From Classroom Teacher to School Proprietor: The Inspiring Journey of Geoffrey Odur

By Patrick Okino

Geoffrey Odur, the Managing Director of Mentor Schools in Lira City, takes great pride in his humble beginnings as a classroom teacher. Today, he stands as the proprietor of one of the most successful education institutions in northern Uganda, yet his passion for teaching remains as strong as ever.

Odur says his journey from teacher to director was driven purely by his love for the teaching profession.

In 2012, he was the headteacher of a private school in Lango but later fell out with the school’s director over the appointment of one of Odur’s former students—then on school practice—to oversee the school’s operations on behalf of the director.

“The young man was promised that he would soon become the headteacher,” Odur recalls. “But as a young and inexperienced person, he began overstepping boundaries, even beating students.”

As a professional teacher, Odur could not sit back and watch the situation worsen. He advised the director to send the young man back to school to complete his studies. However, his advice was ignored.

“The director didn’t take my word seriously, so I decided to resign and hand over the administration,” Odur says. “I told him I would hand over to him personally, not to anyone else. He accepted and told me that if I ever faced difficulties where I was going, I was free to return.”

After resigning, Odur was unsure of his next move. But soon, a parent from his former school reached out with unexpected advice: start his own school.

“At that time, I had nothing financially,” Odur recalls. “I couldn’t believe it when the parent asked if I had fuel in my car. When I said yes, he told me, ‘Let’s drive just three kilometers.’”

They drove to Karadali Primary School, which then had only 92 pupils from Primary One to Primary Seven. The parent, who was among the school’s management, explained that teachers had gone six months without pay and that children often went hungry. He feared the school would not reopen the following year.

“He told me, ‘Please start a school here,’” Odur recounts. “I asked who owned the place, and he said it belonged to Rev. Johnson Ebong Oming, who was serving at St. Francis Makerere.”

Two days later, Odur traveled to Kampala to meet Rev. Ebong. “When I met him, he told me I had come at the right time because he didn’t know what to do with the school anymore,” Odur says.

Rev. Ebong explained that he had started the school and entrusted it to others to manage, continuing to send funds for its operation. However, he admitted it was not progressing as he had hoped.

In December 2012, Rev. Ebong asked Odur about his plans for a new school and its name. Odur requested two weeks to prepare a full proposal, including the logo, motto, and other essentials.

During that period, he named the school “Mentor” — symbolizing their mission to mentor and guide learners.

Upon returning home, Odur began mobilizing funds and teachers. His breakthrough came when a parent offered him UGX 5 million as startup capital, allowing him to produce flyers and radio adverts to promote the new school.

In 2013, Mentor School officially opened with 114 students, initially admitting only Senior One, Two, and Five, though later some Senior Three students joined due to high demand.
By the next year, enrollment had grown to 290 students.

During their first Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) sitting, Mentor had 34 candidates, of whom 8 passed in first grade, ranking fifth in Lira District. The school’s growing reputation attracted more parents, strengthening community trust.

Over 12 years, Mentor expanded into three campuses, Mentor Akwoyo – 900 students, Mentor Gwengabara – 800 students and St. Mary Magalene (girls only) – 300 students

Together, they serve 2,000 students and employ 198 staff, with no salary arrears. Mentor is recognized among the best employers in northern Uganda, earning a trophy from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for its commitment to employee welfare.

Economically, the school contributes about UGX 12 million in taxes annually. Its alumni have achieved national and international success, including Ocen Victor, who became the overall best student at Mbarara University in Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology.

Currently, 16 former Mentor students are studying abroad on scholarships from the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Odur shared this story during the graduation of 34 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Lira District and City, trained under the Uganda Development Bank’s Enterprise Development Program (EDP) — a testament to how vision, mentorship, and community support can transform lives and institutions.

Odur, also shared his entrepreneurial journey, encouraging participants to develop a business mindset early in life.

“If you have a business mind, you can start with any small capital,” he said, recalling how he began business while in Primary Four, boiling eggs and roasting groundnuts to sell by the roadside.

“One time, soldiers of General Tito Okello ate my ten eggs but only gave me money for two. I was very disappointed, but there was nothing I could do,” he recalled, drawing laughter from the audience.

Odur urged young entrepreneurs to remain resilient and creative, saying that such early experiences shape business discipline and determination.