Connect with us

International

UK school apologizes to ex-Nigerian student over racism, 51 years after

Published

on

UK school apologizes to ex-Nigerian student over racism, 51 years after

Following racial discrimination against a Nigerian student, Dillibe Onyeama, the Head Master of Eton College, Simon Henderson has apogised for the mistreatment of the first black student to graduate from the institution.

Mr Henderson noted that he would invite Onyeama in order to apologise in person and “to make it clear that he will always be welcome at Eton”

According to BBC, Mr Onyeama graduated in 1969.

“We have made significant strides since Onyeama was at Eton but as millions of people around the world rightly raise their voices in protest against racial discrimination and inequality – we have to have the institutional and personal humility to acknowledge that we still have more to do.

Read also: Ex-Google engineer sues former employers for discrimination

“We must all speak out and commit to doing better – permanently – and I am determined that we seize this moment as a catalyst for real and sustained change for the better,” the headmaster added.

Following his memoir in 1972 that detailed his experience in UK, he was prohibited from visiting the academy.

However, Onyeama said the apology was unnecessary and did not change his positive view of Eton College.

The writer, who earlier said he had been taunted on a daily basis at Eton by fellow students, added that the apology “compels the recognition that prejudice on the grounds of colour or race dehumanises its victims in a way that ordinary forms of prejudice do not”.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now