From ABC to Ifa: Ogun School Merges Academics and Herbal Healing

A Unique Educational Institution in Ikenne Remo

At first glance, the school looks like any other struggling private establishment trying to find its footing. It consists of a single block of eight classrooms, a few offices, and several other buildings still under construction. The workforce is as lean as its student population; eight teachers supervise just about 45 pupils across both the primary and secondary sections, with the primary arm accounting for nearly 30 per cent.

Locating the school for the first time was quite challenging. It is tucked deep within a farmland on the outskirts of Ikenne Remo, along the Ikenne–Odogbolu road, just beside the now-defunct Dideolu Specialist Hospital, owned by the family of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Thankfully, I had the guidance of Mr Segun Awoyomi, a respected educationist and school owner in the town, whom I had contacted upon receiving the assignment. Without him, I would have easily missed my way.

Fondly called Uncle Sege, the renowned educator insisted on personally leading me to the school the moment I told him that a prestigious platform was interested in spotlighting its peculiar nature. He revealed that the late founder of the school, Chief Oludare Ifashina Soneye, who died in June, was one of his former students, belonging to either the 1987 or 1988 set during his early years as a young teacher at Ikenne Community High School.

Mr Awoyomi explained that he had always offered occasional support to the institution to help it stabilise. The proprietor had repeatedly invited him to help monitor their progress, but he never found the time to oblige, until Soneye’s sudden death in June. According to him, if not for the fact that a prestigious platform found something remarkable about the school, it was unlikely that its state correspondent would travel all the way from Abeokuta, the state capital.

He added that he would use the opportunity to finally visit, even if only to honour the memory of his former student. At about 8 a.m., accompanied by Awoyomi, a University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) trained physicist and computer education specialist, along with his school administrator, we walked into the quiet premises of Atunfase Traditional School, which offers crèche, nursery, primary, and secondary education.

After brief introductions, the school officials were informed of the purpose of my visit. Barely two minutes later, students from both the primary and secondary arms were assembled for morning devotion. It was at this point that the uniqueness of the school, rooted deeply in African Traditional Religion and Yoruba cultural heritage, began to unfold before my eyes.

While pupils in the nursery and primary sections wore conventional school uniforms, green trousers and cream shirts for boys, and cream-topped green gowns for girls, their counterparts in the secondary school were dressed entirely in traditional attire. The boys wore white Sokoto and Danshiki, complete with the local Abetiaja cap, reminiscent of Ifa adherents and herbalists, while the girls appeared in white gowns with matching headscarves.

Even some of the Christian choruses traditionally sung during devotion had been adapted to reflect the school’s religious orientation. For instance, songs like “Let us carry Jesus up…” had been reworded to “Let us carry Ifa up…”

After a session of energetic choruses, a secondary school student led the traditional prayers, which included recitations of Ifa verses. This was followed by the rendition of the national anthem, and soon after, the children marched into their various classrooms to begin the day.

While speaking with our correspondent, the first daughter of the late founder, Omolewa Sorinola, explained that her father established the school to promote knowledge of African Traditional Religion and combat the discrimination faced by traditionalists. The woman, who is the school coordinator, recalled the experience that inspired the school’s creation.

“It all started with an incident in 2019,” said the Mass Communication graduate of Lagos State University. “My father told me about a young boy who was very ill. His parents consulted the Ifa oracle, and it was revealed that the child must begin to wear Ode Ifa — a beaded wrist bracelet. He was told that if the boy did not wear it, he would die,” she recounted. “So the parents got the bracelet for him. But the boy’s school insisted they would not allow it. He was even preparing for his West African Senior School Certificate Examination at the time.”

“That did not sit well with my father. He saw it as outright discrimination. He believed such injustice should not be tolerated because everyone has the right to practise their chosen religion.”

She further explained, “My father had always dreamt of establishing a centre where people could learn about African Traditional Religion; the deities, herbs and roots, but not necessarily a structured school like what we have today. However, it was that incident that pushed him to establish Atunfase Traditional School in September 2019. They began by using the building of Ìjo Òrúnmìlà in Ikenne before moving to the permanent site along Odogbolu Road in 2022, a space spanning over six plots of land.”

Highlighting the uniqueness of the school, Sorinola explained that while they operate the standard government-approved curriculum, students do not take Christian Religious Knowledge or Islamic Religious Studies. Instead, they are taught African Traditional Religion Knowledge. “Under ATRK, they learn about Yoruba culture, the orìsàs, and Ifá philosophy, among other things.” She added, “We also offer a subject called African Traditional Medicine Knowledge. Under that, we teach the children how to identify and use herbs and roots. For example, they know which leaves can be used for malaria or other ailments. Some of the pupils already know the herbs needed to treat malaria. This kind of knowledge will be very useful if any of them later goes on to study Pharmacy or Medicine.”

She insisted that the school is open to all, Christians, Muslims, or otherwise, as the goal is not to turn every student into a herbalist or traditionalist, but to broaden their understanding of Yoruba heritage. However, Sorinola admitted that acceptance has been slow due to the negative perception people still hold about African Traditional Religion.

“People often look down on traditionalists and stereotype them as evil,” she lamented. “But that is completely wrong. There are bad people in every religion. We’ve heard of Alfas, Pastors and even Babalawos being caught in terrible acts.”

