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Rev Ludlow's Account

Foundation of Offa Grammar School
By R. N. Ludlow

The large town of Offa appears at least three times in these memoirs. It is the first large town as one enters the Northern Provinces and was for some time the end of the railway line being built from Lagos to Kano. As further construction on the line took place, Offa was the supply base from its large engineering and supplies work. This meant it became the residence of a large staff of well qualified Africans and Europeans. Most of the Africans came from the south and we had a small church served by a catechist to look after the Methodist community. I decided to raise the standard of the staff, and was able to replace the catechist with a fully trained Sub-Pastor from our Wesley College. He was to undertake outreach work. I have already recorded the tragic event which left him a widower in his early years.

Rev LudlowOur first school at Offa was opened in the small church built by the railway workers. The building itself had the usual mud walls, not very straight nor smooth. These had been improved with a splash of whitewash. The mud floor had to be washed each Saturday with a solution of cattle dung, to keep insect life to a minimum. The lower creation seem to dislike the smell, we humans got used to it quickly, but the khaki colour was not inspiring. The choice of site had been unfortunate and it was difficult to attract pupils to the school. Native residents were dependent on their farms and not on market stalls for their food supplies. They went to farm every day. They suffered much loss through monkeys. These animals were not satisfied with uprooting one growing yam, the staple diet of the people, and after one or two bits, the monkey would toss off the remainder and unearth a fresh yam. The farmers could not be persuaded to send children to school, they were sent to the farm to watch and drive off the monkeys when they got up to their monkey tricks.

The children took it in turns to sit in a tree until the enemy arrived and gave the signal to their companions who sent showers of stones in the required direction. The railway workers were not farmers and their children were able to attend. I discussed the problem with the Oloffa (Chief of Offa) and suggested we would like to move to a big and prominent site. He promised to have the necessary discussions and would let me know.

The result was favourable and we were given the chosen site. This would allow for a church and four classrooms with space for enlargement to cover the eight standards in a Primary School. There was also adequate space for a teacher's house, a playground and other activities. We later built a Bookshop with an annex where the bookseller lived. The money for this latter construction came from my 'Harmonium Fund'.

This active interest in education was later to lead to important developments. The Offa Descendants Union (ODU) was a progressive body with a large membership. Most of the local storekeepers and educated persons in the town beiong, but the greatest financial backing came from Offa descendants abroad, living mainly in Lagos. They were very generous and did much good for their home town.

One greatly desired objective was to start a Grammar School so that children, having gained success in their Primary schooling, need not leave the town but enter a secondary school at home. In Northern Nigeria, the only Secondary Schools were Government-built, controlled and financed. There was little hope that Offa would be favoured by Government as a project, so the ODU aimed at an independent Grammar School. I had taken a general interest in the town and was on very friendly terms with the Emir of florin, the Resident Magistrate and the Education Officer, so the ODU approached me.

In our developing Primary school on the new site mentioned above, we were making very good progress and already had several fully - trained normal teachers on the staff. I could not commit our Mission to supply trained teachers and library to staff a secondary school, but I promised to look into the possibility of making a start. Naturally I kept the Chairman of our District Synod informed; we also had several meetings with the local committee of the ODU to clarify the position. I was also very grateful for the support and advice of Bandele Oyediran, Principal of our Methodist Boys High School in Lagos, who was not only a very active Methodist but also an Offa descendant. There is much more to write of him later.

I agreed to become Manager of the Offa Grammar School and to make a start possible by lending one of our trained teachers from our primary school. We would start Form 1 in the African Church and planned to step up with an extra class each year. We would embark on a building scheme for the new school, including the provision for Science Labs in keeping with Government requirements. Fortunately the ODU for years had been contributing generously for this project so there was no problem.

So, at the beginning of the school year we started with forty boys in Form 1 and with our Solomon Ajayi as the teacher. The Oloffa and his chiefs were all there for the opening and although they were all Moslems, they asked me to open with prayer. It was interesting how they always referred to Solomon as the first principal of the school. No matter how large a primary school may be, it is always under the care of a headmaster, but the Offa Grammar School, like all other grammar schools must

Greetings - Class of 65/69

Class 65/69

Greetings from Class of 1969

On this Joyful occasion of 70th Anniversary and of nurturing very many active players in the World arena. We humbly submit that our set is blessed with the following world class products.

