Based on the novel The Lekki Headmaster, what nickname did students give to Mr Ayesoro because of his tribal marks?

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2025 Subject: English Language

Question 1 Report

Based on the novel The Lekki Headmaster, what nickname did students give to Mr Ayesoro because of his tribal marks?

Answer Details

Students gave Mr. Ayesoro the nickname "Mr Owala" because of his tribal marks. In Yoruba, "Owala" is a term used to describe a person with deep or prominent facial scarification. Mr. Ayesoro's tribal marks are described as being particularly deep and striking, and the students coined this nickname based on his appearance.

The nickname reflects how children can be direct and sometimes unkind in their observations about physical appearance. In the novel, Mr. Ayesoro's tribal marks become a defining feature of how others perceive him, eventually contributing to his transfer from the classroom when a younger student is frightened by his appearance.

The other nicknames (Mr Ologbo, Mr Egun, and Mr Omole) are not the ones used in the novel. "Owala" specifically relates to facial marks in Yoruba culture, making it the most fitting and the one the text attributes to Mr. Ayesoro.

Download The App On Google Playstore

Everything you need to excel in your exams

Green Bridge CBT Mobile App
Personalized AI Learning Chat Assistant
200,000+ Exam Questions Across IGCSE, JAMB, WAEC & NECO
Over 3,900 Lesson Notes
Offline Support - Learn Anytime, Anywhere
Green Bridge Timetable
Literature Summaries & Potential Questions
Track Your Performance & Progress
In-depth Explanations for Comprehensive Learning