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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