JAMB The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Garba is the official Literature-in-English novel selected for UTME candidates. Every student offering English in JAMB is expected to study this book very well because questions will come from it in the exam.
If you are preparing for UTME, understanding JAMB The Lekki Headmaster is not optional. This novel is not just a storybook; it is a text filled with lessons about leadership, education, discipline, corruption, and responsibility.
In this guide, you will find:
A clear summary of The Lekki Headmaster
Analysis of the story
Main themes
Major characters
Lessons from the novel
Why JAMB chose the book
Likely JAMB questions
About JAMB The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Garba
The Lekki Headmaster is a novel written by Kabir Garba. The book focuses on the Nigerian education system and the challenges faced by school administrators, teachers, parents, and students.
The story is centered around a principal (headmaster) who is posted to a school in Lekki and tries to restore discipline, academic excellence, and moral values in a system that is already affected by corruption and negligence.
JAMB selected The Lekki Headmaster because:
It reflects real Nigerian society
It teaches leadership and integrity
It exposes problems in the education sector
It contains rich language and strong moral lessons
Summary of JAMB The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Garba
JAMB The Lekki Headmaster tells the story of a dedicated and principled school administrator who is assigned to manage a secondary school in Lekki.
When he arrives, he discovers that:
The school has lost discipline
Teachers are not serious with their duties
Students are morally weak
Parents influence school decisions wrongly
Corruption has eaten deep into the system
The new headmaster decides to change things. He introduces:
Strict discipline
Academic seriousness
Moral training
Transparency in school management
However, his reforms do not go well with some:
Corrupt staff
Indisciplined students
Some powerful parents
Education officials who benefit from the bad system
The headmaster faces:
Threats
False accusations
Pressure to compromise
Isolation and opposition
Despite all these, he remains firm, honest, and committed to doing what is right.
The story shows how doing the right thing in a corrupt society is difficult but necessary.
Plot Overview of The Lekki Headmaster
The novel follows a progressive plot structure:
Introduction of the headmaster and the school
Discovery of the school’s problems
Attempts to reform the system
Resistance from staff and parents
Conflicts and conspiracies
Consequences of standing for the truth
Final outcome of the headmaster’s actions
The story is realistic and closely connected to what happens in many Nigerian schools today.
Major Themes in JAMB The Lekki Headmaster
1. Corruption in the Education System
One of the strongest themes in JAMB The Lekki Headmaster is corruption. We see:
Teachers collecting illegal fees
Officials manipulating results
Parents bribing school authorities
People protecting bad practices
The novel shows how corruption destroys education.
2. Discipline and Moral Values
The headmaster believes that:
Education without discipline is useless
Students must be morally upright
Teachers must be role models
This theme shows the importance of character in both students and teachers.
3. Leadership and Integrity
The headmaster represents true leadership:
He refuses bribes
He stands by the truth
He works for the good of the school
He does not fear threats
The book teaches that a good leader must be honest, not popular.
4. Resistance to Change
Many people in the school hate change because:
They benefit from the old corrupt system
They are afraid of losing their comfort
They do not want accountability
This shows why reforms are often difficult in society.
5. Social Injustice and Pressure
The headmaster suffers because:
Powerful people want to control the school
Truth is punished
Lies are rewarded
This reflects what happens in many parts of society.
Major Characters in The Lekki Headmaster
1. The Headmaster (Protagonist)
He is:
Principled
Disciplined
Courageous
Honest
Dedicated to education
He represents the voice of conscience in the story.
2. The Corrupt Staff Members
These characters:
Hate discipline
Love shortcuts
Sabotage reforms
Spread false information
They represent bad elements in the system.
3. The Students
Some students:
Are serious and willing to learn
Others are stubborn and indisciplined
They show the result of good and bad upbringing.
4. Parents and Officials
Some parents:
Support corruption
Want to buy success for their children
Fight the headmaster’s policies
They represent societal pressure.
Lessons from JAMB The Lekki Headmaster
Integrity is better than popularity
Education needs discipline to succeed
Corruption destroys the future of children
Doing the right thing is not always easy
True leaders must be firm and brave
Society often fights those who want change
Why JAMB Chose The Lekki Headmaster
JAMB selected The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Garba because:
It is relevant to Nigerian society
It teaches strong moral lessons
It improves students’ comprehension skills
It contains good use of English
It tests candidates’ understanding of themes and characters
Likely JAMB Questions from The Lekki Headmaster
You should expect questions on:
The role of the headmaster
Conflicts in the school
Themes of corruption and discipline
Character analysis
Lessons from the story
Meaning of some passages
How to Study JAMB The Lekki Headmaster and Pass
Read the novel at least twice
Study summaries and themes
Understand each character’s role
Practice past questions
Focus on why events happened, not just what happened
Conclusion
JAMB The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Garba is more than just a story. It is a mirror of the Nigerian education system and society at large. The novel teaches discipline, honesty, courage, and responsibility.
If you want to score high in JAMB Literature-in-English, you must study The Lekki Headmaster very well and understand its message, characters, and themes.
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