“So this school, from crèche to secondary level, was established to correct these misconceptions through proper education.”

She smiled as she added, “I’m glad you didn’t find any untidy sight in the school compound, even though we had no idea a visitor was coming. Anytime I post videos online, people say all sorts. But I always take my time to explain. I believe these challenges will fade over time.”

On the journey so far, Sorinola said the school remains steadfast in its mission. The coordinator noted that, though they are still working towards full government approval, they currently partner with an approved institution to ensure their students sit for official exams such as BECE in JSS3 and WASSCE.

She described her late father as a go-getter, a lover of education, and a respected herbalist who ran a traditional maternity and medical home inherited from his father, until his death at the age of 57.

Speaking on sustaining the vision, the Mass Communication graduate said she and her siblings, along with a few supporters, are committed to keeping the dream alive, and appealed to well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies for support.

A teacher at the school and cousin to the late founder, Olamide Osukoya, also affirmed that the institution is not involved in any questionable practices beyond the teaching of African tradition and medicine. He urged the public to visit the school and witness activities first-hand rather than relying on assumptions.

Our correspondent observed that most of the teachers and parents at the school, if not all, are traditionalists. One of them is Ifasegun Dosunmu, an herbalist, who also teaches ATRK at the school. He revealed that all 16 Odu Ifá have been translated into English, and students are taught in both Yoruba and English.

He proudly stated that his children had been enrolled in the school long before he officially joined the staff, adding that they are excelling both academically and culturally. Dosunmu added that many pupils, from primary to secondary, can recite Ifá verses and panegyrics fluently, thanks to the structured teaching they receive.

Another teacher, Mrs Abidogun Moyosore, also identified as a traditionalist, and praised the school’s establishment as a major boost for preserving indigenous spirituality in Nigeria. Mrs Abidemi Shoyebo, a parent who oversees the kindergarten and nursery sections, also confirmed that she is a traditionalist. She disclosed that three of her children are enrolled in the school, and she personally facilitated the admission of three other pupils.

Shoyebo appealed to the government to accord traditionalists the same level of recognition given to Christians and Muslims, insisting that such inclusiveness would go a long way in preserving Yoruba cultural heritage.

During interactions with some of the pupils, our correspondent also discovered that virtually all of them came from traditionalist homes. 15-year-old Esther Adeyiga, an SS3 student, who hopes to study Law, and her younger sister, 13-year-old Olayinka, in SS1, who dreams of becoming a medical doctor, both confirmed that their parents are traditionalists. Similarly, 12-year-old Primary Six pupil, Ifakorede Dosunmu, who aspires to join the military, and nine-year-old Soneye Ifabukunmi, who wants to become a nurse, also come from strictly traditionalist backgrounds.

One of the newly recruited teachers, Miss Gifty Disu, a 49-year-old Mass Communication graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University, however, identified as a Christian. She revealed that her decision to join the school two weeks earlier was driven purely by curiosity. Disu, who joined upon the invitation of one of the late founder’s children, confessed that her initial fears were unfounded, adding that she had now fallen in love with the school’s uniqueness.

“I honestly had my fears as a Christian. I wondered if I would be compelled to participate in any form of worship,” she said. “But sincerely, there is nothing like that. The only difference between this school and others is the inclusion of African Traditional Religion Knowledge and African Traditional Medicine Knowledge, alongside deep Yoruba values, from greetings to clothing and respect for elders. It has been a truly exciting experience.”

The pupils echoed similar sentiments. They insisted that they were not missing out on anything compared to their peers in conventional schools. “We are missing nothing by attending this traditional school,” Esther said proudly. “In fact, we even feel superior to others because of the deep knowledge of Yoruba tradition and culture that we receive in addition to the normal curriculum.”

An educationist, Mr Tiamiyu Buraimo, noted that it was only natural that a school with a core focus on traditional religion would attract students and teachers who were either adherents or religiously liberal. “Realistically, you wouldn’t expect a devout Muslim or Christian to willingly associate with a school that promotes traditional religion, or send their children there,” he explained. “So naturally, like attracts like. That’s why most of the teachers and students are traditionalists. The same would apply in a school founded by NASFAT or the Redeemed Christian Church of God.”

However, Buraimo praised the school’s concept, describing it as a brilliant fusion of Yoruba tradition with modern education. “The founder deserves commendation,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve heard of anything like this before. It’s a brilliant idea to protect our heritage and ensure that children are not only grounded in foreign cultures but also deeply knowledgeable about their own.”

Speaking further with our correspondent, as our correspondent was still being taken round the facility, Mr Awoyomi revealed that what impressed him most was the innovation and ingenuity of the late founder, whom he had initially referenced as a former student of his. The renowned educationist, who is a Christian, said he could not ignore the brilliance behind the idea.

“As someone naturally inclined to support educational initiatives, Mr Soneye, whom I taught in secondary school, would often seek my guidance on running the school, and I advised him whenever I could,” he recalled. “His creativity and commitment were fascinating. And he wasn’t doing anything illegal. Unfortunately, he passed away in June. May his soul rest in peace.”

After the death of the school’s founder, some people feared that the institution might collapse like many other visionary projects that failed after their originators died, even though his children vowed to continue his unique legacy. However, the coordinator dismissed such worries, stressing that the traditional school is well-established and will continue to operate.