In Memory of Abosede Olayinka Abiodun

"The greatest legacy I can give you is a great education."

The Architect of Educational Excellence

Abosede Olayinka Abiodun didn't just pursue education—he transformed it. Born in Ebute-Metta,

Lagos on July 1, 1945, his journey from science teacher to educational reformer exemplifies how one

person's vision can reshape an entire system for generations.

From Classroom to System Change

Yinka's career began in 1971 as a Science Teacher Educator in Ishamolu, but he quickly recognized

that lasting impact required thinking beyond individual classrooms. His progression through Lagos

State's education hierarchy wasn't about climbing ranks—it was about expanding his ability to create

systemic change. As Chief Inspector of Education and later as Chairman of the State Task Force

implementing Nigeria's National Policy on Education, he learned that sustainable reform happens when

you build systems, not just teach students.

The Courage to Start Over

In 1991, at age 46, Yinka made a defining choice. He left the security of public service to establish

Abose & Associates, which became the Lakepoint Institute in 1994. This wasn't just career change—it

was calculated risk-taking by someone who believed private consulting could achieve what

bureaucracy couldn't. His company became the bridge between educational theory and practical

implementation, serving schools across multiple states.

Building Legacy Through Others

Yinka's masterpiece wasn't any single achievement but his approach to multiplying impact. Between

2012 and 2013, his Lakepoint Institute conducted intensive rebranding workshops for Lagos State's

Ministry of Education. The result? A blueprint that transformed the Inspectorate Department into an

independent Quality Assurance Directorate—structural change that continues improving education

long after his passing. 

His production of the Lagos State Education Yearbook chronicled educational landmarks from 1967-

2012, ensuring that institutional memory would guide future generations of educators.

The Power of Calculated Words

Those who knew Yinka remember his legendary calm and measured communication. He spoke few

words, but each carried weight. This wasn't just personality - it was strategy. In rooms full of competing

voices and conflicting agendas, his thoughtful approach earned him influence across political administrations and educational philosophies.

International Vision, Local Impact

Yinka's Master's degree from the University of San Diego and extensive travels across Africa, America,

and Europe weren't about personal enrichment. They were research expeditions. He studied global

best practices and adapted them for Nigerian contexts, understanding that effective education must

be both internationally informed and locally relevant.

The Ripple Effect

Today, the Quality Assurance Directorate he conceptualized continues evaluating schools across

Lagos State. Principals he trained still lead institutions. The curricula he helped develop still guide

classrooms. The Ikoyi Club gym bearing his name reminds members that excellence deserves

recognition. Most importantly, the Abosede Olayinka Abiodun Memorial Scholarship Fund ensures his

core belief—that education is the greatest legacy—continues transforming lives.

For Future Scholars

Abosede Olayinka Abiodun's life teaches us that true success isn't measured by personal achievement

but by systems built, people developed, and positive change that compounds long after we're gone.

He showed us that:

• Strategic patience creates lasting impact - He spent decades building credibility before implementing major reforms.

• Calculated risks enable breakthrough - Leaving secure employment at 46 to start his consulting firm multiplied his influence.

• Systemic thinking trumps individual effort - Creating frameworks and institutions affects thousands more than direct teaching.

• Continuous learning fuels relevance - His international education and travel kept him ahead of global trends.

As recipients of this scholarship bearing his name, you inherit not just financial support but a challenge: How will you use your education to build systems, develop others, and create positive change that outlasts your immediate presence?The greatest tribute to Abosede Olayinka Abiodun isn't remembering what he accomplished, but continuing the work he started—using education as a tool for transformation, approaching challenges with strategic thinking, and building legacies that compound across generations.

His words echo still: "The greatest legacy I can give you is a great education." Now it's your turn to pass that legacy forward.

Preserving our father’s legacy

Just about a quarter of a century ago, I walked into a classroom as a five year old, cranky that I was being forced to go to school by my parents who obviously didn’t know anything because if they did, they’d know that playing at home was a much better use of my time. 

As I pulled out my notebook to do whatever it is 5 year olds do with notebooks on the first day of primary school, I read the front cover which said “being the best”. What our father saw that 5 year old me did not, was the transformational impact of a quality education on a child’s life and future trajectory. The Yoruba people have a saying that roughly translates to: “What an adult can see sitting down, a child cannot see even standing on their tip-toes”. 

25 years from now 2 out of every 5 children will be born in Africa and the vast majority of them will not have access to the same trajectory defining opportunities that our parents ensured we had access to. Worse, they will be entering a world that is radically different from the one we are in today. Technological progress is accelerating at a dizzying pace and this presents both a huge opportunity, and a massive risk. The risk is of being left behind. Of being forgotten. Of being washed away by the tidal wave of technological and social advancement that is accelerating all around us. 

In order to have any semblance of a chance, they are going to need access to a quality of education 10x as good as they have right now for at least a 10th of the cost and we simply don’t know how to get there from here. It is for this reason that my brothers and I have come together to launch the Lakepoint Youth Educational Foundation. 

The foundation’s mission, building on the labours of our heroes past, is to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality education that can serve as a foundation upon which they can build a life of purpose and prosperity. And we plan to do this by providing kids access to better education, helping kids learn more at school, helping educators teach more effectively, and ultimately reinventing education. 

Taking each pillar one by one, step by step

It is with great pride and gratitude that we launched the Abosede Olayinka Abiodun Memorial Fund and the Lakepoint Youth Educational Foundation. To get this off the ground, we will be starting with our first pillar and quite literally just giving some kids access to the exact education that got me in a position to be standing before you today. 

Thank you all for reading.