History of the Association

History of Baptist High School Saki Alumni Association, Nigeria

The growth and development of the Association was extremely slow and sluggish, thanks to the struggling stage of “atapatadide” (                     ) members. It was so traumatic that in one of our Annual Meetings in the seventies, at Okekisi Recreation Club Saki, the then School Principal – Mr S.O Ogundiran had to tongue-lash us for being so irresponsible! Thank God that today, the history has changed, such that the same Baba Ogundiran had beautiful words for us at his death bed, to the effect that he was so joyous departing this world because Baptist High School, Saki Old Students Association had given him a befitting funeral while alive, by the honour done him during the 60th Anniversary of the School, anchored by the Association in 2018. Praise be unto the Lord!

During the Ogundiran years the Association contemplated purchasing a “Liteace” bus for School as School Bus, which cost about three thousand naira (N3,000.00) then per unit. We however eventually settled for constructing a Staff Quarters of twin flats. Dr Rufus Babalola, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Director of Welfare Hospitals in Ibadan (of 1968 set), was the only individual that donated two thousand naira (N2,000.00), with which Chief Isaac Koleoso assisted in laying the foundation of the said building. The foundation lies there till today at the North-Western end of the School Chapel.

We used to meet at branch levels such as Home, Oyo, Ibadan, Lagos as well as Campus levels such as University of Ibadan and University of Ife before. The Secretariat has to be moved from Home branch to Ibadan, where vibrant members resided then, such as Chief Timothy Amao, Alhaji Supo Busari, Mr Isaac Adeduntan, Mr Bamiji Aiki, