The CMS Grammar School in Bariga, a suburb of Lagos in Lagos State, is the oldest secondary school in Nigeria, founded on 6 June 1859 by the Church Missionary Society. For decades it was the main source of African clergymen and administrators in the Lagos Colony.

Foundation

The seed funding for CMS Grammar School, Lagos was made possible by

James Pinson Labulo Davies James Pinson Labulo Davies (14 August 1828 – 29 April 1906) was a Nigerian businessman, merchant-sailor, naval officer, farmer, pioneer industrialist, statesman, and philanthropist who married Sara Forbes Bonetta in colonial Lagos. Early li ...

who in April 1859 provided Babington Macaulay with £50 (equivalent of ₦1.34 million as of 2014) to buy books and equipment for the school. With the seed funding Macaulay opened CMS Grammar School on 6 June 1859,which made it the first secondary school in Nigeria. In 1867, Davies contributed another £100 (₦2.68 million as of 2014) toward a CMS Grammar School Building Fund. Other contributors to the CMS Building Fund were non Saros such as Daniel Conrad Taiwo AKA

Taiwo Olowo Chief Daniel Conrad Taiwo (1781 – February 20, 1901), alias Taiwo Olowo (translated as "Taiwo the Rich man"), was a trader, arms dealer, slave owner, political power broker, philanthropist and community leader in Colonial Lagos. Early life Tai ...

who contributed £50. Saro contributors also included men such as Moses Johnson, I.H. Willoughby, T.F. Cole, James George, and Charles Foresythe who contributed £40. The CMS Grammar School in Freetown, founded in 1848, served as a model. The school began with six students, all boarders in a small, single story building called the 'Cotton House' at Broad Street. The first pupils were destined to be clergymen. The curriculum included English, Logic, Greek, Arithmetic, Geometry, Geography, History, Bible Knowledge and Latin. The first principal of the school was the scholar and theologian Babington Macaulay, who served until his death in 1878. He was the father of Herbert Macaulay. When the British colony of Lagos was established in 1861, the colonial authorities obtained most of their African clerical and administrative staff from the school.

Principals

* Babington Macaulay, 1859–1878. * Henry Johnson, 1879–1881 (acting). *

Isaac Oluwole Isaac Oluwole (1852–1932) was a Nigerian bishop of Sierra Leonean and Egba people, Egba heritage. He was one of the most prominent emigrants from Sierra Leone resident in Lagos during the second half of the nineteenth century. From 1879 to 1893, ...

, 1881–1893. * James Johnson, 1893–1894 (acting). * E. A. Godson, 1894–1895. * Melville Jones 1895–1896 (acting) * Joseph Suberu Fanimokun, 1896–1914. * E. J. Evans, 1915–1927. * A. Hobson, 1927–1929. * F. Watherton 1929–1932. * J. Olumide Lucas, 1932–1935 (acting). * C. G. Thorne, 1935–1936. * Solomon Odunaiya Odutola, 1936–1938. (acting) * Leonard John Lewis, 1938–1943. *

Seth Irunsewe Kale Seth Irunsewe Kale , OON, CFR (June 6, 1904 – November 19, 1994) was a Nigerian Anglican bishop who served as Principal of CMS Grammar School, Lagos from 1944 to 1950 and as Bishop of Lagos from 1963 to 1974. He was consecrated a bish ...

, 1944–1950. * B. A. Adelaja, 1950–1970. * T. A. Ojo, 1970–1972, (acting). * I. A. Olowu 1972–1984. * B. A. Nigwo, 1984–1986. * J. B. A. Edema, 1986–1997. * Taiwo O. Jemilugba, 1997–2001. * Johnson Onayinka, 2001–2005. * Tunde Oduwole, 2005–2017 * OlaOluwa Adeyemi, 2017–2018 * Sunday O. Sofekun, 2021 * Venerable Victor A. Olusa (Administrator) 2021 till date

Alumni

Some notable alumni: *High Chief Edem Duke (born 1955), Federal Minister Culture, Tourism & National Orientation, Supervising Minister of Information * 9ice (born 1980), musician * Adebesin Folarin (1877-1949), lawyer and historian * Adeyemo Alakija (1884–1952), media entrepreneur and co-founder of Daily Times of Nigeria *

Adeniji Adele Oba Sir Musendiku Buraimoh Adeniji Adele II, KBE (13 November 1893 – 12 July 1964) was the Oba (King) of Lagos from 1 October 1949 to 12 July 1964. Life Adele was born in Lagos in 1893 to Buraimoh Adele and Moriamo Lalugbi. His grandfather ...

