Nigeria’s education sector lost one of its foremost mobilisers and tireless cheerleaders in the person of Mrs Yinka Ogunde. Her passing on Sunday has left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill, particularly for those of us who encountered her passion, energy, and unwavering commitment to a better education system.
My last interaction with Mrs Ogunde was in February, shortly after the announcement of my PhD defence. True to type, she reached out with warmth and encouragement. She was ever supportive, even amidst ill health. The woman was a builder of people, a nurturer of dreams, and a steady voice in the education community.
She was an alumna of the University of Lagos, where she studied Mass Communication with marketing comms speciality. She began her professional life in advertising and media before transitioning fully into the education sector. That cross-sector experience would later define her strategic, communicative, and deeply people-oriented approach.
Mrs Ogunde, who departed this world in her sixties, embodied leadership in its most practical form. She was not merely a team leader in title, but in action by galvanising individuals and institutions alike toward shared goals. She treated people with respect irrespective of their ages. As a philanthropist and education rights advocate, her impact cut across multiple layers of society.
Through Edumark Consult, she created a rallying point for stakeholders in the education sector. Beyond offering branding and strategic support to schools, the organisation became a hub for collaboration and growth. Edumark reportedly worked with over 6,000 educational institutions, a testament to its wide reach and the trust it commanded across the sector. One of its flagship contributions, the Total School Support Seminar and Exhibition (TOSSE), stands as a testament to her vision. Within a decade, TOSSE evolved into a vibrant ecosystem where stakeholders met to learn, share, exhibit, and build capacity. The editions I attended were always rich in content and connection. There was never a dull moment.
Her influence extended even further through the Concerned Parents and Educators Initiative (CPE). What began as a simple Facebook group grew into a formidable network and nongovernmental organisation with reach beyond Nigeria’s borders. Through CPE, Mrs Ogunde mobilised parents, teachers, and advocates to speak up on critical issues, defend education rights, and support the vulnerable. Under her watch, the platform became a voice for the voiceless and a channel for tangible impact.
One could easily misread her at first glance — perhaps assuming she belonged only to the elite, given the corporate outlook of some of her initiatives. But a closer look revealed a different reality. She was as comfortable in high-level engagements as she was in grassroots mobilisation. Whether in underserved communities in Makoko, in Bida, or within IDP camps in Borno State, her presence was felt where it mattered most. She believed deeply in a Nigeria that works for all, regardless of social status and she lived out that belief.
Mrs Ogunde showed up selflessly for people across the education spectrum: journalists, school administrators, academics, civil society actors, and consultants alike. Her ability to connect, inspire, and mobilise was rare.
There are, for many of us, conversations left unfinished and plans left midstream. EduCeleb had plans to feature her on The Education Podcast. I have read of others identifying some gaps that her demise leaves. In all, we believe that the legacy she built should be preserved and advanced. With tragedies like this, we are all reminded of our mortality and the necessity of life with a positive impact.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Ogunde family. May the Almighty God grant them the fortitude to bear this loss.