  • Two University professors including the Vice Chancellor of FUT. Minna and a Lady Professor at Unilorin
  • An International Accountant based in the USA who sponsored most of our projects.
  • Four Engineers and one Technologist including a Canada based one, the designer and host of our OGS Website gift and another that once served as the General Secretary to OGSOSA
  • Four Medical Practitioners including two professors/consultant surgeons and two Pharmacists one based in the USA.
  • An Architect, a Ouantity Surveyor and other professionals including Lawyers, Magistrates, Radiographers etc
  • College Administrators/Educationists and successful Business men and women etc, etc, etc. We are most grateful for the solid foundation you laid for us that launch us to our modest achievements

Greetings - Class of 68

An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow. In its seven decades history, Offa Grammar School is home for people of all ethnic, religious, socio-economic and national backgrounds.

As new generations of students have entered its halls, the school has adapted to serve new interests and emerging political and economic realities. But throughout its history, Offa Grammar School has remained true to values of academic excellence and discipline for which it was established 70 years ago by that enviable generation of dedicated thinkers and has remained dedicated to creating an enabling environment for the unification of the country's young stars and college students.

We the 64/68 set are particularly proud of our stay in OGS and of our continued interaction over 40 years after we had left the compound of OGS.

A very Happy 70th anniversary is what we wish our Alma Mata

Greetings 57/58 Set

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Class of 57/58

Seventy years ago, Offa sons and daughters most of them without any formal education were able to mobilise resources to build a school, the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria, and  insisted that only deserving boys, (and later girls) regardless of their tribal origin or creed will be admitted to the school. This speaks volumes for the character of the founders of this Great citadel of learning.

History is a sad testimony of the degeneration of Community Spirit in our Country and points to the fruits of bad governance, unbridled accumulation of wealth and the unwilling downgrading of education.

The 1957/58 set is leading the crusade to give back to a school that has given us so much in learning and in Character. We are proud of what OGS has made of us.

Founders Day Committee

Address of Chairman of 70th
FOUNDER DAY COMMITTEE
Gregory O. Adeyemi

Chief Gregory O. AdeyemiTo God be the glory for sparing my life to serve as the Chairman of the 70' Founders Day celebrations committee of my alma mater. It is about 50 years ago, when I made my first contact with Offa Grammar School. I came down to Offa on a train journey from Lagos with other hundreds of young boys who were resident in Lagos but of Northern region origin to take common entrance to the school. It was a big fun to have a 9-hour train journey from Lagos.

On the day of the common entrance examination Offa town was jammed packed with students aspiring to be students of the first community Grammar School in Northern Nigeria, which has already had a good reputation of academic excellence. I was called for an interview few weeks after, but my journey to Off at this time was lonely because I was the only student from Lagos. Fortunately, those students from other places with whom I did interview became my friends and classmates in Form IA in January 1964.

Gaining admission to Offa Grammar School was not easy, but decision to attend the school was on strong advice of a close family friend, who was once an old student. I jettisoned a popular Catholic College in Lagos to attend the school; the same story is true of some of my classmates who jettisoned Barewa College, Zaria and Government College, Keffi, in the North. I gave my personal experience on admission to the School to illustrate the "strict merit admission" policy of the school. It is the "strict merit admission" that gave birth to vibrant Offa Grammar School Old Student Association (OGSOSA) which is celebrating the current Founders Day.

No doubt Off a Grammar School has tremendous impact on my life. The same is true of thousands of old students that passed through her portal walls. She has produced eminent Nigerians in all aspects of human endeavors. To her, I say Happy 70th Founder Day celebrations.

The owner of the school, Offa Descendant Union (ODU) has a duty to revert back to old policy. Offa Grammar school population in my days at school is National in outlook covering 3 regions of Nigeria.

Finally, on behalf of my committee, I thank most sincerely the executive committee of OGSOSA for thinking us fit to do this wonderful job, and for constantly lending a helping hand when needed. The President, Chief Jide Falokun and his "1958 set caucus" of Gen Akinrinade, Alhaji Olagunju, Pastor Kunlipe, and Chief Odeniyi etc. must be appreciated.

Within a short spell of time, we worked hard to get the best for this celebration; we sincerely hope our best will be good enough for you. Please accept our apologies for our shortcomings. We wish OGSOSA a wonderful celebration; devoid of bitterness and rancor but happiness and gratitude of re-union and re-dedication to make our great school greater.

