Omolewa Sorinola, daughter of the late Chief Oludare Soneye, tells Bankole Taiwo how Atunfase Traditional School in Ikenne is preserving Yoruba culture while delivering modern education and redefining learning for students of all faiths

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Omolewa Sorinola, née Soneye. I am the firstborn and first daughter of Mr Oludare Ifashina Soneye, the founder of Atunfase Traditional School, Ikenne Remo, in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State. I am 36 years old, married with children, and a graduate of Mass Communication from the Lagos State University.

Are you a practising journalist?

No, I am not, though that was my training. The stress of the job was intense, so I chose to go into business. I am an entrepreneur.

How close were you to your dad when he was alive?

We were very close. He truly loved all his children, and we all shared a strong bond with him.

What motivated your father to establish a school where tradition is blended with the government curriculum?

It started with an incident in 2019. A young boy was very sick, and after consulting the oracle, Ifa, it was revealed that he had to wear an ode Ifa, a bracelet of tiny beads worn on the wrist, or he would die.

The boy’s parents got the bracelet for him, but the school he attended refused to allow him to wear it. The boy was about to sit the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination at the time.

This did not sit well with my father. He saw it as discrimination and an injustice. He believed that everyone has the right to observe their religious beliefs.

My father had long envisioned a place where people could learn about African Traditional Religion, including the deities, herbs, and roots, but not in a formal school structure. However, in response to this discrimination, he established Atunfase Traditional School in September 2019. Initially, classes were held in the building of the Ijo Orunmila in Ikenne, and in 2022, the school moved to its permanent site along Odogbolu Road.

How has the journey been so far?

We have been fulfilling our mission: alongside the orthodox government-based curriculum, our students are exposed to the richness of Yoruba culture. While we have yet to receive full government approval, authorities are aware of our existence.

We have been given guidelines, like establishing a school bay, and we are working diligently to comply before the end of the year.

In the meantime, we partner a government-approved school for our students’ BECE in JSS 3 and WAEC examinations.

What kind of a person was Chief Soneye?

He was a goal-oriented man who never believed in impossibilities. He believed that with focus and commitment, you could achieve anything. He was a Yoruba cultural ambassador, an herbalist, ran a trado-medical home, and was a traditional birth attendant.

He inherited those skills from his father and continued the legacy until his passing on June 3, 2025, at the age of 57.

Are you afraid this vision might die with your father’s passing?

By God’s grace, all his children are coming together with the support of others who believe in his legacy. God willing, this vision will not die. We are committed to giving it our very best without relenting.

What makes your school different from others?

In most schools, students take Christian Religious Knowledge or Islamic Religious Knowledge depending on their faith. But at our school, we offer African Traditional Religion Knowledge. Students learn about the rich culture of the Yoruba people, the Orishas, Ifa and more.

We also offer a subject called African Traditional Medicine Knowledge. Under this subject, students learn about the use of herbs and roots. They are taught which herbs can be used to treat ailments like malaria. Some of the students already know which leaves or roots to use for certain illnesses. This knowledge will benefit any student who later studies pharmacy or medicine.

What is your message to other Nigerians who are traditionalists?

I would urge them to team up with us and support what we are doing. They should bring their children to Atunfase Traditional School because what we teach goes beyond tradition. We teach culture, the culture of Omoluabi, honesty, integrity, hard work, upright living, and respect. The school is open to everyone, whether Muslim or Christian, and the additional value is that students gain knowledge of our traditions.

What challenges have you faced so far?

Public perception is the biggest challenge. There is a lot of negativity surrounding tradition. When people hear “traditional religion,” they often think of wickedness, fetishism, or voodoo, which is absolutely wrong.

Bad actors exist in every religion; we’ve heard of alfas, pastors, and babalawos caught in terrible acts. Atunfase Traditional School, with its creche, nursery, primary, and secondary sections, was established to properly educate the public and correct these misconceptions.

I am glad that when visitors come to the school compound, everything is neat, even when we don’t know they are coming. Sometimes, when I post videos of the school online, people make assumptions, but I always take the time to explain. I believe these challenges will fade with time.

