Rosegate School

Learn as you play,

bloom as you learn.

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The History of Rosegate School, Ibadan

Foundations and Caribbean Roots

The story of Rosegate School is a beautiful journey of love, family values, and cross-continental heritage. It was founded in 1976 by the late Mrs. Doreen Yvonne Odugbesan (née Clarke), an educator born in Barbados—the beautiful West Indian "Island in the Sun". After studying nursing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and living briefly in Lagos and Toronto, Mrs. Odugbesan moved with her husband to Ibadan.

In Ibadan, she connected with the "Coterie of Social Workers" (later joining "Nigerwives," an association of foreign women married to Nigerian men). While spending time in her garden, Mrs. Odugbesan met Mrs. Jean Usoro, a music teacher at the University of Ibadan Staff School. This chance meeting led to an invitation to meet the principal, Mrs. Ogun, who offered Mrs. Odugbesan a job on a grant-aided project aimed at improving the oral and storytelling skills of young children. Inspired by this fulfilling three-year experience, Mrs. Odugbesan set out to bring a little bit of the Caribbean to Nigeria by opening her own pre-school.

Humble Beginnings to Growth

The institution began as Rosegate Playgroup, named affectionately by Mrs. Odugbesan's children after their family’s residential street in Barbados. It provided a secure, peaceful environment for children from diverse backgrounds, initially drawing many families whose parents worked at the University College Hospital (UCH), the University of Ibadan, and The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

Rosegate quickly grew from a playgroup into a crèche, daycare, and nursery. It remained a proud family venture; following the completion of her Master's degree, Mrs. Odugbesan’s first daughter, Elaine Odugbesan, joined the staff as a teacher, strengthening the school's early academic foundation. A definitive milestone arrived in 1988. Driven by the vision and tenacity of her second daughter, Mrs. Olatutu (Tutu) Odelola, the institution expanded into a full primary school. Under Mrs. Odelola's management as the school's administrator, Rosegate successfully widened its educational reach to fully support children through their critical formative years.

A Legacy of Excellence and Global Community

Today, Rosegate School has evolved into a thriving institution with a combined enrollment of over 200 pupils across all levels. The school’s deep-rooted connection to the community is evidenced by the fact that it has proudly educated at least two generations of children from the same families. Over the decades, Rosegate alumni have gone on to achieve great success, transforming into doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other distinguished professionals.


The school's creative approach to early childhood education has earned notable domestic and international accolades, including:

  • OMEP Recognition: Active membership and awards from the Organisation Mondiale pour l’Éducation Préscolaire (World Organisation for Early Childhood Education).

  • The Living Legend of Education Award: Bestowed upon Mrs. Doreen Odugbesan in 2016 by Education Initiatives (ELLA) for Education Legends and Leaders.

  • Spelling Bee Champions: Twice winning the overall crown at the International School Ibadan’s Annual Spelling Bee Competition.

Guided faithfully by its cherished motto, “Learn as you play and bloom as you grow,” Rosegate School continues to uphold the high standards of the Ministry of Education. It stands as a testament to Mrs. Odugbesan’s lifetime of dedication, honoring its rich heritage of family values while looking forward to blooming from strength to strength for generations to come.

Learn as you play,
bloom as you learn.

Contact

+234 08054310684

Location

32, Oshuntokun Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 200212

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