012.

Adieu Mrs. Sheila Solarin, a true White Nigerian.