A stirring discussion about the relevance of the legacy of the secular well-rounded Mayflower secondary school education of Tai and Sheila Solarin of Nigeria, to the upliftment of humanity worldwide.
Mayflower School, Nigeria, was founded in 1956 by Dr. Tai Solarin, who, with his British wife Sheila at his side, was totally dedicated to producing academically and intellectually-sound students, who were also trained in the practical aspects of life, such as farming, cooking, electrical wiring, plumbing, baking, building, Man 'O War, and others. It was hard to find such students unemployable. They were trained to dream big and be high achievers. This is a personal account of one of the students, Dele Babalola, who experienced this unique training.
Exploring the life and experiences of a Nigerian, this book delves into the rich cultural heritage, social dynamics, and historical challenges faced by the country. It highlights personal stories that reflect broader themes of identity, resilience, and transformation within Nigerian society. Through vivid storytelling, readers gain insight into the complexities of life in Nigeria, encompassing both struggles and triumphs that shape the nation's narrative.
This book uses the political economy approach to examine the relative failure of federalism in Nigeria. It shows the nexus between the political and the economic aspects of the country’s federalism. The central feature of Nigeria’s political economy is the relationship between oil resources and the state. The author argues that the inability of the federal government to distribute the oil wealth fairly amongst the component units contributes to the dysfunctional character of the federal system. This deficiency is rooted in the country’s unbalanced political economy, which promotes over-dependency on oil and consequently an over-centralised federal system. The book concludes that despite its complexities, federalism has become the basis for the country’s stability. Therefore, ethno-regional demands for ‘true federalism’ will continue until the political elite reform the ailing federal system.