The CMS Grammar School in

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

, a suburb of

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...

, is the oldest secondary school in

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of 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 Anglican mission society working with Christians around the world. Founded in 1799, CMS has attracted over nine thousand men and women to serve as ...

. For decades it was the main source of African

clergymen Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

and

administrators Administrator or admin may refer to: Job roles Computing and internet * Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database * Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum * N ...

in the

Lagos Colony Lagos Colony was a British Empire, British colonial possession centred on the port of Lagos in what is now southern Nigeria. Lagos was Lagos Treaty of Cession, annexed on 6 August 1861 under the threat of force by Commander Beddingfield of HMS ...

Foundation

The seed funding for CMS Grammar School, Lagos was made possible by James Pinson Labulo Davies 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 Ta ...

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 city, 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, e ...

, 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. Macaulay is considered by many as founder of Nigerian nat ...

. 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, 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 * Jacob Ogunyinka, 2022- Till date

Alumni

Some notable alumni: *

9ice Akande Abolore Adegbola Alexander Ajifolajifaola (born Abolore Adegbola Akande), better known as 9ice (pronounced nice; born 17 January 1980), is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and dancer. He is known for his powerful use of the Yoruba language ...

(born 1980), musician * Olusola Allen-Taylor nee Faulkner-Shaw (1908-1996), Matron St. Anne's School Ibadan * Adebesin Folarin (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's ...

(1884–1952), media entrepreneur and co-founder of

Daily Times of Nigeria ''The Daily Times'' was a Nigerian 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 ...

Adeniji Adele Oba (ruler), Oba Sir Musendiku Buraimoh Adeniji Adele II, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, KBE (13 November 1893 – 12 July 1964) was the Oba of Lagos, Oba (King) of Lagos from 1 October 1949 to 12 July 1964. Life Adele was ...

(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. Backg ...

, 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 (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 (1937–84), academic and activist * Babs Fafunwa (1923–2010), Federal Minister of Education *

Bode Thomas Chief Bode Thomas (born Olabode Akanbi 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 ...

(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 Fulani sl ...

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

, 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 installed the Abese of Egbalan ...

(1936–2022), Interim 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 (1920–2005), lawyer * George Da Costa (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 Henry Oloyede Fajemirokun, CON (26 July 1926 – 15 February 1978) was a trade unionist who later became a prominent Nigerian industrialist and businessman and one of the country's dynamic indigenous entrepreneurs who had established and built o ...

, Business Magnate *

(1864–1946), surveyor and nationalist *

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

(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 Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerians, Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre t ...

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 Alhaji Karim Ayinla Babalola "KAB" Olowu (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 1952 Summe ...

(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 poss ...

(1866–1937), lawyer and politician *

Niyi Adebayo Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo (born 4 February 1958) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria from August 2019 to May 2023. He previously served as the first democratically elected g ...

(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 (1925–2012), Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria * Oluyombo Awojobi (1963-2015), Rural Surgeon * Oliver Ogedengbe Macaulay, son of Herbert Macaulay, journalist, and nationalist * Remi Fani-Kayode (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 (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 (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 (play), Julius Caesa ...

(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 (died 1991), President, Nigeria Labour Congress * Nelson Amaine Okwuonu(died 2000), Engineer, attended Cambridge and Oxford. Participated in installation of the First Automatic Telephone Exchange in Nigeria

References

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

Foundation

Principals

Alumni

See also

References