THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS DELIVERED ON 29/01/2025 BY ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS AYO LADIGBOLU, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 80TH FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATION OF OLIVET BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL, OYO.
IN THE BEGINNING
The introduction of Western education was pioneered by the Christian Missions who established themselves in parts of the Empire, particularly in Oyo Province, in the second half of the nineteenth century. Up to 1931, the Government and the Native Authorities, working together, established only two schools. They were the Bales’ School in Ibadan, established in 1906, and the N. A. School, Oyo, established in 1927. Thus, of the 156 Primary Schools in Oyo Province in 1931, Christian Missions established 154. And of the 11,721 pupils in those schools, only 488 were in Government schools.
The Chiefs’ Sons’ School, established in Oyo in 1911, became defunct after a few years. Unfortunately, the school taught its pupils only in Yoruba to prevent them from becoming proud like the Lagos pupils, and thereby disturb or disrupt the status quo. Captain Ross was responsible for this backward instruction. The Resident Administrator perpetrated ignorance, backwardness, and illiteracy within the Province and in Oyo Division, under the guise of protecting the authority and powers of the Alaafin.
While there are no statistics to determine the growth of education in one Division vis-à-vis the others, Professor J.A. Atanda, in his book The New Oyo Empire, asserted that “there are indications in the records that Oyo Division lagged behind the other Divisions in this respect.” It was also noted by Captain Ross that “In Oyo city, education does not appeal to the people who are intensely conservative and satisfied with their own ways of life.”
However, the stunted growth of Western education in Oyo city, in particular, and in Oyo Division as a whole, was blamed on Captain W.A. Ross, who was openly accused of not being progressive enough. Let me quote the father of one of the former National Presidents of this Association, who himself was a pupil and Head teacher at the Chiefs’ Sons’ School, Oyo, founded in 1911. Late Chief S.A. Ogunmola:
“Well, I consider that Captain Ross, coming from a civilized country, should have realized that education exalted a nation. Actually, I see no reason why he should not have advised his friend, the Alaafin, to send his children overseas to become lawyers, doctors, and so on. All these were quite possible in his day. There were the vast resources of the Native Authority for use at that time. But I think he purposely kept the people down by not advising on the right course to take to get themselves well-educated. This affected the Oyos particularly, and we are suffering from it till today.”
Baba Agba, Chief Ogunmola, has made a valid and very important statement of fact, the devastating effect of which cannot be denied. However, there are those who say that the slow development of Western education in Oyo Division and Oyo Town in particular was more complex than to be blamed on Captain Ross alone. Among the complex factors were:
(a) The economy, which made it difficult for most parents to find money to pay their children’s school fees.
(b) The need for numerous farm-hands on the family farmsteads, which militated against sending children and wards to school.
(c) The religious factor, which prevented non-Christian parents from sending their children to Mission schools for fear of their being converted to the Christian faith.
(d) The general nonchalant attitude of most of the people towards Western education, particularly among the royal families.
It should be noted that Saint Andrew’s College had been established in Oyo since 1806. Its records showed that only very few Oyos attended the College. Between 1806 and 1934, only about 8 of its students were from Oyo. However, we must remember that Saint Andrew’s, being an Anglican Church institution, only members of the CMS would be allowed to attend it.
The educational revolution in Oyo Division had to wait until 1945 when the Oyo Baptist High School was founded. When the school was eventually founded, the people of Oyo Division got a school within easy reach, and a school which did not necessarily require its students to be or become Christians.
Among the aims and objectives of the founders were:
- To prepare its youths for a life of service.
- To prepare them for dedication to God and humankind.
- To lead its youth to develop skills.
- To promote knowledge and attitudes that will make the youths useful and happy members of society.
- To present vividly to the students the saving grace of the Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
While the Mission was expected to take responsibility for constructing the school buildings, the Association would be responsible for payment of teachers’ salaries. All churches within the Oyo/Okeogun Baptist Association contributed to funding this project by way of reasonable and affordable levies. The noble mission was accomplished, and the school was founded on 29th January, 1945 at the site of the Baptist College of Theology, Isokun, Oyo. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
BLENDING HERITAGE WITH INNOVATION
I like to refer those who may still be in doubt to a compendium titled “STORIES BEHIND THE GLORY: OLIVET: THE NURSERY OF CHAMPIONS”, published in 2015. The landmark publication, in addition to its prologue titled Olivet: The Nursery of Champions, also contained sections on The Living Legends, including Dr. Kunle Ogunmola, Dr. Oba Otudeko, Prof. Wande Abimbola, Chief Harry Akande, Prince Jibola Afonja, and Chief Chris A. Alabi.
