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 is ...

, a suburb of

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

Lagos State Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West (Nigeria), southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, states, it is both the List of Nigerian states by population, most populous and List of Nigerian state ...

, 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 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 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 and p ...

, 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 Nige ...

. 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, 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, Chelt ...

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 The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more ra ...

, 1938–1943. * Seth Irunsewe Kale, 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 Oloye Sir Adeyemo Alakija, (25 May 1884 – 10 May 1952) was a Nigerian lawyer, politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Nigerian legislative council for nine years starting in 1933. In 1942, he became a member of the governor' ...

(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. Back ...

, 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, o ...

(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 school ...

(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 (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 counsello ...

(1918–53), politician * Candido Da Rocha (1860–1959), businessman * Charles A. Adeogun-Phillips (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 raide ...

Dare Art Alade Dare Art Alade (born February 9, 1982)– popularly known as Darey – is a Nigerian multi-platinum Afro R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, humanitarian and entrepreneur. He is also the son of the legendary African Jaz ...

, 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 ...

(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 (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 (1926–2012), Minister of External Affairs *

Henry Fajemirokun Henry Oloyede Fajemirokun, Orders, decorations, and medals of Nigeria, CON (July 26, 1926 – February 15, 1978) was a trade unionist who later became a prominent Nigerian industrialist and businessman and one of the country's dynamic indigenous e ...

, 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 an ...

(1891–1955), Educationist and father of

Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Olikoye Ransome-Kuti (30 December 1927 – 1 June 2003) was a paediatrician, activist and health minister of Nigeria. Early life and education Olikoye Ransome-Kuti was born in Ijebu Ode on 30 December 1927, in present-day Ogun State, Nigeria ...

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 (1909–1956), Businessman and Socialite * Karim Olowu (born 1924), athlete * Kitoye Ajasa (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 29 ...

(born 1958), Governor, Ekiti State * Mobolaji Bank Anthony (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 Olatunde Olabode Vincent (16 May 1925 – 3 September 2012) was a Nigerian economist and banker who was Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria between 1977 and 1982. Birth and education Vincent was born on 16 May 1925 in Lagos. He attended C ...

(1925–2012), Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria * Oluyombo Awojobi (1963-1969), Rural Surgeon * Oliver Ogedengbe 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 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 Lago ...

(born 1865), businessman * Samuel Manuwa (1903–76), surgeon * Isaac Delano (1904-1979), author, linguist, teacher * Talabi Braithwaite (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 Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips (1884 – 10 July 1969) was a Nigerian organist, conductor, composer and teacher who has been described as the "father of Nigerian church music" Life Thomas Ekundayo Phillips was born in 1884. His father was Bishop ...

(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 (1917–2008), lawyer, politician * Tunji Sowande (1912–96), lawyer and musician * Victor Adetunji Haffner (born 1919), engineer *

Wahab Goodluck Wahab Omorilewa Goodluck (11 July 1923 – 10 September 1991) was the founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). During the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in the 1970s, he was barred from trade unionism along with Michael Imoud ...

(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