The Lekki HeadMaster Chapter Two, Summary and Likely Questions, pdf download.
Table of Contents
- The Lekki Headmaster Chapter 2- The Enticement
- Summary of Chapter Two: The Enticement
- Characters and Their Roles
- Figurative Expressions and Their Meanings
- 25 JAMB Likely Questions and Answers
- The Lekki Headmaster Chapter Three
The Lekki Headmaster Chapter 2- The Enticement
After five days of interrogation and frustration, Mr. Bepo opened up. He was leaving Nigeria for the United Kingdom. He could no longer withstand the pressure to relocate, as his foot-dragging over the matter had pushed his marriage to the brink. He very much loved Stardom Schools, especially his students. He cared about them, wanted to continually be part of their growth. He found no sense in leaving them behind in a developing nation and joining the crowd working to further advance the United Kingdom: a developed country. But family was also keen on his mind. In the war to win him over, his wife had conscripted Nike and Kike, their two children, who, all the while, had been with her. He just had to quit and join them. Fortunately, he had already secured a teaching job in the UK.
Of the two decades plus Bepo spent at Stardom Schools, he was Headmaster at Stardom Kiddies – the nursery/primary arm – for four years. The foundation school remained constant in his professional history especially because of the nickname it bequeathed to him – The Lekki Headmaster.
Apart from the fact that he sometimes mimicked the Village Headmaster in the old TV drama series, once upon a time, some of the teachers under him became so quarrelsome. Hardly would two weeks pass without a conflict being brought to his office for resolution. Given his humanistic and empathetic disposition, he often accommodated their agitation and even pettiness and resolved the issues. One day, during a staff meeting to resolve another quarrel, the clownish teacher, Mr. Audu, joked about Bepo’s disposition. “The way the headmaster masterly resolves these fights reminds me of the way King Oloja, in Village Headmaster, resolved all the roforofos brought by his chiefs and villagers. So, as they had their own Village Headmaster, we also have our own Lekki Headmaster. “Expectedly, laughter ensued. But there was more. A label stuck, which the many years that would eventually roll did not change. Even after Bepo became the principal at the secondary school, many still loved to call him ‘The Lekki Headmaster’.
A good number of Mr. Bepo’s colleagues at Stardom found his reaction concerning the impending relocation funny: extremely funny. Of course, what they really had in mind was that it was stupid. How could one have such a golden opportunity and yet be sad and reluctant considering that thousands of people even were sacrificing everything they had to travel overseas? His case was enviable, they thought. He did not have to borrow or steal money to make the journey. He did not have to present a fake wife at the embassy. And, in the UK, he would not have to look for menial job-wouldn’t have to clean ‘dishes’, as folks uncharitably say about washing corpses.
His wife, Seri, was a nurse. Rumour had it that she could be earning up to £10,000 per month (a whooping gbemu of more than N17m, they swiftly multiplied). The teaching job Mr. Bepo got promised about £3,600 and other entitlements. As principal, his salary at Stardom was about N400,000. Which was bigger: 400,000 feeble naira or almost 4,000 heavy British pounds? They converted the latter to about N6 million – at about N1,700 for a pound. Why then would any rational being develop cold feet towards such a life-changing offer?
“But let us not forget that he will not spend the wage in naira o. He will spend it in pounds. This is one factor many of us fail to take into consideration,” said Mr. Oyelana during a gossip session. But Mr. Audu had a contrary view.
“Dump that argument!” he exclaimed. “No matter how much of it he spends in pounds, he will still have a lot to send to Nigeria.” The Fine Arts teacher explained: “Just imagine, if he sends £1,000 to Naija every month, that is over N1.7m. You want to compare Bepo that saves N1.7m monthly to the one that earns N400,000 as salary? Are they on the same level? The principal knows all of these and still insists he is not leaving. I think Stardom’s management has jazzed (bewitched) him. This is unnatural. I have to find his wife’s home address.”
“And what will you do if you find it?” Oyelana asked, bemused. “I will beg her to adopt me as husband. I am leaving for the airport RIGHT NOW!” Audu said.
He stood up immediately, picked a few books off his table, pushed them under his armpit, and walked out of the staffroom, declaring: “I am heading to the airport for the next flight.”
His colleagues roared with laughter. Of course, everyone heard the bell.
Mr. Audu was already late for his next class.
Bepo’s plan was to retire from Stardoms at the age of 55. That was still four years away. He had been thinking seriously about life in retirement. He had begun attending seminars on entrepreneurship: this was what he wanted to spend the remaining slice of his days on. He loved the freedom and confidence successful businessmen enjoyed, in spite of the fact that business enterprise harbours peculiar challenges. Bepo also loved to develop fellow men and his country. He pictured himself in a position where he also could employ workers, no matter how modestly, and give people opportunity to earn a living and pay tax to government. It was one of the tips he learnt at Seminars. According to one of his coaches, no employee should dream big about comfort or bank on job security either. Only a business owner could afford to do so, especially when the
business had become successful.
