Efi Kukoyi
Essie Florence Ibijoke Kukoyi, the Pioneer Head of the Command Children School, Ikeja was born in Warri Delta State, Nigeria to the family of Reverend Edward Francis and Mrs Nellie Smith (Nee Sagay) in 1932. A native of Amupke, Delta State. She started her education at St. James & CMS Girls Primary School, Benin and thereafter proceeded to Kudeti Girls School, Ibadan for Secondary Education and later to United Missionary College (UMC), Ibadan for Grade 11 Education.
Her love for education and commitment made her pursue a career in the teaching profession having asserted that no education system can rise above the qualities of its teachers, she believes that “teacher education shall continue to be given major emphasis in all educational planning and development”. She later proceeded to Rachael McMillan College, United Kingdom.
Mrs. EFB Kukoyi taught within the Education sector and subsequently appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the Pioneer Head of the Command Children School, Ikeja, Cantonment where she earned the title “Soldier without uniform” for the discipline instilled and inculcated not just in the pupils whom many are now in the Country’s realms of affairs but also the teachers and parents making the Command Children School one of the best in Nigeria.
After her retirement in 1980, her husband, a great and multi-talented icon, late Surveyor Adekunle Kukoyi set up The Afro School, Ilupeju, for the continuity of her legacy in the education sector in 1990. Mrs. EFB Kukoyi is well-known all-over Nigeria and her community Obanikoro for her love for education. Her popular mantra is that “Education is the only legacy you can give to your child/ward that no man can take away from them”.
Mrs. EFB Kukoyi sits on the Board of many charity organization and she is a philanthropist extra-ordinary and have pioneered many international Organization to include International Inner Wheel Club of Ilupeju, leading women in high capacity. She is the Pioneer Chairman of the Surveyors Women Association of Nigeria.
She is recently appointed as Chairman, Governing Board, City Profs Educational Foundation, succeeding the first Woman Professor of Mathematics Education in Nigeria and Former Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, OFR. The Organization has built over ten (10) e-Libraries and Vocational Skills Acquisition Centres. She is a recipient of over Twenty Awards from diverse organizations.
She is blessed with children, Grand-children and Great Grand Children.