Nigeria’s oldest secondary school, Church Missionary Society (CMS) grammar school, in Lagos, is set to celebrate its 166th anniversary. The school secretary, Ohi Ojo, announced that activities will begin on May 31 with a football match in the school.
Akintola Eniolobo, a three-time principal cup champion and team captain, will be the chairman of the event. According to report, there will be other activities like career talk, on June 2 with Charles Adeogun Phillips as chairman.
Also, there will be a speech and prize-giving day on June 4 with Ademola Onalaja, as chairman of the event. Thereafter, there will be a laying ceremony of the school’s $2.5 million ICT Building, followed by a thanksgiving service on June 6.
After this, there will be a thanksgiving luncheon inside the school hall with Professor John Okeniyi as the chairman. According to report, the conferment of honorary membership on some notable personalities will be the major feature of the luncheon.
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The school has produced several outstanding Nigerians including late chief Ernest Shonekan, former head of the interim government. In the school’s 57 years of existence, it has produced eminent Nigerians in legal profession, medicine, and engineering, among others.
Background Of CMS Grammar School
The oldest grammar school in Nigeria was founded on 16th June 1859, by the Church Missionary Society (CMS). It was founded by the first Anglican missionaries who needed it for their Missionary work in Lagos.
Members of the Yoruba mission founded the school to offer boys secondary education which was not available then. Some local merchants and traders also contribute to the founding of the school.
The school reportedly started in a small single-story building with only six pupils who are all boarders. Revd Thomas Macaulay, father of Nigerian nationalist, Herbert Macaulay was the first principal of the school.
Conclusively the school has been fortunate in having a succession of dedicated principals who have maintained its excellent academic traditions.
