Monarch honours Charterhouse Lagos head

HRM Oba Abiodun Muslim Ogunbo, Ogudu Oshadi of Ogombo kingdom; Director of Education, Charterhouse Lagos, John Todd and Olori Rafiat, Anuoluwapo Ogunbo during the installation of Todd as Aare Oluko of Ogombo Kingdom recently

Charterhouse Lagos Founding Head and Director of Education, John Todd, has been installed as the Aare Oluko of Ogombo Kingdom, in Lagos State, in recognition of his contribution to education and his ties to the community hosting the British school.

Todd received the traditional title from the Oba of Ogombo, Oba Abiodun Ogunbo, at the monarch’s palace in Ogombo, Lagos, on Saturday.

The ceremony brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, representatives of the Lagos State Government, education stakeholders and members of the Charterhouse Lagos leadership.

The title, according to the school, reflects Todd’s role in establishing Charterhouse Lagos and developing its educational programme, as well as his engagement with the Ogombo community.

Todd has served as the school’s founding head since its establishment, overseeing its development as the Nigerian outpost of the British independent-school institution.

His responsibilities have included translating Charterhouse’s educational model into the Nigerian setting while developing a school that incorporates elements of its host community and Nigerian identity.

The school said the traditional recognition also acknowledged Todd’s interest in youth development and his contribution to building relationships between the institution and the surrounding community.

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Receiving the title, Todd thanked the monarch and residents of Ogombo for the recognition, describing it as a significant honour.

He also highlighted the relationship between the school and its host community, saying education should extend beyond the classroom to encompass service, partnership and the development of young people.

The ceremony underscored the increasingly local character of Charterhouse Lagos, despite its roots in the British education system.

The school has sought to present its Nigerian campus not simply as an extension of its British institution but as a school connected to its immediate environment and Nigerian cultural heritage.

That approach is reflected in its stated philosophy, “Traditional Values. British Academic Excellence,” which combines the traditions of Charterhouse with an emphasis on local identity.

Todd’s installation therefore gives a traditional dimension to his relationship with Ogombo, where Charterhouse Lagos is based, while also recognising his role in the school’s establishment and development.

The school described the occasion as a milestone in its relationship with the community and congratulated Todd on his installation as the Aare Oluko of Ogombo Kingdom.