(1893–1964), Oba (King) of Lagos from 1 October 1949, to 12 July 1964 * Akin Babalola Kamar Odunsi, businessman and Senator * Akin Euba (born 1935), professor of music *

Akintola Williams Chief Akintola Williams (born 9 August 1919) is a Nigerian accountant. He was the first Nigerian to qualify as a chartered accountant. He began his education at Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Bankole street, Apongbon, Lagos Island, Lag ...

(born 1919), accountant * Alexander Akinyele (1875–1968), Bishop * Ayodele Awojobi (1937–84), academic and activist *

Babs Fafunwa Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa (23 September 1923 – 11 October 2010). He was the first Nigerian Professor of Education. He was a Nigerian Educationist, Scholar and Former Minister for Education. As Minister, he was in charge of the biggest school system ...

(1923–2010), Federal Minister of Education * Bode Thomas (1918–53), politician *

Candido Da Rocha Chief Candido Joao Da Rocha ( 1860 – March 11, 1959) was a Nigerian businessman, landowner and creditor who owned Water House on Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, Lagos, and was the proprietor of the now defunct Bonanza Hotel in Lagos. He held the ch ...

(1860–1959), businessman *

Charles A. Adeogun-Phillips Charles Ayodeji Adeogun-Phillips (born 6 March 1966 in London, England) is a former United Nations genocide and war crimes prosecutor, international lawyer and founder of Charles Anthony (Lawyers) LLP. Background He is the son of Professor Ant ...

(born 1966), lawyer *

Dandeson Crowther Archdeacon Dandeson Coates Crowther OBE (24 September 1844 - 5 January 1938) was a son of Archbishop Samuel Ajayi CrowtherJ, Hanciles, Jehu (1844–1938). "Crowther, Dandeson Coates (B)". ''Dictionary of African Christian Biography''. and a leade ...

, Archbishop of the Niger and son of Samuel Ajayi Crowther * Dare Art Alade, musician * Ernest Shonekan (born 1936), President of Nigeria * Fela Sowande (1905–87), musician and composer *

Frederick Rotimi Williams Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, QC, SAN (16 December 1920 – 26 March 2005) was a prominent Nigerian lawyer who was the first Nigerian to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In the 1950s, he was a member of the Action Group and subseq ...

(1920–2005), lawyer *

George Da Costa George S. A. Da Costa (1853–1929) was a Nigerian photographer who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He documented government projects including railway construction in the colony. Life George S. A. Da Costa, an Amaro, was ...

(1853–1929), photographer * GOK Ajayi (21 May 1931 – 31 March 2014), Prominent Nigerian Jurist *

Henry Adefope Henry Edmund Olufemi Adefope (15 March 1926 – 11 March 2012) was a Nigerian Army major general who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1985 to 2006 and an honorary member of ...

(1926–2012), Minister of External Affairs * Henry Fajemirokun, Business Magnate * Herbert Macaulay (1864–1946), surveyor and nationalist * Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti (1891–1955), Educationist and father of Olikoye Ransome-Kuti,

Beko Ransome-Kuti Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti (2 August 1940 – 10 February 2006) was a Nigerian physician known for his work as a human rights activist. Early life Ransome-Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria. His mother Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti opposed indiscrimin ...

, and

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the p ...

Ibikunle Akitoye Ibikunle Alfred Akitoye (1871–1928) was Oba of Lagos from 1925 to 1928 during what some historians refer to as the "Interregnum" years of the exiled Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. Ibikunle Akitoye was the first western educated and Christian Oba of Lagos ...

(1871–1928), Oba of Lagos *

J. K. Randle Chief Joseph Kosoniola Randle MVO MBE (28 July 1909 – December 1956) was a Nigerian businessman and socialite from Lagos. He was Chef de Mission of the Nigerian Olympic team to Melbourne and was connected to various public activities in Lagos. Ran ...

(1909–1956), Businessman and Socialite *

Karim Olowu Alhaji Karim Ayinla Babalola "KAB" Olowu (OON) (7 June 1924 – 14 August 2019) was a Nigerian sprinter and long jumper who was part of Nigeria's first delegation to the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. Olowu participated in the 19 ...