Are you a traditionalist too?

Yes, in a way, because I was raised as one. I am married to a Muslim, but I still wear the Ode Ifa, a bracelet of tiny beads worn by adherents of Ifa.

Can you consult the Ifa oracle?

Only the boys in our family can consult the oracle. Females don’t.

Was your dad also a graduate?

No, he had O-Level certificates, but he started a degree programme at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, last year. He was studying Yoruba Education on a part-time basis before his death in June.

I noticed the students’ uniforms differ between primary and secondary school. Why is that?

As I mentioned, the school blends modern and traditional touches. In secondary school, the male students wear the native white sokoto, danshiki, and local cap called abetiaja, while the girls wear white gowns with scarves. This symbolises tradition and Yoruba culture. In primary school, the boys wear light green shorts with cream tops, and the girls wear cream and green dresses, representing modern-day school uniforms.

What is your school’s relationship with other schools?

Some schools do have reservations due to misconceptions about our institution. However, we have partnerships with supportive schools like Classique School, which has been very helpful to us. For those with wrong notions, I believe perceptions will change once we receive official school approval.

How large is your school?

The school sits on over six acres of land, giving us room for expansion.

Is anyone in your family taking after your dad’s calling?

Yes, the two boys in the family are following in his footsteps.

You live in Lagos, but running a school requires constant monitoring. How do you manage?

Honestly, it has been by God’s grace. I travel between Lagos and Ogun State every week. My cousin is also at the school to ensure everything runs smoothly, and one of my siblings, who lives in Odogbolu, monitors daily operations.

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Some blacklisted universities in the Benin Republic have devised means of sneaking their graduates into the National Youth Service Corps in collaboration with certain private polytechnics in Nigeria.

Our correspondent gathered that the universities now obtain Higher National Diploma and National Diploma certificates for their graduates and students due for graduation through the private polytechnics.

After issuing the HND certificates, the polytechnics would then mobilise the affected students for the mandatory NYSC.

Saturday PUNCH also learnt that the students were asked to pay about N400,000 to obtain the HND certificates from the polytechnics, mostly located in South-West and South-East states.

Blacklisted Benin varsities

In 2024, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, announced the suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

Over 45 Beninoise and Togolese universities were affected by the suspension.

The Federal Government’s decision followed a report by Daily Nigerian, which exposed the activities of a degree mill in Cotonou, a major city in Benin Republic.

An undercover reporter with the newspaper had obtained a degree from the university within six weeks and even participated in the mandatory NYSC in Nigeria.

Following the ban, some of the affected universities turned to private polytechnics to facilitate NYSC enrolment for their Nigerian graduates.

The connivance

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a graduate of Esfam-Benin University, one of the blacklisted universities in Porto Novo, Seun, said his academic records had been forwarded to a Nigerian private polytechnic for processing.

He added that some of his classmates had already been processed and were awaiting their NYSC call-up letters, expected before December.

Seun disclosed that two graduates from the school had already been mobilised for NYSC through the same polytechnic.

He, however, noted that he had spent a fortune on the package.

He said, “Others have completed their processing and are just waiting for NYSC to mobilise them in the next batch. They are currently working on some graduates registered earlier before us. Before the end of the year, those graduates will be posted. I know of two ladies from our school who are already serving now.

“While others have completed their processing, I’m having an issue with my O’Level that I’m resolving. I need to solve that for the new course at the polytechnic. I was told to pay N120,000 for a ‘special centre’ where they will help me pass the GCE or an equivalent exam. Once that’s done, I can register and the portal will be opened for me.

“Our names and certificates have already been processed with the polytechnic. Basically, once one has money, you can get a Benin Republic certificate, then take it to a Nigerian polytechnic, again with money, and get a new certificate that allows you to go for NYSC.”

Another graduate of one of the blacklisted universities in Benin Republic explained that a key member of the school’s management informed them about the ‘package’ after the Nigerian government banned institutions in the country.

“When universities in Benin Republic were blacklisted, the school’s key member, Dele, told us that people were still serving in NYSC.

