ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) — They left for Gateway Stadium Sagamu full of hope and returned as champions. But instead of applause, six (of nineteen) athletes who are students of Muleruwa Public Secondary School, Ogijo, Ogun State were met with open humiliation and suspension, punished simply for competing under the Sports Academy that their parents enrolled them in.
The students — Odeh Promise, a 15-year-old SS3 student; 14-year-old Ajibola Fathia, SS2; 18-year-old Akinduro Zacariah, SS2; 15-year-old Famojuro Jesutofunmi, SS2; 14-year-old Akinduro Isaiah, JSS3; and 13-year-old Ajibola Aminat, JSS3 — were first called out and embarrassed on the assembly ground without a first hearing.
An audio recording exclusively obtained by VONa reveals how the six students were summoned during the assembly, publicly humiliated, and ordered to leave the school premises, never to return, by the school principal.
VONa also found that the students were left outside the school compound without supervision or any follow-up communication to their parents.
Background:
Trouble began when the students returned from an athletics competition in Sagamu, where they represented Charlie Marie Sports Academy, a private sports academy where they are officially registered and trained.
Their parents had enrolled them for professional sports development.
However, the school authorities claimed the students should have participated under the school’s name and reportedly expressed dissatisfaction as prize money was awarded to them at the event. This dispute led to the antagonism at the assembly.
Evangelist Adekunbi Akin-Taylor, founder of Charlie Marie Sports Academy and a retired UK officer, expressed displeasure over the school’s reaction.
She said her return to Nigeria many years ago, was motivated by her love for education and sports and her desire to support youth development, especially at the grassroots level.
I have invested my personal savings and sold several of my properties to first establish Charlie Marie School twelve years ago, and Charlie Marie Sports Academy in Ogun State 2 years ago. My goal was to create opportunities for children with athletic potential, especially those from grassroots and low-income families,” she said.
The academy provides regular weekly training, mentorship, and access to competitions. Three of rhe athletes have gone for competitions at national level.
Although the Academy monthly fee is N5,000, many families struggle to afford it, and in such cases, Evang. Akin-Taylor allows the children to continue training without payment. She also personally covers the cost of coaches, transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other logistics.
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The students have represented the academy in various competitions across Ogun and Lagos states, often returning with medals and recognition. Many public school students, including those involved in the recent incident, joined the academy because their schools provided little or no support for sporting activities at such high level.
The Competition:
According to Akin-Taylor, on 15th November 2025, nineteen registered athletes from the academy went to competer , and 11 participated in the U-18 athletics competition in Sagamu, which involved several other schools and academies.
“They travelled and competed under the academy where they are officially registered,” she said.
Many of the students, especially 7, excelled, winning medals and prize money:- 50,000 Gold, 30,000, Silver and 20,000, Bronze.
Conflict arose when Muleruwa Public Secondary School insisted the students should have represented the school instead, and attempted to claim involvement despite providing no support or preparation for the athletes registered under Charlie Marie Sports Academy. This disagreement ultimately led to the students’ humiliation, immediate suspension, and threats of expulsion on rrauming back to school on Monday, 17th November.
Eyewitness Account:
Eyewitnesses told VONa that after being sent away, the students wandered the streets outside the school premises. Some were afraid to go home, for they were confused, while others had nowhere to turn to immediately.
Akin-Taylor’s Intervention:
Upon learning of the incident, Evang. Akin-Taylor approached the Sagamu Zonal Education Officer, who immediately contacted the principal. The principal denied expelling the students, claiming he merely instructed them to call their parents, contrary to what he said in the recording made available to VONa. Akin-Taylor then encouraged the parents to visit the school. However, when the parents visited the following day, they were reportedly verbally humiliated and received no clear explanation about their children’s status. They insited that they didn’t feel their children would be safe in Muleruwa School.
Ministry of Education:
When asked if the matter had been reported to the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Akin-Taylor said she instructed the Academy Director .Mr Austin Orogun, to travel to Sagamu with the parents and children to the ZEO to file an official complaint. This they did on Wednesday 19th November.
“The issue was brought to the attention of the ZEO, Remo. He requested that the parents permit the students to write an apology letters and pleaded that they should return to the school. They complied, but school authorities insisted on altering the athletes letters to misrepresent what happened,” she said.
The students maintained that they competed as representatives of Charlie Marie Sports Academy, not Muleruwa School; a stance that further angered the school authorities. They were told to state in writing that Muleruwa teacher Alison does not take what the children win as alleged by some parents.
According to Mrs. Akin-Taylor, the attempted alteration of the apology letters, shows the school was trying to shift blame and pressure the students into inaccurate narratives.
Fear of Returning to School:
A voice note sent by a parent via WhatsApp revealed that the parents now feel unsafe returning to the school a second time for fear of further humiliation, bullying, or victimization by school authorities. Some are even afraid to wear the school uniform, and two opted to drop out of formal education and learn a trade.
One parent said the incident has had a significant psychological impact, especially on the SS3 students preparing for crucial exams. “The fear of harassment and continued victimization has disrupted their learning and could affect their academic progress,” she said.
Scholarship for the Students:
Evang. Akin-Taylor, who also runs Charlie Marie Grace School — a day and boarding school for indigent children, said she will have no choice but to enrol the affected students so that their education would not be interrupted. She promised to seek for sports sponsorship/scholarship for them. She emphasized that education is a fundamental right, and no child should be deprived of learning due to institutional intimidation.
She added: “This case calls for greater accountability, oversight, and enforcement of child-protection policies within public schools. Children’s achievements should be celebrated, not punished. Schools must create safe, supportive, and fair environments where students can thrive.”