Eton College apologises to its first black graduate Dillibe Onyeama for racism he endured at school

The headmaster of Eton College has apologised to a black former pupil for the racism he was subjected to during his studies in the 1960s.

Nigerian-born Dillibe Onyeama was the first black student to graduate from the prestigious British school.

Mr Onyeama, the son of a Nigerian magistrate who studied at Oxford University, detailed his experiences in a book when he graduated in 1969 after spending four years at the school.

Three years later, he received a letter from Eton informing him he was banned from visiting the school.

Current headmaster Simon Henderson said he was “appalled” by the racism Mr Onyeama experienced.

“Racism has no place in civilised society, then or now,” he said in a statement.

“As headmaster my absolute priority is that Eton is an inclusive, compassionate and supportive community for all our pupils, based on kindness, understanding and mutual respect.

“We have made significant strides since Mr Onyeama was at Eton but – as millions of people around the world rightly raise their voices in protest against racial discrimination and inequality – we have to have the institutional and personal humility to acknowledge that we still have more to do.

“We must all speak out and commit to doing better – permanently – and I am determined that we seize this moment as a catalyst for real and sustained change for the better.”

Mr Henderson, who took up the role in 2015, invited Mr Onyeama to meet so that he could apologise in person and on behalf of the school, adding that he wished to show that the writer would always be welcome.

His statement came after Mr Onyeama spoke out about the racism he was subjected to at Eton.

Mr Onyeama told the BBC how he was taunted daily, with other students asking “why are you black?”, “how many maggots are there in your hair?”, and “does your mother wear a bone in her nose?”.

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Recent weeks have seen many educational institutions come under increased pressure to decolonise the curriculum, tackle racism and increase diversity on campus.

It comes amid ongoing Black Lives Matter protests around the world, sparked by the death of George Floyd.

Eton College, near Windsor in Berkshire, charges fees of more than £40,000 per year and has been attended by both the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.

Since 1945, five prime ministers have been educated at Eton, including Boris Johnson.

(c) Sky News 2020: Eton College apologises to its first black graduate Dillibe Onyeama for racism he endured at school