Tribute to Dr (Mrs) Iphigenia Efunjoke Coker, MFR

With gratitude to God for a life of impact, we thank the family of Dr (Mrs) I.E. Coker for their gift to Queen’s College, Lagos, its current and past students and teachers, and to Nigeria and the world at large. 

A teacher affects eternity, he can never know where his influence stops – Henry B Adams 

The 9th and first Nigerian Principal of Queen’s College, Lagos since its inception in 1927, Mrs. Coker was the longest serving Principal of the school for 14 years, from December 1963 to December 1977. She was herself a Queen’s College Old Girl (QCOG), Class of 1941.

Mrs. Coker was the quintessential teacher that we all crave for. Strict, purposeful and visionary, having the interest, growth and development of her students as foremost in her mind. She nurtured girl-children to become confident women, ready to take on any challenge, wherever in the world, defying any obstacle in their path. 

Mrs. Coker was the kind of teacher that would make students love and fear her; make students wonder why she does what she does, only to realise in their later years that the upbringing that was brought to bear, was invaluable in one’s makeup as a person, impacting others, as the baton got passed from one generation to another. 

 Mrs. Coker was and remains a model of leadership, forming the character and building the competence of thousands of girls who went through her tutelage and an exemplary teacher to teachers. She molded the lives of generations of women who are themselves trendsetters in their various fields and endeared herself to everyone who crossed her path, including those who never met her but knew her through others who did.

In her older years, she relaxed a little bit more and had a lot of ‘gist’ for her students who she knew by name, even when they had become grandmothers and teachers in their own right. 

Her contributions to the development of the girl-child can never be forgotten.

The Executive Council of Queen’s College, Yaba commiserates with the entire family, and the larger QC community on her passing and are thankful for her service to humanity. A great ambassador of Nigeria has gone home to rest. She will be sorely missed.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Mrs. Ifueko M Omoigui Okauru, MFR

President

Engr. (Mrs) Ayodele Onakoya

General Secretary