Neglect, disrepair, decrepitude and ruination are the adjectives that best describe many of the schools established pre-independence by the missionaries and British government to provide western education for Nigerians. Like Nigerians who attended those schools between 1920s and 1970s, most of whom are now retired and neglected, the same fate has befallen most of the […]
Neglect, disrepair, decrepitude and ruination are the adjectives that best describe many of the schools established pre-independence by the missionaries and British government to provide western education for Nigerians.
Like Nigerians who attended those schools between 1920s and 1970s, most of whom are now retired and neglected, the same fate has befallen most of the public schools forcefully acquired from the missionaries.
A survey conducted on the state of the first set of schools established in the South-West revealed that but for the efforts of some alumni, most of them would have been moribund.
Its observes that science laboratories in some of the schools are without basic instruments like beakers, Bunsen-burners and chemicals, resulting in students being taught science subjects without the necessary practical.
The foremost schools that used to be celebrated for their achievements and exploits in academics and sports, with many of their alumni making waves in the academia, industry, sports, engineering and medicine around the world, are now suffering serious neglect by governments.
One of such schools, Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba in Abeokuta, the oldest secondary school in Ogun, was founded on July 16, 1908.
The school has produced eminent Nigerians like the Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and the late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti.
The Principal of the school, Mr Dare Sorinola, said that it started off at one Mr Macaulay’s compound at Ijemo- Agbadu in Abeokuta before it later moved to Isale- Igbehin area in 1912, adding that the school finally moved to its present site, Idi-Aba, in 1977.
He explained that the Gov. Gbenga Daniel-led administration in the state split the school into junior and senior levels in 2005.
Sorinola, who heads the senior secondary school arm, said that there had been a phenomenal growth in the student population.
“It was between 500 and 800 about 30 years ago but now, we have 3,500 students and 3,000 students in the senior and junior secondary levels respectively, both totalling 6,500,” he said.
The principal acknowledged the support of the Old Students’ Association in the areas of construction of buildings, scholarship awards and supply of books, among others.
Mr Taiwo Fabajo, an alumnus of the school, expressed mixed feelings concerning the present standard of the school, saying that there were too many students in the class, while structures were not enough to accommodate them.
“Few years ago when my set donated a white board to the school, we went round and discovered that some classes had as many as between 80 and 90 students in a class.
“I had nursed the desire to send my children to my old school, but what I saw there during my recent visit was not quite encouraging because the students were too many for the available infrastructure,” he said.
Pastor Sylvester Adeolu, a community leader, explained that two of his children graduated from the school with distinctions, adding that the high standard set since the establishment of the school made it one of those that parents would desire for their children.
He, however, stated that the population of the students had grown to become a disincentive to teaching and learning.
In Osun, Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, the oldest public school in the state, was established in 1932.
A visit to the school revealed that some structures, such as classroom buildings and teachers’ offices are in good shape and condition.
To Mrs Sidikat Opeloye, a former Principal of the school, it still remains the oldest and the best in the state.
Opeloye, who is also an alumna of the college, said since its establishment, the state government had been maintaining the school buildings and recently donated a three-storey building with modern classrooms to the school.
Opeloye said that the college had also maintained a high teaching standard since its establishment till date.
The second oldest public school in the state, Osogbo Grammar School, established in 1950 by the then Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Adeleye Adenle, is, however, in bad state.
Mr Dayo Adeyemi, an alumnus of the school, said the old students have been making frantic efforts to repair some of the dilapidated buildings in order for it to maintain its glory.
Adeyemo, who is also the Chairman of Lagos branch of the school’s alumni association, said a three-storey block of classrooms was donated in 2010 by the association, while its branch in US had been paying examination fees of final year students in the last four years.
Also, Ondo Boys’ High School in Ondo East Local Council Area of Ondo State, is the oldest secondary school in the state, having been established in 1919.
Mr Idowu Akinnifesi, Principal of the school, described the impacts of its old students’ association as unprecedented.
Akinnifesi, who was recently transferred to the school, said that the association’s objective was to restore the past glory of the college, adding that a lot of renovations, such as the library and laboratories, had been funded by the alumni.
“They are now planning to have all the classrooms floored with terracotta and buy a bus for the school soon. Indeed, the old students are doing great to bring back the glory of the school,” Akinnifesi stated.
On the academic performance of school, the principal said: “the teachers are up and doing. There has been geometrical progress in the performance of the students in external examinations.”
Another foremost secondary school in the South-West zone is the 88-year-old Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti in Ekiti, established in 1933 by the missionaries.
The school was said to have been originally conceived as Model Ekiti CMS Central School and was founded by Archdeacon Henry Dallimore, a missionary, as a co-educational institution.
Among the products of the school is the current Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
An alumnus, Mr Joseph Awelewa, 60, described the school as one of the best legacies of the Anglican missionaries.