“He said though our university certificates were no longer valid for NYSC, he could help us through a private polytechnic in Nigeria. He told us that he had access to the school and would give us a link, but we had to pay a certain amount.

“He explained we would be able to go for NYSC using the Nigerian polytechnic and that we would be issued National Diploma and Higher National Diploma certificates from that school.

“He also directed us to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s office in Ikoyi, where we met a man who gave us a PIN for registration. When we got there, the man already knew we were from him.”

Our correspondent, who posed as a parent, spoke with another graduate from a Beninoise varsity, Isa, who disclosed that he had been enrolled in one of the polytechnics and was awaiting his call-up.

Isa said he would be going for service before December.

He confirmed that many schools in the West African country were collaborating with Nigerian polytechnics to ensure their students participated in the NYSC.

Isa revealed that he obtained his ND and HND certificates from a private polytechnic in Abia State.

He said, “A private polytechnic in Abia State was arranged for us. The last time I spoke with the registrar, he told me that our names had already been submitted to NYSC. However, they need a few other graduates to go for mobilisation before our turn.

“That’s why I didn’t join the last batch. We’ll be going with the next set after the current one finishes camping. This is not a scam, it’s working.”

How fraudulent scheme works

A university administrator in Porto Novo, who was also part of the syndicate, told Saturday PUNCH that he had withdrawn from the illegal activity.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the senior official revealed that many banned institutions in Benin Republic were collaborating with Nigerian polytechnics to facilitate NYSC enrolment for their graduates.

Narrating how the application process is done, he said a Bachelor of Science certificate from a Benin Republic institution is required to prove that a student has graduated.

“After obtaining the certificate from the Benin Republic, we wait for the polytechnic to include the students’ names in the senate list. In Nigeria, NYSC uses the senate list, unlike in the Benin Republic, where they used an evaluation letter.

“Later, the students will be asked to pay some amount of money for the process to begin. When they’ve made the payment, the Nigerian polytechnics will request their transcripts from us and then graduate the students as theirs.

“So, the students who are from Benin schools are given ND and HND certificates from the Nigerian polytechnics to tender for NYSC registration.”

The source noted that since certificates from the Benin Republic were no longer recognised in Nigeria, students had to find alternative means to circumvent the restriction. All schools in Benin are doing the same thing.

“The Nigerian government says it is ready to reinstate our schools in Benin Republic, but the fee they’re requesting is extremely high. None of the schools in Benin can afford it because they have thousands of students, and the total fee is enormous.

“However, schools in Togo, who are also affected, have paid the required amount and have now been cleared,” he added.

A lady, Wunmi, disclosed that her brother, who graduated from one of the blacklisted universities, was awaiting NYSC call-up through the fraudulent arrangement.

She said payment was made to secure a slot from a private polytechnic in Ekiti State.

“I paid a total of N500,000 for the package on behalf of my brother. It was a member of the management at the Benin Republic university where he graduated who introduced us to the arrangement.

“They assured me there was nothing to worry about, as many graduates from the same university had followed the same route and were already serving in the NYSC,” she added.

A document obtained by Saturday PUNCH revealed the names of two Beninoise graduates who had been smuggled into the mobilisation list of a private polytechnic.

Matriculation numbers and CGPAs had been fabricated for them.

Also, grades had already been prepared for their ND and HND certificates.

The graduates were among those who spoke to our correspondent.

Meanwhile, an official of Esfam-Benin University, Femi Simon, denied that the university was involved in such a fraudulent scheme.

He insisted that Esfam had no partnership with any Nigerian institution.

Simon said, “As of today or before today, all our students serve via the available channels before the Nigerian government policy on Benin and Togo, and we are patiently waiting for the final verdict of the government. You can further your investigation if we have ever had any student who served via any other school outside; but we have never mobilised our students from another school.”

It is not possible – NYSC, education ministry

Reacting, the acting NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, stated that the NYSC was not aware of the situation.

She said, “We are not aware of this. Foreign graduates are cleared by the Ministry of Education. All foreign graduates pass through them.”