Alhaji Wasiu Odewale Secretary
Chief Yemi Olagunju
Aihaji Lanre Shoyemi
Alhaji J. A. Salako
Chairman Offa Branch, Mr. Bisi Satau
Member
Engr. Kunle Samo
Hajjia Jibike Alabi
Mr. C. D. Oyebanii
Mr. Akin Jegede
Mr. T. N. Durojaiye
Mrs. Remi Akinola
Mrs. Oladigbolu (Vice Principal OGS)
Mr, Ganiu Sanni, Chairman lbadan Branch
Mrs. Jumoke Rahidat Ajetunmobi
Mr. Toyin Yahaya
Mr. Salami Maruff Kola
Mrs. Ronke Aroyehun
Dr. Lateef Fatai
Alh. Yahaya Ahmed (Oka-Nara) Ilorin
Alh, W. A. Alayande - Abuja Branch
Arc S. M. Omitayo - Minna Branch
Mr. Bashiru Atoyebi
Mr. Sharafa Tiamiyu and
Prince Tayo Popoola.

And of course the editor of Magazine, Mr Oloruntobi Isaac Austin.

Gregory O. Adeyemi (MFR, FP514, RBA) OGS
1964/68/70 SET.

Welcome to OGS at 70

Welcome to OGS at 70

by Chief Jide Falokun, OGOSA National President

Let us give glory and thanks to the Almighty God who made it possible for us to be at this 70th Anniversary of Offa Grammar school. Education is an instrument for social political and economic development in the life of any nation.

Chief Jide FalokunIt has even been more so in the life of Offa and the environs and all people sojourning at Offa where the oldest community secondary school in the whole of the then Northern region was established. Offa grammar school was established In the year 1943 through the dedicated communal effort of the people of Offa. It is important to note that in spite of the second world war of 1939-45, the people engaged themselves in pursuing the ambition of establishing an educational Institution at that time. It was the commitment that brought all the indigenes together, regardless of social and religious perspective.

It was the establishment of Offa grammar school that eventually earned Offa a recognition and place of pride in the then Northern Region and the entire country. It brought people of different ethnicity working in Offa together, might be ljeshas, Egba, lbos, Hausa and others then working in different federal establishment like the railways and those who came to teach at Offa or do other business. The reason why the catchment area was wide and bought all of us together under one roof.

Those who have studied and left Offa grammar school were more than 15,000. We thank God and the Offa people especially the ODU for this golden opportunity given to all of us. We thanks our pioneer Principals Chief J.A. Osanyin, Chief Adelowo and others for their good work in building the school.

Gen AkinrinadeWe thank our Old students who have been doing their best that new buildings are built and old one renovated. We specially thank our first president of Offa grams school old students association Mr Sofoluwe for establishing the old students association, A hall has been built in his honour and though completed. the dedication and opening ceremony will be for another day.

We thank the past presidents of the association Chief Okobi, Prof. M.O. Oyawoye, Justice M.S. Belgore FIRM Dele Olashore the Owa loko of Ijesha land who left us recently for higher glory, Chief Oluwafemi Olukanmi the eketa of Olubadan who also has gone for better glory with the lord. We thank all the executive member of OGSOSA, the chairman of our building committee general Alani Akinrinade and the chairman of the 70th anniversary committee Chief Otun Adeyemi MFR and all the member of his committee. I also thank all members of OGSOSA.

Educational Standard- No doubt good infrastructure have been provided for the school by the founder and the old students and recently by the Central Bank of Nigeria. We however are yet to see brilliant students now coming from the school. Last year the Principal gave the following report and I quote “our senior school certificate for 2011 is not that impressive but a bit better than the previous year i.e. 2010. In both WAEC and NECO we have about forty students with at least minimum entry requirement for University admissions" end of quote. We were not given details. We tried to find out the reasons for the poor results the Principal reported that the school then had g 0 teachers though he complained that they were in adequate. No teachers for core subject in science. The Old Students association then gave authority for the recruitment of three teachers for the science subjects. We still pay the teachers till now.

We tried to find other reasons for the poor results and we discussed with the members of staff. We are made to understand that entry into Offa grammar school is no longer by entrance examination. Students are brought in by government- officials mostly from them, and for our chiefs and notable people at Offa, the back ground of these students are not tested and students of different standards are put together, we also note that the catchment area is mostly restricted to Offa indigenes, thus step is not good for the growth of the school and old students association. The lack of good result is already affecting the association as we don't have many of our students entering the universities. We should do something about this. We now have lbo traders and others now at Offa why can't we admit their children for a mix.

SPORTS- We noticed in our conferences that the school has jettisoned sports. There are not Inter-house sports, nor competition among the secondary schools at Offa and environs. We are aware that there are no sporting facilities, the field is now used for parties, no lawn tennis or other courts no table tennis.

OGSOSA will build two lawn tennis courts the new hall. The football field will be reconstructed and fenced. Table tennis table will be bought. We are aware that the school is very good in football, this will be encouraged the association will continue to pay for three teachers as we have been doing.

We appeal to all of us to help the school in our small ways.

Wishing all of us happy celebrations.

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