Listed among The Icons are: Governor Ayo Fayose, Adebode Adefioye, Elizabeth Ayodele, Gbolahan Labinjo, Tunde Busari, SAN, Prof. Dupe Arowojolu, and Senator Monsura Sunmonu.
The list of Role Models included Ayo Akintoye, Tunde Oguntayo, Ayo Adekunle, Abidemi Funke Adeyeye, and Titilayo Adedokun Helm. There was also a list of The Forerunners of a New Generation of Achievers made up of Hon. Prince Akeem Adeyemi, Tunde Oladoja, Deji Asubiaro, and Muyiwa Raji.
The book also contained a comprehensive list of all students of Olivet Baptist High School from 1945 to 2015.
There is no doubt that the students of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, have been fed with a balanced diet of academic, moral, patriotic, and religious values, which make them stand out and outshine others wherever they find themselves. Quality education built upon the fear of God cannot but produce students who will be trustworthy leaders and pace-setters. And this has been the story of this 80-year-old citadel of learning, whose alumni are being globally applauded because of their school’s principal legacies of ACADEMIC AND MORAL EXCELLENCE.
Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, has impacted Nigeria and the global community by:
- Empowering its students to be bold and fearless and to face challenges with courage.
- Inculcating in its products punctuality, responsibility, and incorruptibility, which has helped and is still helping many Olivetians to get to the pinnacle of their careers.
- Enabling its students to live Christ-like lives (by choice).
TRIBUTE TO SIGNIFICANT MISSIONARY EFFORTS IN WESTERN EDUCATION
There is a need to pay glowing tributes to the Christian missionary groups coming into Oyo to establish schools, in addition to their original mandate of winning souls.
(1) The Anglican Church
Notable among the mission schools was Saint Mary’s Anglican Elementary School, Iyalamu, Oyo, established by the Anglican Missionaries. Its activities began in 1859. The school was located in an illiteracy-dominated environment beside the Iyalamu Stream near Sakutu-Sabo. Lady Mary (the founding missionary) taught the alphabets to the few pupils. Teaching activities stopped after her departure, but the school facilities and the Mission House remained. The Ancient Mission House is still standing at the old school site today, as well as modern school buildings that replaced the old missionary structures.
(2) The Baptist Church
On the 21st of October, 1892, the Baptist Mission commenced the process of establishing an elementary school, which began its operations on 1st January, 1893, on the first floor of the Mission House. The school was called Isokun Baptist Day School. Rev. C.F. Smith requested the Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in America to establish GIRLS SCHOOLS in Nigeria. The request was promptly approved, and the schools were sited at Old Ijaye in 1854, Lagos in 1858, and Oyo in 1902. Of the three Girls’ Schools, that of Oyo was unique for three major reasons:
(i) It was unanimously approved by all the missionaries.
(ii) It was meant to serve all the Baptist stations, not just Oyo.
(iii) It was supported by regular mission appropriation.
However, the Girls’ School suffered from a lack of support and enthusiasm, as girls’ education was very unpopular among the Yoruba at the time. The parents also complained that they could not afford the high cost of sending girls to school. Tragically, it was also a period when the Head of the Baptist Mission in Oyo, Rev. S.G. Pinnock (a former Methodist Missionary to Oyo, who later converted to Baptist on account of Baptism by Immersion), had a running battle with the reigning Alaafin Oba Lawani Amubieya Agogoija.
Finally, the shortage of teachers served as the last straw that broke the camel’s back regarding girls’ education at this period. The schools were run epileptically until 1909 when Rev. Pinnock was expelled from Oyo, and the school in Oyo was closed, while the only available teacher moved to Abeokuta.
Baptist Mission schools (mixed) continued to operate in different parts of Oyo division alongside Native Authority schools, charging various school fees and levies ranging from three shillings and sixpence to six shillings per pupil per year. The levies and fees enabled the Mission to build more classrooms and employ more teachers, up to 31st December 1954. By January 1955, the Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education Scheme was introduced by the Action Group Government, led by late Chief Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo.
Olivet Baptist High School; 80 Year’s Legacy in Oyo Kingdom
“The training and instruction of the young for the business of life is one of the most ancient concerns of mankind.”
The author of the above quote is unknown, but I am convinced that it must be part and parcel of the motivations of the founding fathers of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo.
