DAME ADENIKE OLUYEMISI IDOWU, PRINCIPAL, METHODIST GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL, YABA , LAGOS

Dame Adenike Oluyemisi Idowu Nee Faseke was born in 1955. She holds a B.A Honour in English from the University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1978, Masters Degree in International Relations (1983), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (1992) from the University of Ibadan.
She served as an Administrative Officer in the office of the Military Administrator, Akure, Ondo State in 1979, during the NYSC Scheme.
Thereafter, by divine providence, she took up appointment as a Teacher with the Central Schools’ Board, Oyo State, now Teaching Service Commission. Her first posting as a teacher was to African Church Grammar School, Apata, Ibadan. However, it was her transfer to Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Maryway, Odo-Ona, Ibadan in1985 that unfolded her calling and vocation – Passion for the Girl-Child.
OLA is an all-girls school where God gave her the unique opportunity of mentoring girls from different backgrounds and diverse levels of exposure – the good, the bad and the ugly!!!
She rose through the ranks and became a Principal in 2001. In 2006, she was transferred to St. Teresa’s College, Oke-Ado, Ibadan (one of the foremost secondary schools in the State), also an all-girls Institution where she voluntarily retired in Nov, 2014. It was there that her passion for the girl child was brought to the limelight. There, she exhibited and maximized her potentials so much that she became an enigma and a role model in the Education field – A guru and a force to be reckoned with.
As a result of her outstanding performance in all the Schools she had ever been, with national and international exposure in Educational Management, coupled with her diverse experience, versatility and forthrightness, she was employed after a rigorous interview with 18 others, as the Principal of one of the oldest, reknowned Girls Schools in Nigeria/Africa – The Prestigious Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba , Lagos, where she is till date.
Methodist Girls’ High School has both Day and Boarding facilities, with Ultra-Modern Hostel which is a Home Away from Home.
At M.G.H.S, Dame Adenike Oluyemisi has been making waves academically, structurally and in aesthetics. The greatest achievement for her thus far is the girls with their high level of Integrity/discipline, confidence and high moral/spiritual standard.
Our focus in M.G.H.S, is that each student is given a formidable academic and moral foundation with 21st Century touch. No wonder in the last five years, the performance of our “girls” in UTME and WASSCE has been excellent (above 80%).
Year in year out, M.G.H.S. products gain admission into Federal, State and Private Universities in Nigeria and overseas. An interaction with them will convince anyone.
At M.G.H.S. decency and “Give Back Initiative” is exhibited in any girl as a demonstration of the school motto: In Love Serve One Another.
In the three domains of education – cognitive, affective and psychomotor, MGHS girls have been top notch.
Dame Idowu is a visionary servant-leader, whose belief is channelling all resources to get better result in an enabling environment.
Her repositioning of M.G.H.S. Yaba, for quality and effective Christian
education in the 21st Century is a case of laying treasure for the future.
Since her coming to the school, many awards and laurels have been won; such as, the Best Secondary School in Mainland Local Government, Lagos State, (Prestige Award), The Overall best in Code Lagos (Lagos State Government). The school is also affiliated to Goga Africa and the Nigerian French Village, Badagry.
A great advocate of the girl child rights indeed! She would always inculcate in her students the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom, the importance of being focused and diligent at whatever they are doing, thereby, empowering and arming themselves for future greatness with good education. She teaches them to imbibe decency, good characteristic traits, be bold, confident, and to believing that no goal is impossible for them to attain. She believes that every girl child should have a mentor – a role model, whom she would pattern her life after and even aspire to be better than.
Her advice to youths, particularly the girl-child, is to have self-worth and a vision. They should be creative, innovative and be ready to conquer their world. No one was created by chance, but by the divine design of God, to attain a destiny/purpose.
No girl child should have an entitlement mentality, but should work hard at her goal, be hopeful, and confident. They should also be purpose-driven, maintain high standard of discipline and integrity. The girls must be an embodiment of etiquette as future mothers and ladies of substance.
Dame Oluyemisi Idowu is a staunch Methodist (by birth and marriage). A Knight of John Wesley, who is committed to strict Christian beliefs and ethics. She is a member of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) – The first internationally recognized NGO in Nigeria. She is currently the Area Representative of the whole of Oyo State Area Council.
She is one of the Intending Delegates to New York, USA for the 64th Common Status of Women Conference (CSW).
In 2014, Dame Idowu together with five other ladies floated an NGO – Women Helping Women (WHIM). The main focus of which is to empower women and children.
She is keenly interested in empowering girls, exposing them to good leadership and entrepreneurship skills and motivating them to stand for their rights in order to occupy their rightful positions in the society.
She is happily married to Dr. Ademola Idowu. The marriage is blessed with two lovely and God fearing, professional ladies and four adorable grandchildren.
Glory be to God.