Hannah Benka-Coker
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1903
Hannah Benka-Coker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hannah R Luke 1903 |
| Died | 17 June 1952 |
| Alma mater | Portway Institute in England |
| Known for | A founder of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls |
| Spouse | S A Benka-Coker |
| Children | 2 |
Hannah Benka-Coker, MBE, née Luke (1903 – 17 June 1952)[1] was an educator from Sierra Leone. She was one of the founders of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) which was established in 1926.[2]
Born Hannah R Luke to Creole parents in British Sierra Leone, she was educated at the Annie Walsh Memorial School in Sierra Leone and Portway Institute in England.[3] She married Justice S A Benka-Coker from the Gambia.[4] She died in June 1952,[5] aged 49.[6]
Freetown Secondary School for Girls
She organized a group of close family members and friends to plan a school that would offer a comprehensive, world-class education program for girls.[3] One of her friends was Maisie Osora, the British wife of a Sierra Leonean clergyman, who was a teacher at the Annie Walsh Memorial School.[3]
On 20 January 1926, the Freetown Secondary School for Girls opened at Garrison and Gloucester Streets with a student body of twenty girls.[3] Osora was principal and Benka-Coker was as vice-principal.[3]
The Freetown School for Girls was the only school that had classes from Kindergarten through Secondary School.[3]
Eventually, Hannah became the school principal.[3] During her tenure she accepted students from all over West Africa regardless of creed or tribe.[3] The school moved to Tower Hill in Freetown and became a boarding school.[3] Students flocked from The Gambia, The Gold Coast and Nigeria.[3]
In 1944, Benka-Coker was awarded an MBE for her services to education.[7]
Girl Guides
Benka-Coker was a member of the Girl Guide movement for over twenty years. Roles included commissioner for Sierra Leone Girl Guides and the first Africa Colony commissioner.[8]
Other
Benka-Coker was president of both the Sierra Leone Women's Movement and the Annie Walsh Old Girls Association.[9]