Bepo would also not mind establishing his own school; after all, he had garnered a lot of experience about teaching and school management. Besides, he was a trained teacher, having studied English/History Education at the University of Benin. This projection would give him an opportunity to push his passion for moulding the young. His only reservation: he wondered if he would have enough capital to float a standard school, given the taste he had already imbibed at Stardom. He recalled that a major principle of entrepreneurship is starting small. He did not object to this, but experience had taught him a lesson: it is better for the facility to be in an area where parents are able to pay for the kind of education he wanted to provide. He could not forget in a hurry how a neighbourhood school-Fruitful Future-which he established alongside a friend, shortly after his National Youth Service, crumbled due to socio-economic challenges in the location. Of course, he knew his wife would not fund any project that would hold him down in Nigeria.
Bepo considered farming, food, and sachet (pure) or bottled water businesses. But he also had substantial inclination towards commercial transportation. He believed it was a business someone with minimal capital could begin with. An option he could readily chew over was buying a bus or a cab and leasing it to a driver. A fact about transportation, he knew, was that you begin to make money from the first day the vehicle is purchased. It is not like farming, where you had to wait till the end of a season or cycle before your seeds or animals begin to yield. It is not like retail or distribution business either, where, after getting a shop, you have to wait for customers to show up- customers who already have their preferred clients before you arrived. Besides, in many cases, buyers need to earn trust before patronising you. But in running a cab or bus, passengers have no loyalty to any driver or vehicle. As a matter of fact, Bepo knew: the newer your cab, the more attractive it is to commuters.
The problem with transportation, he learnt, was that many commercial drivers one would have loved to engage lacked enlightened business practices. They were not trustworthy, and often ended up ruining the dream. At least, three members of staff at Stardom ventured into it but ended up with regrets. The drivers frustrated the idea, defaulted in payment, and often told lies that the autos broke down. On some occasions, they colluded with mechanics to defraud the vehicle owners. In spite of these sour details, Bepo kept the option open. Hebelieved there could still be a way out. There were, for instance, people who bought vehicles and let them out to drivers, who, in turn, paid instalments. He also felt that if big transport companies, such as ABC and God is Good Motors, could operate successfully, there must be a way around the challenges.
For now, however, he needed not worry again about those dreams. He was set to renew his teaching career in a new environment, a new country where he, definitely, would earn more and share a new life with Seri, Nike and Kike. He knew life, anywhere, is not a bed of roses, and every place harboured its challenges. He read the story of a Nigerian teacher who got rattled the first day he walked into a class in a UK school. One of the students was said to have asked: “Are you an idiot?” Yet, Bepo knew that such an incident, if true, must be isolated. And a good teacher should be able to handle that diplomatically.
Summary of Chapter Two: The Enticement
In this chapter, Mr. Bepo finally reveals the reason for his emotional breakdown: he is leaving Nigeria for the United Kingdom. The decision was not easy for him, as he deeply loved his work at Stardom Schools and felt a strong connection to his students. However, the pressure from his wife, Seri, and their two children, Nike and Kike, left him no choice but to relocate to preserve his marriage. He had already secured a teaching position in the UK, though he lamented leaving his beloved students and contributing to the growth of a foreign country instead of his own.
The chapter delves into Mr. Bepo’s reflective thoughts about his time at Stardom Schools, including his nickname, “The Lekki Headmaster,” which originated from his days as a headmaster at Stardom Kiddies. His empathetic and humanistic approach to resolving conflicts earned him this affectionate moniker.
While his colleagues at Stardom Schools mock his reluctance to relocate, considering it a life-changing opportunity, Mr. Bepo contemplates the financial benefits and the challenges of life abroad. His entrepreneurial dreams, including starting a school, farming, or a transportation business, are put on hold as he prepares for this new chapter in his life.
The chapter highlights the tension between personal aspirations, professional fulfillment, and family responsibilities as Mr. Bepo reflects on his impending journey and the sacrifices it entails.
Characters and Their Roles
- Mr. Bepo Adewale (The Principal):
The protagonist of the chapter, torn between his love for Stardom Schools and his obligation to his family. He ultimately decides to leave Nigeria for the UK. - Seri (Bepo’s Wife):
A nurse living in the UK with their children. She pressures Mr. Bepo to relocate and reunite with the family. - Nike and Kike (Bepo’s Children):
Bepo’s children, who play a role in persuading him to move to the UK to preserve their family unit. - Mr. Audu (Fine Arts Teacher):
Known for his humor, he mocks Bepo’s reluctance to relocate and jokes about marrying Seri himself to take advantage of the opportunity. - Mr. Oyelana (CRK Teacher):
Engages in discussions about the financial benefits of relocating and debates with Mr. Audu during their gossip session. - Stardom Schools Staff:
They gossip about Bepo’s hesitation, expressing disbelief over his reluctance to embrace what they perceive as a golden opportunity. - Unnamed Seminar Coach:
Mentioned as someone who inspired Bepo’s entrepreneurial dreams, encouraging him to consider starting his own business.