But the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Folashade Omoboriowo, told Saturday PUNCH that it was not possible.

She added that the registration portal had been designed to detect such manipulations.

Omoboriowo said, “In fact, we created a portal to streamline this. The portal was modified and used for data capturing for NYSC to mobilise HND students.

“Initially, all HND admissions were to pass through that. We have digitalised our operations and such fraud cannot take place.”

On the matter, she also quoted the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, saying, “Let them send one case for us to investigate please. This is the response from the Executive Secretary, NBTE. It is not possible.  If there’s proof, let them bring it up please.”

Reacting to the matter, the National Chairman of the Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria, Dr Usman Tunga, said he wasn’t aware of such an occurrence.

He stated, “I am not aware of any polytechnic that is doing such to the best of my knowledge. If it is happening, it has not come to my knowledge.”

However, Tunga stated that if any such fraudulent activity was detected, it would be reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

He said, “We can only report to the national body of technical education which is the body responsible for supervising polytechnics so that they can be sanctioned.”

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The Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on School Feeding Programme, Dr Fauziya Buhari-Ado, says the scheme has continued to empower women employed as cooks and supports local farmers.

She also called for stronger humanitarian leadership and strategic partnerships to combat hunger and promote sustainable economic transformation across Africa.

Dr. Fauziya, who made the call while receiving the 2025 4th Humanitarian Bootcamp Award in Nairobi, Kenya, according to a statement she personally signed and released on Friday morning.

In her presentation, titled “Feeding the Future: Leveraging Humanitarian Leadership to Achieve Food Security and Economic Transformation in Africa,” Dr. Buhari-Ado expressed profound appreciation to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, for his vision, trust, and leadership in championing the Kaduna State School Feeding Programme, a flagship social intervention that provides daily meals to thousands of schoolchildren across the state.

“Governor Uba Sani’s confidence in my capacity to serve has made it possible to impact the lives of children across Kaduna State,” she stated. “Under his leadership, the School Feeding Programme has become a model of inclusive development — improving nutrition, boosting school attendance, empowering women, and supporting local farmers.”

She described the initiative as a holistic approach that strengthens multiple sectors of the economy, noting that every meal served goes beyond nourishment to symbolise hope, care, and opportunity for the next generation.

“Each meal we provide is not just food; it is a bridge to learning, a shield against poverty, and a promise that we see these children, we care for them, and we will not abandon them,” Dr. Buhari-Ado said. “Feeding our children is not charity — it is nation-building.”

She further stressed that food security must be viewed as a strategic pillar of Africa’s social and economic development, adding that eradicating hunger is essential to ensuring stability, productivity, and peace across the continent.

Dr. Buhari-Ado also paid tribute to outstanding women leaders who have played pivotal roles in advancing humanitarian and leadership development across Africa. She commended Dr. Martina Nentawe Yilwatda, Patron of the Women’s Leadership Network, for her foresight and mentorship, and Mrs. Deborah Hornecker, the Network’s founder, for her resilience and commitment to women’s empowerment.

“The Women’s Leadership Network represents a powerful platform for collaboration and transformation,” she noted. “It brings together professional women from diverse sectors to drive inclusion, social impact, and leadership development across communities.”

In her closing remarks, Dr. Buhari-Ado urged governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector to work collectively to end hunger in Africa.

“When the day comes that no African child — and no African adult — goes to bed hungry, we will know that we have truly fed the future — not through power, but through humanity, compassion, and love,” she concluded.

The school feeding programme in Kaduna state is funded annually with over N4bn, according to data by the state government.
The state also noted that it feeds over 730,000 pupils and has over 7,000 cooks employed to prepare meals in a total of 3,400 schools.

The scheme aims to increase enrollment, support the local economy, and improve the nutrition of pupils.

Similarly, on October 3, 2025, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing child malnutrition and improving school enrolment through the Renewed Hope Mo’Feed Project, a school feeding and empowerment initiative designed to reach over 600,000 vulnerable Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, who represented the President, said this at the official launch of the project in Lagos.

She said the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda by tackling food insecurity, poverty, and gaps in education.

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