Adesoye College: Raising Young Leaders Since 1987

By Oladeji Bamidele

It was the great Nelson Mandela who said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The late Mandela, or Madiba as he was fondly called, spoke from experience. It was his famous determination of educating himself in the best possible way, despite the restrictions of apartheid and being locked up for 27 years, that eventually helped him to not only become the first black President of an apartheid-free South Africa, but in leaving a legacy of forthright leadership, forgiveness, and inclusiveness for the whole world.

At Adesoye College, the importance and potency of a good education is well understood and encapsulated in the school’s mission: To raise total leaders through commitment, freedom and responsibility. Founded in 1987 by the illustrious entrepreneur Chief Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye, Adesoye College has earned a reputation as one of the most prestigious schools in Nigeria. This is illustrated by influential and well-to-do Nigerians, who often prefer to send their children to boarding schools especially in England, choosing instead to have them educated at Adesoye College. The list includes former presidents, serving governors, ministers and others in similar positions of authority.

The reason for such confidence in Adesoye College is the school’s pedigree. Sitting on 300 acres of scenic high ground in an exclusive area of the serene Offa Town, the setting of the school is conducive to education and learning. While the centre of Offa Town is 1.5km away from the school, Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, is 45km and Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, is 65km away.

In such a tranquil location, Adesoye College provides a safe environment where students are inspired, the culture of hard work encouraged and academic excellence realised. With the motto “God the Almighty,” the school instils a spirit of service, self-motivation, and self-discipline as the basis for leadership while inculcating the pursuit of excellence in all spheres of school life.

As a result, students of Adesoye College routinely place among the highest scorers in all national examinations, including WAEC, SSCE, NECO and JAMB. It is also worthy of note that, at Adesoye College, parents can monitor their wards’ performances online. All they need are their wards’ admission numbers and unique passwords which are sent to the parents via email.

The current Principal of the school, Mr. Kenneth Webley, served in leadership positions for over a decade at Sarasota High School, Florida, USA. There he gained recognition for “developing and implementing a new vision to meet the needs of all students.” He also succeeded in directing the school through a comprehensive visioning program which received recognition from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), one of the six regional accreditation organisations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Before assuming duty as the Principal of Adesoye College, Webley also reengineered ‘Exceptional Education’ program at Sarasota High School which became a national model in the United States. Among other achievements, he is credited with collaborating with a mathematics teacher on a specialised program to improve Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) passing rates, resulting in more than 89% of students passing the FCAT, an annual test given to students to measure their skills in the areas of reading, math, science and writing according to Florida’s Sunshine State Standards.

In bringing his expertise to Adesoye College, Webley has publicly declared that: “Organisational effectiveness ultimately hinges on the development of a collective mission/vision. I have led schools through the process of identifying these two critical pieces of a strategic plan in two continents. Additionally, I am dedicated to creating a Learning Environment that is data-driven, student-focused and professionally collaborative. I offer over 20 years of international educational experience in both established and emerging economies.”

Webley recently announced that Adesoye College is now in the process of conducting entrance examinations for new students. While the forms can be purchased on the date of the exam at the different venues, or filled online at the Adesoye College website (www.adesoyecollege.org), it should be noted that all exams are scheduled to start at 10:00AM prompt.

On Saturday, 29 November 2014, the exams will take place in Abuja, Ibadan and Kaduna at the following venues:

Abuja – Olumawu Nursery & Primary School, Plot 211 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

Ibadan – All Saints Church School, 22, Bashorun Apampa Street, Jericho, Ibadan.

Kaduna – Juniors International School, 3A Danmadami Close, Off Degel Road 2, Kaduna.

On Saturday 6 December 2014, the exams will take place in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri at the following venues:

Lagos – Salvation International School, 10 Adekunle Fajuyi Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Port Harcourt – TransAmadi International School, Off Shell Quarters, 32 St. Andrews Street, Rumuobiakanni, Port Harcourt.

Warri – The Cradle School, Plot 6, 19th Street DDPA, Ugborikoko, Effurun, Warri Central.