According to a report, The history of Olivet Baptist High School Oyo revolved around the need for a central high school within Oyo and its environs. This was because some neighbouring communities around Oyo had Grammar schools. The proposal was championed by Oyo/Okeogun Baptist Association. Preparation on the project commenced on 22nd June 1937 when Mr. J.O. Olaopa (later Rev. J.O. Olaopa) reported to the meeting of African Mission of the Southern Baptist Convention about his findings regarding the proposed school. As a Baptist and a Headmaster of Awe Baptist School, he reported the desire of Oyo and the neighbouring towns to establish a middle school on the land adjacent to the Mission House at Isokun, Oyo. He said further that Oba Siyanbola Onikepe Ladigbolu, the Alaafin of Oyo, had promised to give out the land to Oyo/Okeogun Baptist Association.
It needs to be noted here that successive Alaafins after Oba Siyanbola gave varying acreages and sizes of land to the school mostly on leasehold basis. This Speaker was invited by Iku Baba Yeye, The Alaafin, to attend a session of the Nigerian Baptist Convention held at Atan Baptist Church, Koso Oyo on April 26, 1995 where His Imperial Majesty Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyami III publicly announced that all lands granted to the Baptist Convention, including those allocated to Olivet Baptist High School, are converted to FREEHOLD. Oba Dr. Olatiwola Atanda Adeyemi III deserves special commendation for making this indispensable asset available for the present and future development of education, thus providing a vehicle through which Olivet can inspire the future of qualitative education not only in Oyo State but all over Nigeria.
Olivet has been greatly endowed by God to lay the foundation for innovation in its pursuit of excellence in education by producing outstanding Alumni and leaders who are committed to growth, discovery, and transformation. We Olivetians should pride ourselves in a school whose pursuit of excellence seeks mastery, creativity, and impact. With the dedicated support of teachers and other staff, and the serious commitment of students present and past, our school is determined to remain a front-runner in enabling our students to ask questions and seek answers. This anniversary celebration should also challenge the entire Olivet Family to foster an environment where ideas grow and evolve. Surely, our school will continue to produce well-rounded students who can think critically, solve problems, and contribute meaningfully to creating a better Nigeria and a better global society.
Mentoring, role modeling, investment, and empowerment will become powerful weapons in the arsenal of both the administration and the alumni as we seek to make the students think outside the box.
I was an eyewitness at the historic event of commissioning the ICT centre donated to Olivet High School Oyo by Hon. Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi on October 16, 2022. I wonder how many more of such Centres we currently have in the school. How well enlarged and improved is the existing Centre?
Do we as a school founded “to encourage students to acquire skills” have a standard and modern Skill Acquisition/Vocational Training centre where vocational/career talents can be discovered, encouraged, and promoted?
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education was speaking recently at the 60th Anniversary of another school in Oyo. He mentioned the fact that there are Ten Model High Schools in Oyo State. As I listened to him, I was full of confidence that Olivet must be not only one of them but at the top of the table. Do Olivetians know or care about our school’s standing or rating among the top-notch secondary schools in Nigeria? Does anyone care?
Provision of facilities that enable access to education, particularly digital tools and online platforms, should be among our school’s top priorities, in addition to standard and modern sporting equipment, a standard gymnasium, and a mini stadium. These will be booster structures for meaningful and impactful development in sporting activities.
The Alumni Association should impress upon all its members the need to pursue influencing government policy reforms that will promote creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking from which our alma mater can also benefit.
Let all of us, joyful celebrants, renew our determination to keep on pursuing excellence. At least it has been established that when one person strives for excellence, it inspires others, creating greater ripple effects that will impact the future.
A Word for the Next Generation of Olivetians
Permit me to remind you of Frantz Fanon’s postulations on the importance of generations discovering and fulfilling their mission. “Each generation must out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it.” Fanon also said that, “The unpreparedness of the educated classes, the lack of practical links between them and the masses of the people, their laziness, and let it be said, their cowardice at the decisive moment of the struggle will give rise to tragic mishaps.”
My supplication is that the next generation’s steps be quicker, determination stronger, and their actions be faster in order to avert a tragic mishap.
Final Words
May our gathering together and our reminiscences propel all Olivetians to increase in our ability to give back to our alma mater, and to challenge our succeeding generations to outshine us in maintaining and promoting the Olivetian Heritage of unquestionable character.
Men of genius are admired
Men of wealth are envied
Men of power are feared
But only men of character are trusted
Congratulations and Happy Celebrations.
References:
(i) The New Oyo Empire: Indirect Rule and Change in Western Nigeria 1894-1934
(ii) Stories Behind the Glory: 70th Anniversary Brochure of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, 2015