(born 1924), athlete *

Kitoye Ajasa Sir Kitoye Ajasa (also spelled Kitoyi; 10 August 1866 – 1937) was a Nigerian lawyer and legislator during the colonial period. He was conservative, and worked closely with the colonial authorities. He thought that progress would only be possi ...

(1866–1937), lawyer and politician * Niyi Adebayo (born 1958), Governor, Ekiti State *

Mobolaji Bank Anthony Oloye Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony, KBE (11 June 1907 - 26 May 1991) was a Yoruba Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He was a council President of the Lagos Stock Exchange and was a minority investor in Aero-Contractors before indigenous sha ...

(11 June 1907 – 26 May 1991), President of the Lagos Stock Exchange *

Oguntola Sapara Chief Oguntola Odunbaku Sapara M.D. (9 June 1861 – June 1935) was a Yoruba doctor, originally from Sierra Leone, who spent most of his career and life in Nigeria. He was best known for his campaign against smallpox. Early life and education ...

(1861–1935), medical doctor, gynaecologist. * Ola Vincent (1925–2012), Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria *

Oluyombo Awojobi Dr. Oluyombo Adetilewa Awojobi (March 1, 1951 – April 17, 2015) was a Nigerian Rural Surgeon, Researcher, Inventor and Humanitarian. He was best known for his services rendered at Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE) in Ibarapa East Local Government Are ...

(1963-1969), Rural Surgeon *

Oliver Ogedengbe Macaulay Oliver Ogedengbe Macaulay (15 December 1918 – 14 September 1972), alias Oged Macaulay was a Nigerian politician, archivist, journalist, public relations consultant, and private secretary to Oba Adeyinka Oyekan. He was the son of Herbert Macaulay ...

, son of Herbert Macaulay, journalist, and nationalist *

Remi Fani-Kayode Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode, Q.C., SAN, CON (1921–1995) was a leading Nigerian politician, aristocrat, nationalist, statesman and lawyer. He was elected deputy premier of the Western Region of Nigeria in 1963Emma ...

(1921–95), politician * Samuel Herbert Pearse (born 1865), businessman *

Samuel Manuwa Oloye Sir Samuel Layinka Ayodeji Manuwa, CMG, OBE (1903–1976) was a Nigerian surgeon, Inspector General of Medical Services and former Chief Medical Adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria. He was the first Nigerian to pass the FRCSPatto ...

(1903–76), surgeon *

Isaac Delano Chief Isaac Oluwole Delano (November 4, 1904 - December 17, 1979) was a Yoruba and Nigerian writer, educationist, political activist, nationalist, radio broadcaster, teacher, and a pioneering linguist and lexicographer of the Yoruba language. ...

(1904-1979), author, linguist, teacher *

Talabi Braithwaite Talabi Adebayo Braithwaite (2 July 1928 – 2 May 2011) was a Nigerian insurance broker, and one of the leaders of the insurance industry in Nigeria. He was the first President of the Insurance Institute of Nigeria (IIN), now the Chartered Insuran ...

(1928–2011), insurance broker * Taslim Olawale Elias (1914–91), Chief Justice of Nigeria * Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips (1884–1969), musicologist, father of Nigerian church music *

Thomas Leighton Decker Thomas Alexander Leighton Decker OBE (25 July 1916 – 7 September 1978) was a Sierra Leonean linguist, poet, and journalist. He is best known for his work on the Krio language and for translating Shakespeare's ''Julius Caesar'' into the Krio lang ...

(1916–78), linguist and journalist *

T. O. S. Benson Chief Theophilus Owolabi Shobowale Benson, S.A.N. (23 July 1917 – 13 February 2008) was a Nigerian lawyer who became one of the most prominent Yoruba politicians in the period leading up to Nigerian independence in 1960. He served as the Minis ...

(1917–2008), lawyer, politician *

Tunji Sowande Tunji Sowande was a Nigeria-born United Kingdom lawyer and musician. Early life Tunji Sowande was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1912 to a well-off and musical family. His brother was Fela Sowande. His father was the Anglican priest, Emmanuel Sow ...

(1912–96), lawyer and musician * Victor Adetunji Haffner (born 1919), engineer * Wahab Goodluck (died 1991), President, Nigeria Labour Congress

References

{{Lagos, state=collapsed Secondary schools in Lagos State History of Lagos 1859 establishments in the Kingdom of Lagos Education in Lagos State Schools in Lagos Educational institutions established in 1859 Anglican schools in Nigeria