Mayflower School

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Mayflower School was founded in January 1956 by Tai Solarin, a Nigerian educator and civil rights pioneer, who was married to Sheila Mary Truer, a British woman. It is located on a vast piece of land in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria. It is named after the historical Mayflower ship that brought the first batch of pilgrims to the present United States. Like the pilgrims, Solarin founded the school in personal rebellion against religious persecution.

Mayflower preaches a very 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, male students are forbidden from using any form of cosmetics, including body lotion. A rigorous, military-style living regimen requires that every student wake up at 5:15 am for a round of moderate physical exercise. In his days, 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 the country 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 sound academic reputation has produced a long record of achievements, including the first female engineer in sub-Saharan Africa.^{[citation needed]}

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