Figurative Expressions and Their Meanings
- “The war to win him over”:
Describes the efforts of Bepo’s wife and children to convince him to relocate, likening it to a battle. - “Jazzed (bewitched) him”:
A humorous suggestion that Bepo’s reluctance to relocate must have been caused by supernatural manipulation. - “Heading to the airport for the next flight”:
A figurative way of expressing Mr. Audu’s mock eagerness to seize Bepo’s opportunity. - “A whooping gbemu of more than N17m”:
A colloquial expression emphasizing the large amount of money Seri could earn monthly. - “Life, anywhere, is not a bed of roses”:
A metaphor highlighting the universal challenges of life, regardless of location. - “Passengers have no loyalty to any driver or vehicle”:
A metaphor for the lack of customer attachment in the transportation business. - “Every place harbored its challenges”:
A figurative way of stating that no location is free from difficulties.
25 JAMB Likely Questions and Answers
Comprehension Questions
- Q: Why did Mr. Bepo decide to leave Stardom Schools?
A: He decided to leave because the pressure to relocate to the UK had strained his marriage. - Q: What nickname did Mr. Bepo earn during his career?
A: He was nicknamed “The Lekki Headmaster” because of his empathetic leadership and conflict resolution skills. - Q: What job has Mr. Bepo secured in the UK?
A: He secured a teaching position in the UK. - Q: How did Mr. Audu react to Mr. Bepo’s reluctance to relocate?
A: Mr. Audu mocked him, joking about taking Bepo’s wife as his own and seizing the opportunity. - Q: What was Mr. Bepo’s initial plan for retirement?
A: He planned to retire at 55, start a business, and possibly establish his own school. - Q: Why does Mr. Oyelana believe Bepo’s salary in the UK might not be as advantageous?
A: He argues that Bepo would spend his salary in pounds, reducing its value compared to its naira equivalent. - Q: What does Mr. Bepo think about starting small businesses?
A: He believes in starting small but is cautious about socioeconomic challenges, as seen in his past failed business. - Q: Why does Bepo hesitate to pursue entrepreneurship immediately?
A: He lacks sufficient capital and is focused on his family’s immediate needs. - Q: What types of businesses does Mr. Bepo consider?
A: He considers farming, sachet water production, transportation, and establishing a school. - Q: Why does Bepo see transportation as a viable business?
A: It generates income immediately, unlike farming or retail businesses that require waiting periods.
Interpretative Questions
- Q: What does Mr. Bepo’s reluctance to leave Stardom Schools reveal about his character?
A: It highlights his dedication to his students and his struggle between personal passion and family obligations. - Q: How does the nickname “The Lekki Headmaster” reflect Bepo’s leadership style?
A: It emphasizes his humanistic approach and his ability to resolve conflicts empathetically. - Q: What role do financial considerations play in Bepo’s decision-making?
A: Financial benefits are significant but not enough to overshadow his emotional attachment to Stardom Schools. - Q: How does Bepo’s failed business venture influence his views on entrepreneurship?
A: It makes him cautious about starting another business without thorough planning and adequate capital. - Q: What does Mr. Audu’s humor add to the narrative?
A: It provides comic relief and highlights the differing perspectives among the staff. - Q: Why does Bepo view teaching as his calling?
A: He is passionate about molding young minds and believes education can shape the future. - Q: What societal issue is reflected in the staff’s reaction to Bepo’s relocation?
A: It reflects the widespread desire among Nigerians to seek better opportunities abroad. - Q: How does Bepo balance his personal dreams with family priorities?
A: He sacrifices his professional ambitions to prioritize his family’s unity and well-being. - Q: What challenges does Bepo anticipate in the UK?
A: He foresees adapting to a new environment and dealing with cultural differences in the education system. - Q: How does the chapter reflect the theme of sacrifice?
A: Bepo sacrifices his dreams and career satisfaction for his family’s happiness and stability.
Critical Thinking Questions
- Q: What does Bepo’s internal conflict teach about leadership and personal responsibility?
A: It shows that leadership involves making difficult decisions that balance personal and professional responsibilities. - Q: How does the staff’s perspective differ from Bepo’s regarding relocation?
A: The staff views relocation as a financial blessing, while Bepo sees it as a painful departure from his passion and students. - Q: What lessons can entrepreneurs learn from Bepo’s failed venture?
A: Entrepreneurs must consider socioeconomic factors, location, and long-term sustainability before starting a business. - Q: How does the chapter illustrate the impact of brain drain?
A: It highlights how talented professionals like Bepo leave developing nations to contribute to developed countries. - Q: What is the significance of the title “The Enticement”?
A: It reflects the allure of financial security and family reunion that ultimately convinces Bepo to relocate, despite his reluctance.
The Lekki Headmaster Chapter Three
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