Ceenat Anifowose: A Fierce Lioness Among the Pride of MHSO

By Kasali Obanoyen, Bose Adebayo and Jimoh Ahmed

“Lionesses are the main hunters in a pride, doing 85–90% of the hunting. They are smaller and more agile than males, and use teamwork to take down prey.”(ustoa. com , 12/15/24 @ 8 am)

The reference above is necessary to under the profile and prowess of a lioness. So, when an individual is called one, the importance of the image can’t be over looked . In a school where there are lions , the efficacy of a lioness brought out justifies the reasoning that what you do today will come back to define you tomorrow. Bottomline, without the lionesses in the mighty abode of all majestic creatures , the lion is essentially tamed !

Our own lioness is a force multiplier , and the only individual who held two positions as a school prefect!

This lioness has the pedigree, class, character and charismatic aroma from parents who were true community centered and god fearing. Classmates and friends who at various levels interfaced with this exceptional educator attest to her lionesses.

Call it “from MHSO to Unsukka with pride and roll of legacy” you will not be wrong “ni pato”!

Without much ado, permit me to sign in,Alhaja Ceenat, Titilayo, ANIFOWOSE (formerly Clara SAJO) with a class, beauty , kindness, integrity, unquestionable motherhood and intelligence all rolled and wrapped in one single bundle.

An Anifowose that reaches out with discipline and calmness like no other one.

An educationist with human touch, leader, and a superior team member with all bouts of sincerity and honesty.

“A role model for the girl child”, said a close associate who journeyed well with Alhaja Cenaat Sajo – Anifowose , through one of the finest citadel of education world wide . “From MHSO she has been an epitome of paragon, a delight with brains and beauty. I am sure she served tea to some of our teachers in the famous elitist MHSO’s staff room – a full option who does fail – see this MHSO list and judge . But wait, she was a Sajo before becoming an Anifowose , a Sajo that has no counterfeit”, whispered a former
co worker before our lioness retired .

See the roll call from a source that can never be controverted .

“University of Nigeria Nsukka- UNN breeding ground for great minds like Dora Akuyili, former DG of NAFDAC who repositioned the organisation, Kema Chikwe, former federal minister in Nigeria Oby Ezekwesili, former federal minister in Nigeria, Bianca Ojukwu, Beauty Queen won the most beautiful girl in Nigeria and currently a minister, Chimanda Adichie, a great writer, Bose Adebayo, an accomplished educationist and linguist, Ceenat Sajo-Anifowose, an accomplished educationist and retired school Principal, Lam Adesina, ex governor of Old Oyo state, Michael Ade-Ojo, an accomplished business man and educationist- Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Professor Jacob K. Olupona, a great scholar, from Ute in Ose Local government, (uncle to me and Rev Arotiowa ), Professor Olu Abiona Akeju, our dear former teacher at MHSO, now an Oba in Ekiti state, Chukuma Soludo, current governor of Anambra state, Chris Okotie, accomplished musician and preacher, .Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, a successful business man, politician and sports enthusiast and Sir Gregory Peter Obi, a trader of repute, former governor of Anambra state and presidential candidate of the Labour Party of Nigeria.
The list is endless. An “Ejanla” is splashing the water ooooo from the group of result oriented individuals! – Women of substance!
Foundation laid for me and Ceenat at MHSO, UNN brought us together again and we bonded as sisters. Though we went to UNN , as two alumni of MHSO, we came back home in our final year with a set of twins from Ceenat which was a great joy and experience for both of us.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka fired us up to become who we are today, two Lionesses, the name for UNN graduates” boosted with pride , an amazing ambassador of note.
Let us all give multiple shoutouts to all alumni of UNN whose kindness, I am sure is not a strategy, but a way of life .

Only smart people went to Unsukka, and those of us who went to night schools are not so lucky and smart- a writer here is a certified serial failure in Mathematics- will allow you to guess who the knuckle head is !

Also, given the verifiable trend about women who finished from UNN have in a sociopolitical development in Nigeria, we are convinced that Cennat Anifowose will lead others to spray some more goodness on MHSO !



Hear from the lioness’s mouth “gangan”.

1. I was in Methodist High School, Owo for 5 years. I later attended Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo where I studied
Agricultural Science. I  joined MHS Owo , again as an Agric Science teacher in 1983 September.
2. I was in MHSO for more years during which I attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka where I studied Guidance and Counseling on part-time basis. It is interesting to note that I and Lady Bosede Adebayo met again in Nsukka and graduated together.

3. Thereafter, I  sought  transfer to Akure where I continued teaching and practicing Guidance and Counseling while rising through the ranks to become Vice-Principal of Oyemekun Grammar School and later the First Female Principal (Junior Secondary section) in the same school before being transferred under shady circumstances. After a few years, I finally got transferred to Akure Muslim College where I eventually retired meritoriously as a School Principal in 2018.

4. Although, I was raised a Christian, I got married to Professor Yekini Anifowose, who is now a professor at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

There has never been any rancor between the family where I grew up and the family I happily and willingly married into.

Lessons learned here ! We have . You nko?

Lately the families- Sajo and Anifowose- proposed that they will sponsor at least a sporting event in our School, and we are blessed to have such families teaching us all tolerance , respect and service to humanity.


When a tradition of commitment, kindness, compassion , tolerance and community is ever growing in Alhaja Cenaat Sajo Anifowose .