The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster: JAMB English Language Questions, Answers & Notes

What The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster covers in the JAMB English Language syllabus

'The Lekki Headmaster' by Kabir Alabi Garba is JAMB's compulsory Use of English reading text. It is set in Lekki, Lagos, and follows Mr. Bepo Adewale, the principled, long-serving principal of Stardom Schools, affectionately called 'The Lekki Headmaster'. Its central conflict is Bepo's struggle over whether to 'japa' (relocate to the UK to join his wife, Seri, a nurse) or remain devoted to his students and country. Structured in twelve chapters from 'Dusk' to 'Dawn', the novel's dominant themes are migration (the japa syndrome) versus patriotism, corruption in private education, and principled leadership and sacrifice. Focus your revision on characters, key decisions, themes and the author's critical attitude toward corruption — these are what JAMB most often tests.

For The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Recall the key facts of the novel: author, setting, protagonist and school
• Understand the central japa conflict and the novel's major themes
• Analyse characterisation, structure and the author's message

Key facts & revision notes: The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster

These are the recurring points our The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• 'The Lekki Headmaster' was written by Kabir Alabi Garba, a Nigerian journalist and author.
• The novel is set mainly in Lekki, an area of Lagos, Nigeria.
• The story revolves around Stardom Schools, the prestigious Lekki school where the protagonist is principal.
• Bepo is affectionately nicknamed 'The Lekki Headmaster' for his empathetic, conflict-resolving leadership.
• Bepo is the principal (headmaster) of Stardom Schools, a role he has held for about two decades.
• Bepo has served at Stardom Schools for over two decades (about 24 years), earning deep respect.
• Bepo's central struggle is whether to 'japa' — relocate abroad (to the UK) to join his family — or stay.
• Bepo considers relocating to the United Kingdom, where his wife lives and works.
• Bepo's wife, Seri, works as a nurse abroad, which is part of the pressure for him to relocate.
• The mass emigration of Nigerian professionals ('to japa') is the dominant theme, known as the Japa syndrome.
• The tension between emigrating for a better life and staying to serve one's country (japa vs patriotism) is the dominant theme.
• A key theme is corruption in private education, including undue pressure from wealthy, influential parents.
• The novel opens dramatically with the composed principal, Bepo, breaking down in tears during a morning assembly.
• His uncharacteristic collapse reveals the intense internal conflict and pressure surrounding his decision to leave.
• Across the novel Bepo is portrayed as principled, empathetic and deeply dedicated to his students.
• His conflict-resolution skills, wisdom and humour with staff and students earned him the affectionate nickname.
• The novel is structured into twelve chapters, running from 'Dusk' to 'Dawn'.
• The novel opens with 'Dusk' and closes with 'Dawn' — a deliberate movement from darkness toward hope.
• The 'Dusk'-to-'Dawn' framing symbolises movement from darkness/difficulty toward hope and resolution.
• The author takes a clearly critical stance toward corruption and moral compromise in the education sector.
• Kabir Alabi Garba is a Nigerian journalist, author and advocate for quality education.
• Adewale Adebepo, popularly called Bepo.
• Students fondly call him 'Principoo'.
• Ibidun Gloss is the Managing Director of Stardom Schools.

Worked examples

Three The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster is tested in JAMB English Language

Our The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster bank holds 40 questions (8 easy, 22 medium, 10 hard). JAMB English Language typically returns to The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one English Language item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster

The errors that cost marks on The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster part of the JAMB English Language syllabus?

Yes. The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster is a recognised topic in the JAMB English Language syllabus, covering recall the key facts of the novel: author, setting, protagonist and school. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 40 original, JAMB-standard The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster?

'The Lekki Headmaster' by Kabir Alabi Garba is JAMB's compulsory Use of English reading text. It is set in Lekki, Lagos, and follows Mr. Bepo Adewale, the principled, long-serving principal of Stardom Schools, affectionately called 'The Lekki Headmaster'. Its central conflict is Bepo's struggle over…

How do I answer The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster. Practising timed The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB English Language The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start The Prescribed Reading Text: The Lekki Headmaster practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME English Language syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.