Why govt should focus on primary, secondary education – Westerfield MD, Dosunmu

Managing Director of Westerfield College, Michael Dosunmu, speaks with BIODUN BUSARI about the school’s journey, from its origins in Lagos to its global expansion, including the recent unveiling of its branch in the United Kingdom

What is the driving force behind the school’s expansion?

The beauty of education, especially at such a high level, lies in its universality – the fact that it can be a melting pot. So, we were intentional about what we wanted to achieve regarding the quality of education we offer.

We achieved that at Yaba, where we started. We wanted a bigger location, so we moved to Victoria Island. This site is about six times larger than Yaba. Our goal drives us. We made strategic moves to establish a presence in Abuja, which defines Nigeria.

What kind of academic programmes do you offer at Westerfield?

Our programmes are predominantly British. We provide the International Foundation Programme and the Cambridge A-Level, which are designed to prepare students for further education in the UK.

This is known as sixth-form education in the UK, which we offer. We were set up as a British school from day one. We had world-class aspirations from the very beginning. We didn’t just want to run a school.

That’s why we carefully crafted the vision and mission of the school. We had to be detailed in the goals and core values of the school. We didn’t want to run a school that only met Nigeria’s standard. From the start, we wanted students to come to Nigeria from at least neighbouring countries in Africa.

We wanted students from all over the world to study in Nigeria. The UK expansion is a result of the fact that our vision has been global from day one. We wanted to teach students from Asia, Europe, and America – and we’re doing that now.

Why did you choose the UK for your expansion?

The UK’s power lies entirely in the number of people who have studied through or within its system. The UK is a strong and renowned destination, and that influenced our choice of the UK.

We could have chosen America, Canada, or anywhere else in the world, but the UK sells itself. It lends credibility to what we do because our programme is built around the British education system. Additionally, it commands global respect.

Did you study any education courses before venturing into the school business?

No, I didn’t. I studied Mass Communication. But one unique thing about me is that, as a graduate of the University of Lagos, I met several other graduates from different universities.

My dream was to be a broadcaster. Before I gained admission to UNILAG, I was presenting on radio and TV. I met many people at AIT and RayPower. I wasn’t only a well-rounded Mass Communication graduate, but also a well-rounded graduate of the world.

From the day I graduated from UNILAG, I knew I could succeed in any field. When I was in my second year at UNILAG, I was invited to speak at a welcome party for British universities. I attended and spoke.

As a result, I was offered a job in my second year to work for the university. That’s how this whole journey began. Later on, I went to the UK to study. I earned my degree at the University of Bedfordshire. That’s where my career started. I worked there for five years before Westerfield began.

What were the challenges you had to deal with at the start of your business?

The challenges are still there. They will never end. There were financial, social, cultural, political, and environmental challenges. The challenges we faced when the school started remain today. In terms of capital, when I first had the idea for the school, I reached out to the university I worked for.

I wanted to secure foreign direct investment to help set up the school in Nigeria. The conversation lingered, and I identified a property in Yaba. With the support of my family, we bought the property. No bank came to help.

What did you study at the University of Bedfordshire?

I studied Human Resources and earned an MBA at the University of Northern Carolina in the United States.

What led you to the school business?

I was exposed to witnessing the rather unsavoury transition of students at such a young age. I then decided it would be beneficial to create a school in Nigeria where students could study for an extra year and mature. The transition from secondary school to university is not always smooth.

Most students would be 16 or 17 at that transition stage. We thought of establishing a school where students could develop individuality and learn leadership. One of the core components of our school is the leadership element. We teach what is called “Leadership for Self-Foundation.”

Can you explain the initiatives designed to make your students distinct problem solvers in Nigeria and across the globe?

We will be a proud Nigerian school in the UK and ambassadors of Nigeria in the UK. We owe a responsibility to Nigeria to ensure that people can say good things about it. We have students who speak about how Westerfield shapes them. We want the same for Nigeria.

We have different academic programmes at Westerfield to enhance our vision of impacting the child to impact the world. We’re not focusing solely on academics. The success story is about changed lives. Students who come here should be able to build their lives 10 or 20 years down the line.

Do you target Nigerians in the UK?

Our target in the UK is not specifically the Nigerian community. We intend to be a primary Nigerian school that teaches the world. It doesn’t matter to us where the teenagers come from. We’re in China, India, Botswana, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, the UK, the US, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Where they come from is not important to us. The impact is what matters.

What Nigerian culture are you bringing to the school?

The education system we deliver here is not fully based on the Nigerian curriculum. However, we offer the British education system. In terms of Nigerian colouration, the first thing is food. We’re going to have a global café. The school’s global cafeteria will serve both English and Nigerian foods. Additionally, Nigerian music is globally renowned at the moment, and it will be part of the Nigerian influence. You won’t be surprised if you see a performance by Davido, Wizkid, or Burna Boy to make our campus vibrant.

What does the UK campus look like?

It’s an amazing site. We’re not moving staff from Nigeria; instead, we’re going to employ 100% British staff, although some may be British-Nigerian. All the good things in the culture, including raising children, will be inculcated. I was raised in a very cultural home, so those aspects will be promoted in the school.

We have a very spacious campus, but the student population will be 150. We will have students from around the world. We have a stable, so students can ride horses. There’s a swimming pool, football pitches, long tennis courts, a cricket pitch, and much more. The campus is entirely fenced and gated.

How do you cope with the challenge of managing students in this digital age?

As a school manager for the past 13 years, I haven’t had any negative experiences. Their energy is not bad. They can be assertive, and being assertive is not a bad thing. We train them to be individuals. They can talk to us because we operate a system of openness. They are not judged if they express their opinions with sincerity.

This encourages them to feel a sense of belonging in the college. These are intelligent young people who have access to a wide range of information on the Internet. We let them know we are collaborating with them to build their future together. The environment promotes openness and trust.

What’s the school’s success rate?

For students who complete their courses, we have a 100% academic success rate. The progression to university currently stands at about 95%. The 5% who do not proceed to university typically face reasons unrelated to academics. As life happens, some may not proceed to university due to financial constraints. We’re proud to say that 95% of our students are placed into universities worldwide, including in Nigeria through our programmes.

We have students in universities in Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, Grenada, Spain, Hungary, France, the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Uganda, and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine and Hungary. Grenada is particularly important to us at Westerfield.

As you think of Harvard as a leading global university, there’s a similar institution in the world of medicine: St George’s University in Grenada. Westerfield enjoys a special relationship with the university. Students can come here, take a three-term programme, and gain access to the third year of one of the best medical schools in the world.

Do you have Nigerians in the diaspora who want to bring their children to Nigeria for studies?

Yes. Many Nigerians in the diaspora would like to send their children here. We receive a lot of students from the diaspora who come back to Nigeria to study. We’re always happy to welcome them.

As an education entrepreneur, what recommendations would you offer to Nigerian educational sector stakeholders to improve the system?

When you look at government policies, there’s a lot of emphasis on the university system. But I think that’s not where the problem lies. There could be issues with university education, but the bulk of the work is with primary education. If we fix elementary education, the entire system will improve.

For instance, we have Nigerian graduates who cannot speak proper English. You don’t question their universities, but you should look at the primary level because English is the primary language of instruction in Nigeria. You don’t learn to speak English in university; you learn it in primary school, not even in secondary school.

If you get it wrong in primary school, chances are slim that you will get it right later. It becomes a much harder job. We need to fix primary and secondary education. Then, I believe the university system will improve on its own.