Tai Solarin

Augustus Taiwo "Tai" Solarin (20 August 1916 – 27 July 1994) was a Nigerian educator and author. He established the Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State in 1956. In 1952, Solarin became the principal of Molusi College, Ijebu Igbo, a post he held till 1956 when he became the proprietor and principal of Mayflower School.

Quotes

• I fight with an indomitable spirit, my back to the wall; defeat is for those who accept it.
  • Tai Solarin speaking on perseverance.

• The greatest strands of affection are woven in adversity.
  • Tai Solarin speaking on adversity.

• Leadership means suffering. The leader who has no marks, indelible marks to show either on his physical body or in his mind, has never led.
  • Tai Solarin speaking on leadership.

• We gave Nigeria its first woman engineer.
  • Tai Solarin discussing Mayflower School and women's education.

• It is lamentable that Nigeria of today, instead of getting its children given education free, universal and compulsory, is further re-establishing private schools and thus taking us back decades from what should be actually happening in Nigeria.
  • Tai Solarin speaking on education policy.

• Anyone who said that is a liar.
  • Tai Solarin responding to the claim that atheists always convert before death.

• I only pity him. He is like any other person who practises juju or witchcraft—they are all one and the same as far as I am concerned.
  • Tai Solarin discussing religion.

• I feel that today I am among the first six.
  • Tai Solarin reflecting on his place in Nigerian history.