He said, “For those of us who passed through the school, we will forever remain grateful to the founding fathers. Two of my children have also passed through the school and they are doing well in their chosen careers.
According to another alumnus, Seun Ogunsakin, the products of the school are in all walks of life, doing the foremost college proud.
A retired Principal of the school, Mr Samuel Abe, described it as one of the oldest in Ekiti and, indeed, in Nigeria that is still maintaining its high standard.
“The school used to produce best students across the country during that period, as there were stern discipline, demonstrable teaching as well as high-class moral and religious values,’’ Abe said.
However, another alumnus, Mr Ayo Omotoso, said with the current state of Nigeria’s education generally, he cannot allow any of his children to attend a public school.
Omotoso, who said that he was not against those who had their children in the school, however, attributed his position to what he called the falling standard of education in Nigeria.
“I blame the government which has not been ensuring adequate funding of education and implementation of good programmes and policies in the sector,” he said.
Omotoso advocated for adoption of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s 26 per cent of annual education budget, inculcation of tenets of traditional education and utilisation of research findings in managing the sector.
He also emphasised restoration of the nation’s lost traditional values, such as hard work, diligence, integrity and high productivity.
There has been an age-long controversy as to which school is the oldest in Oyo State between St. Anne’s School Molete in Ibadan and Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan.
Investigation showed that the merger of the old Kudeti Girls School founded in 1869 and CMS School founded in 1899 in Lagos led to the establishment of St Anne’s School, Ibadan, in 1950.
Findings showed that Kudeti was the site of the pioneer church in Ibadan and the mission house there, was where Kudeti Girls’ School started.
It carried its name to Molete its new site when in 1929 the new buildings were constructed for the take off of the boarding of 100 girls and 30 teachers in training. So Kudeti Girls’ School Ibadan started in 1929.
When the school chapel was started in 1934, it was named “Saint Anne’s on the hill”.
An authoritative source in St Anne’s school, who pleaded anonymity, said considering the origin of St Anne’s School Ibadan, it is the oldest school in Oyo State because it was from CMS girls in Lagos.
He said “But due to the problem of space and accommodation they moved CMS girls to Ibadan and in Ibadan we had Kudeti girls, so the two schools were merged and they became a seminary, St Anne’s Seminary before it now became St Anne’s School, Ibadan in 1950.
“If we see it from that perspective we can say that St. Anne’s School is the oldest.”
However, Prof. Soji Adejumo, a former Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Education Board, said Ibadan Grammar School is the oldest school in Oyo State.
Adejumo said “I know Anne Hinderer set up the primary school when David Hinderer was around in 1854.
“But St Anne’s secondary school was set up in 1950 while the Kudeti Girls’ School was set up in 1926, but not earlier than Ibadan Grammer School founded in 1913.
It was observed that the most of the infrastructure in Ibadan Grammar School, established on March 31, 1913, were being maintained by old students, along with the provision of some basic facilities like chairs and tables.
For instance, the Old Students’ Association was said to have provided COVID-19 safety kits, automated water and soap dispensers as well as solar-powered borehole for the school.
Also, the association paid the WAEC fees of outstanding students, with a promise to support them in higher institutions, based on their individual performances.
In an interview, the Principal of the school, Deacon Oladele Olajire, recounted, with nostalgia, the glorious days which the school had witnessed and how it had produced people who had and are still contributing to the development of Nigeria.
Olajire said that the school had been in existence even before the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates that gave birth to Nigeria, hence its numerous contributions to the country.
“The school was founded by Bishop Alexander Akinyele and it started at Oke-Are before it moved to its permanent site in Molete, Ibadan.
“IGS has become a pillar in all areas of life, having produced people with notable achievements, both within and outside the country.
“The vision of our founding fathers was to evangelise, civilise and move the nation forward, and these are being accomplished, by the grace of God.
“The Old Students’ Association of the school has provided tremendous support for the school in terms of infrastructure and other facilities to it live up to its name.
“If not for the old students, who have been repairing and renovating the school, the story would have been different by now.
“We have an ICT centre and sporting facilities provided by the old students.’’
Olajire said that because of the security situation of the country, the school was in urgent need of a perimeter fence, to prevent intruders from gaining access into the premises.
“Also, there is a building nearing collapse and we have written to the government on the state of the building. So we need renovation of some of our classrooms.
“Although we are maintaining the standard of the school, it is also not isolated from the general fall in the standard of education in the country,” he said.
Olajire commended the old students for their efforts, both morally and financially, saying that this had helped the school to be among the first three best schools in Ibadan today, assuring that “we will keep the flag flying.”
Also, Mr Nurudeen Adebimpe, the Social Publicity Secretary of the old students’ association, Ibadan chapter, said that the standard of education in the school was being maintained, adding: “but you cannot compare what education was when the school was established with what it is now.”
