The CMS Grammar School in

Bariga Bariga is a district and suburb in Lagos State, Nigeria. It was formerly under Somolu local government area of Lagos State but in 2013 it was upgraded by the State government as a Local Council Development Area. The local government secretariat i ...

, a suburb of

Lagos Lagos ( Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 f ...

Lagos State Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 states, it is both the most populous and smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Benin ...

, is the oldest secondary school in Nigeria, founded on 6 June 1859 by the

Church Missionary Society The Church Mission Society (CMS), formerly known as the Church Missionary Society, is a British mission society working with the Christians around the world. Founded in 1799, CMS has attracted over nine thousand men and women to serve as mission ...

. For decades it was the main source of African clergymen and administrators in the

Lagos Colony Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centred on the port of Lagos in what is now southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed on 6 August 1861 under the threat of force by Commander Beddingfield of HMS Prometheus who was accompanied by the Ac ...

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 l ...

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

Saro Saro may refer to: Places * Saro, Cantabria, a municipality in Spain *Särö, a locality situated in Halland County, Sweden *Saro, Mali, a village in the Ségou Region of Mali *Saro, the ancient name for the Korean kingdom of Silla and its capit ...

s 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.

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 Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the Western Area of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational an ...

, 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 Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay (14 November 1864 – 7 May 1946) was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, surveyor, engineer, architect, journalist, and musician and is considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigeria ...

. 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 Frank Melville Jones, CBE, was an Anglican Colonial Bishop in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in 1866, educated at the Nelson College and the University of New Zealand and ordained in 1890. After a curacy at Holy Trinity, C ...

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 Leonard John Lewis was a British academic. He worked as an educationalist in Nigeria and was a lecturer (later professor) at the Institute of Education of the University of London. He served as Principal of the University of Zimbabwe for the trans ...

, 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 bisho ...

, 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 9ice, born Alexander Abolore Adegbola Akande (born 17 January 1980), is a Nigerian musician, songwriter and dancer. He is known for his powerful use of the Yoruba language in his music as well as his proverbial lyrics and unique style of deliv ...

(born 1980), musician *

Adebesin Folarin Chief Adebesin Folarin (also known as Josiah Folarin Williams, Josiah Fitzac Folarin and Debeshin Folarin) (1877 – 4 October 1949) was a Nigerian barrister, judge, public official, historian and author. He was one of the leading intellectuals i ...

(1877-1949), lawyer and historian * Adeyemo Alakija (1884–1952), media entrepreneur and co-founder of

Daily Times of Nigeria ''The Daily Times'' is a newspaper with headquarters in Lagos. At its peak, in the 1970s, it was one of the most successful locally owned businesses in Africa. The paper went into decline after it was purchased by the government in 1975. What was ...

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 Akin Babalola Kamar Odunsi is a Nigerian businessman who was elected Senator for the Ogun West constituency of Ogun State, Nigeria in the April 2011 to May 2015 national elections. He ran on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. ...

, businessman and Senator *

Akin Euba Olatunji Akin Euba (28 April 1935 – 14 April 2020), was a Nigerian composer, musicologist, and pianist. Career Born on 28 April 1935 in Lagos, Nigeria, Akin Euba studied composition with Arnold Cooke at the Trinity College of Music, London, obt ...

(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 Alexander Babatunde Akinyele, CBE (5 September 1875 – 1 October 1968) was the first Anglican Diocesan Bishop of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was the first indigene of Ibadan to obtain a university degree, and the founder of the first secondary sch ...

(1875–1968), Bishop *

Ayodele Awojobi Ayodele Oluwatumininu Awojobi (12 March 1937 – 23 September 1984), also known by the nicknames "Dead Easy", "The Akoka Giant", and "Macbeth", was a Nigerian academic, author, inventor, social crusader and activist. He was considered a scholarl ...

(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 syste ...

(1923–2010), Federal Minister of Education *

Bode Thomas Chief Bode Thomas (October 1919 – 23 November 1953) was a Nigerian lawyer, politician, statesman and traditional aristocrat. Thomas served as both a colonial minister of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria and a nobleman and privy counsel ...

(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 chi ...

(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, Archbishop of the Niger and son of

Samuel Ajayi Crowther Samuel Ajayi Crowther ( – 31 December 1891), was a Yoruba linguist, clergyman, and the first African Anglican bishop of West Africa. Born in Osogun (in what is now Ado-Awaye, Oyo State, Nigeria), he and his family were captured by slave rai ...

* Dare Art Alade, musician *

Ernest Shonekan Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from 1 ...

(born 1936), President of Nigeria *

Fela Sowande Chief Olufela Obafunmilayo "Fela" Sowande MBE (29 May 1905 – 13 March 1987) was a Nigerian musician and composer. Considered the father of modern Nigerian art music, Sowande is perhaps the most internationally known African composer of works ...

(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 Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi, SAN (29 May 1931 – 31 March 2014) popularly known by his initials GOK Ajayi, was a prominent Nigerian lawyer. Early life Ajayi was born on 29 May, 1931, at Ijebu Ode, a city in Ogun State southwestern Nig ...

(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 *

(1864–1946), surveyor and nationalist *

Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti (30 April 1891 – 6 April 1955) was a Nigerian clergyman and educationist. Life Israel was born on 30 April 1891 in Abeokuta, Ogun State to Josiah Ransome-Kuti and Bertha Anny Olubi. He completed his primary a ...

(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 pi ...

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 Lago ...

(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 Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo (born 4 February 1958) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who has served as minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria since August 2019. He previously served as governor of Ekiti State from 29 May 1999 to 2 ...

(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 s ...

(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 educati ...

(1861–1935), medical doctor, gynaecologist. * Ola Vincent (1925–2012), Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria * Oluyombo Awojobi (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 1963Emman ...

(1921–95), politician *

Samuel Herbert Pearse Samuel Herbert Pearse, F.R.C.I. (born November 20, 1865) was a pioneer Nigerian shipper and produce exporter of Sierra Leone Creole and Egba heritage. He established the first Hotel in Lagos in 1907. He was also a member and secretary of the Lagos ...

(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 FRCSPatton ...

(1903–76), surgeon * Isaac Delano (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 Taslim Olawale Elias (11 November 1914 – 14 August 1991) was a Nigerian jurist who served as minister of Justice and attorney-general of Nigeria from 1960 to 1966, Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1972 to 1975 and president of the International ...

(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 Victor Adetunji Haffner (1 September 1919 – 5 November 2015) was a Nigerian communications engineer. He was trained as an engineer in England during the colonial era, then returned to Nigeria in 1956 where he held increasingly senior positio ...

(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