Baptist Academy

Lagos Baptist Academy is a secondary school located in Obanikoro, Lagos, Nigeria. The school was established in 1855 by the American Baptist Missionaries. The school is regarded as a sister school to Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls' Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos and Baptist Girls' Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos.

History

The school's history can be traced to the establishment of First Baptist Church Mission in Lagos by an African-American missionary. The mission was given a parcel of land by Oba Dosunmu and structures were soon built on the land. Educational activities started after the completion of the buildings and the expansion of missionary activities led to a gradual growth in the school's population. By 1886, the school had about 129 boys and 95 girls in the primary section and about 14 boys and 3 girls in the secondary section. Prior to 1926, American pastors of the Baptist Mission acted as principals for the school but in January 1926, Eyo Ita and E.E. Esua joined the staff and in August of the year, Ita became the headmaster.

The initial venue of the school was on Broad Street, Lagos and later moved to a new location along the Ikorodu Road, Lagos. The Primary School section remained at that location but was renamed.

Rather than close the Primary School on Broad Street, Lagos; only the secondary school moved to Ikorodu Road in Obanikoro. The Primary school remained at Broad Street and was renamed W.J David(William Joshua David) Memorial Baptist Primary School after one of the American baptist missionaries that started the baptist Mission in Nigeria. The Primary school remained at the Broad Street location until the late nineteen eighties when its building was pulled down in anticipation of expanding the First Baptist Church (adjacent to the school) to include a high-rise business building. All the students at W.J David were transferred to other Baptist primary schools in the area.

School motto

Deo duce which means ''God is my leader''.

School slogan

Up Baptacads

Baptacads Mobilization Song

We are Baptist Academy boys and
We're proud of our dear Alma Mater
Where sweet fellowship we all enjoy
Where the spirit of Christ is taught
Where our captain, God, lead us along
We"ll be true to our Alma Mater always.

Up school Up Baptacads

List of principals

Some of the principals of the school include

* Prof. S.M Harden. 1855
* Miss Lucile Reagan. 1924 – 1937
* Dr. A. Scott Patterson. 1937 – 1940
* Rev. B.T Griffin 1941 – 1945
* Rev. John Mills 1946 – 1951
* Rev. G.Lane 1951 – 1953
* Rev. Dr. J.A. Adegbite(first Nigerian principal of the school) 1954 – 1975
* Mr. Abayomi Ladipo 1976 – 1977(Old boy)
* Mr. Micheal O. Alake 1977 – 1979
* Rev. V.S Adenugba. 1979 – 1981
* Rev. S.O.B. Oyawoye 1981 – 1982
* Mr. Olakunle 1982 – 1983
* Mr. Aiyelokun 1983 – 1991
* Mr. C.O. Oduleye 1992 – 1994
* Mr. A.C. Adesanya. 1994 – 1999
* Mrs. F.O. Ojo. 1999 – 2003
* Mr. H.O. Alamu 2003 – 2009
* Rev. Mrs. B.A Ladoba 2009 – 2018
* Dcn. Gbenga Abodunrin 2018 until date

Notable alumni

* Mobolaji Bank Anthony
* K.O. Mbadiwe
* Sir Chief Kessington Adebutu Founder Premier Lotto (Baba Ijebu)
* Olu. Oguntokun former sports administrator, former Chairman of Lagos State Boxing Association, former Sole Administrator of Lagos State Sports Council.
* Ekundayo Opaleye Former military governor of Ondo State.
*Molade Okoya-Thomas
*Olabisi Onabanjo first civilian Governor of Ogun State
* Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh
* Horatio Agedah Nigerian lawyer and journalist
* Ahmed Yerima notable playwright
*Wahab Dosunmu Politician and Senator
* Ifagbemi Awamaridi Spiritualist, Private Detective, Activist.
*Michael Opeyemi Bamidele Nigerian lawyer, human rights activist, member of 7th National Assembly
*John Momoh CEO of Channels TV
* Funsho Adeolu award-winning actor
* Abisogun Leigh former vice chancellor of Lagos State University
*Samuel Akintola former teacher at Baptist Academy
*Femi Kuti musician
* Ademola Adebise Managing Director/CEO Wema bank Plc
* Bade Aluko Chairman Great Nigeria Insurance Plc
*Mike Ozekhome human right activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria
*Tayo Fatunla Cartoonist with BBC

See also

* Education in Nigeria
* List of schools in Lagos

References

External links

*
*
*{{cite web, url=http://www.baosa-uk.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=86 , title=Old Students , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810182010/http://baosa-uk.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=86 , archivedate=2015-08-10

19th-century establishments in Lagos
1855 establishments in the Kingdom of Lagos
Baptist schools in Nigeria
Educational institutions established in 1855
Secondary schools in Lagos State
Schools in Lagos