JAMB 2025 Literature Summary: Lekki Headmaster—Themes & Analysis
Lekki Headmaster is a Nigerian novel by Kabir Alabi Garba, featuring Nigerian themes of education, socio-economic issues, and personal development set in the fictional setting of Mr. Adewale, a headmaster at a school in the elite area of Lekki, Lagos.
Summary of The Lekki Headmaster
The novel revolves around Mr. Adewale. He is a hardworking, determined, and ambitious headmaster of a primary school in Lekki. He has a lot of things to work on if he is to make his school thrive. The setting of the book shows the dynamics of a rapidly developing community in Lagos and also the tension between the extremely wealthy residents of Lekki and the lowly students at the school where he heads.
Mr. Adewale is a model of diligence and innovation, always in search of a way to make the school run better and improve quality education. But he comes up against difficulties on different fronts, including budget cuts, inadequate materials for teachers, lack of community and other stakeholders, as well as issues of conflict of interests with his school’s stakeholder base.
Yet, even with these difficulties, the headmaster has never given up fighting. A hardworking man, deeply committed to his pupils and convinced that education is the only thing that can help end the cycle of poverty that many children in his school are living through, he works tirelessly—often killing time and money—to get pupils adequate education.
They are the story of this program. Many of them come from bad backgrounds; some of them suffer even more hardships than others. Some of them have fought through life-threatening mental problems, and their families have been involved in abusive or criminal activities. But through Mr. Adewale’s steadfast guidance, they learn not only about academic subjects but also life lessons of perseverance, hard work, and why education is so important.
It also touches on socio-economic issues such as the gulf between the rich and the poor, the difficulties of running a public school in Nigeria, and how schools are, as a rule, often neglected by the authorities in government. The challenges Mr. Adewale faces throughout the novel are overcome eventually, and he eventually gains the respect of his community, as well as the parents and even the local government officials who, at first, ignored the plight of the school.
About the Author: Lekki Headmaster – JAMB 2025 Literature Summary
Kabir Alabi Garba is a distinguished Nigerian journalist and author, renowned for his significant contributions to the media and literary landscapes. He holds a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Lagos and has amassed extensive experience in journalism, notably serving as the editor of The Guardian on Sunday.
In the academic realm, Dr. Garba is associated with the Department of Mass Communication at Caleb University in Lagos, Nigeria.
His literary work includes the novel Lekki Headmaster, published in 2023 by Winepress Publishing. This 98-page book delves into the challenges and triumphs within Nigeria’s educational sector. The novel’s significance was further recognized when it was selected as the recommended reading text for the 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Use of English paper.
Dr. Garba’s multifaceted career reflects his dedication to advancing journalism and education in Nigeria, making him a respected figure in both fields.
Lekki Headmaster Themes
- Education as a tool for social change
Rather, the novel highlights the fact that education is an important factor in changing the future of individuals and communities. Mr. Adewale is very much in the act of changing the lives of his students. - Social inequality
The gap between the well-off residents of Lekki and the poor students is the result of Nigeria’s wider issue of social inequality, which lies at the center of the school, in an excellently appointed area where well-off parents and those from poor backgrounds sit with students from very less well-off families.
- Corruption and governmental neglect
The novel was written to expose the problems of corruption and governmental neglect in Nigeria’s educational system. Mr. Adewale had to run a school without funds and resources. This is also the situation that all public schools in the country experience.
- Community and support systems
The novel also stresses the need to involve the community in education. Although initially ignored, Mr. Adewale becomes a part of the local community, and this leads to his eventual success.
- Resilience and optimism
The story emphasizes the importance of resilience in adversity. Despite constant challenges, Mr. Adewale never gives up on his vision to provide a better future for his students.
Lekki Headmaster Character Development
Mr. Adewale As the main character of the story, Mr. Adewale has a serious character with selflessness, dedication, and responsibility. The journey that he takes to manage all the nuances of the school system and how to deal with students, parents, and the government authorities is one of self-development.
The Students: The novel presents one-on-one interviews with some of the students and their struggles, both at home and at school and in society as a whole, and their development throughout the novel as a whole, mirroring the larger theme of going against the tide.
The Community: A secondary but important role the community has played with the school from an almost imperceptible attitude now to a very active affiliation shows the power of a community.
Conclusion
After reading the novel, I can say that it is a story of heart and soul that interweaves issues of personal to society. It is an example of how good literature can make a very accurate portrayal of the Nigerian education system as well as of educators in these tough conditions. Lekki Headmaster, by Kabir Alabi Garba, is a book that not only portrays but also reminds us that we can succeed despite systemic challenges.
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