IGS: At 104th founder’s day, old students renew commitment to school’s progress

Many years after the establishment of Ibadan Grammar School on March 31, 1913, the legacies of hard work, discipline imbued in students by the school’s founder, Right Reverend A. A. Akinyele, resonates.  Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the country, Chief Bola Ige once said the old students of Ibadan Grammar School have a goodly heritage and must continue to build on the foundation laid by Akinyele, “a Christian school with an open door policy; an Ibadan school with a cosmopolitan population; a grammar school that is strong not only in the Arts and Sciences, but also in the athletic world; a town school that looks after the needs of pupils from rural areas.”

These legacies ran through the reminiscences of old students from different sets who converged on the school’s premises in Molete, Ibadan, last Friday to celebrate the 104th Founder’s Day celebration of the school. The convergence was an opportunity to recall memories of notable meeting points for show of supremacy like “Igbo Brazil”, “Igbo Agala”, “Igbo Argentina”; it was a time to remember stern teachers feared by teachers; Mr Clifford Orji, the cane-wielding gateman who monitors entry and exit of students, and those seniors who make sure that students jog from the gate to the Assembly. The occasion saw the old students remind themselves of their nicknames back then in school.

That the students have been able keep in touch showed in the presence of members of chapters of Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, London, USA, Canada, Mexico, West Indies at the thanksgiving service held at the school’s chapel. At the communion service celebrated by National President, Venerable ‘Muyiwa Oyewole, the old students gladly participated in the rendition of hymns like “To God be the Glory”, “He Who Would Valiant Be”, and the “Arise all Sons of the Mountaineer” school song, followed by the laying of wreaths for dead students of the school. Like many other former students, Professor Adesiji Adeokun and Mrs Seun Peters of the 1982-1987 set not only relished the good old days, but also affirmed dedication to improving infrastructure of their alma mata.

The anniversary also saw many students of the 1982-1987 set converging on Mauve 21 events centre, Ibadan to celebrate 30 years that they left school. It was a joyous occasion as some of the then boys who are seeing themselves after 30 years reveled in the reunion.

In his lecture at the event, National publicity Secretary, Ibadan Grammar School, Old Students Association, Professor Adesiji Adeokun entitled, “Economic recession: pathway to turning point”, urged members of the set to diversify their individual economy into agricultural production.

In his homily at the thanksgiving, Reverend Canon Kolawole Jaiyeoba prayed that the nation be blessed with good leadership that would translate into good governance. He urged Nigerians not to relent in praying for God’s mercy upon the nation’s leaders for the country to sail through all odds and challenges. Jaiyeoba averred that the school had continued to abide by principles and legacies laid down by its founder, Rt. Reverend A. A. Akinyele. The roll call of old students of the school includes Mr Goodie Ibru, who is Chairman Board of Trustee, Mr Olurotimi Shodimu, Mr Jide Lawal, Mr Lanre Osinaike, Mr O. F. Ajani, Mr Adeyinka Okuwoga, Mr Dimeji Mako and Mr S. Jinadu.

Ibadan Grammar School started with twelve foundation students in a mud-built storey building owned by Mr. Samson Oke and located at what was then Apampa Road at Alekuso, near Bere Square, Ibadan. Right from the start, provision was made for the growth of the school with the donation of a 5-acre piece of land by Balogun Shittu, the then Are of Ibadan, near his personal residence, at Oke Are. The school was established as a Christian School in the tradition of the Anglican Church. The school started as a community effort predominantly by the Anglican Christian community. The Founder and first Principal of the school was Right Reverend A. A. Akinyele.

According to Professor Akin Mabogunje, the school’s founder was a visionary clergyman who championed the cause of education, making great personal sacrifices, when western education was considered strange and unprofitable by the people. In the words of the Late Bishop S. O. Odutola, one-time Diocesan Bishop of Ibadan,  Akinyele “in spite of all persecutions, both within and without, amidst teeming population of illiterate peasants, founded the school single-handedly and made supreme sacrifices before achieving his main objective.”

Despite the fact that Akinyele was the only graduate on staff, and had two assistants, the population of students grew from a 12 in March, 1913, to 68 within three years. With the increase in student population, the storey building at Alekuso became inadequate and the school moved into new buildings provided through generous donations by individuals, at Oke Are in 1917 with major restructuring into infant, primary and secondary sections. As of 1917, student population had risen to 79, including eight students in the boarding house, and the number of teachers had risen to five.

Revd. E. L. Latunde succeeded Bishop Akinyele as Principal and during his tenure (1933-1940) the four houses of the school, Irefin, Olubadan, Olubi and Akinyele, were established. Venerable E. O. Alayande then served as principal from 1948-1968. Alayande was succeeded in 1968 by Chief Ayo Labiyi, the first old student of Ibadan Grammar School to become the Principal of the school.

Even though girls were admitted into the HSC and the remedial science programme for students from other schools with a weak science background in the Alayande days, it was not until 1969 that the school became a full-fledged mixed secondary school for boys and girls. In 1970, under the leadership of Chief Ayo Labiyi, a 10-year development plan was proposed and the Ibadan Grammar School Old Students’ Association with the Late Chief ‘Bola Ige as President, launched the £100,000 Bishop Akinyele Memorial Fund for the development of the school including the construction of a new Assembly Hall, girls’ hostel and boys’ hostel.

Regrettably, despite all the good intentions, the lofty objectives of the 1970 school development project were not achieved and the school witnessed progressive decline since then in infrastructure, teaching and learning environment, quality of staff and students, academic performance, sports and other extra-curricular activities. The takeover of schools by government and the resultant problems of poor funding, uncontrolled increase in student enrolment leading to a student population explosion, without investment in additional facilities, and retrogressive government policies inimical to the delivery of quality education further compounded the woes of the school.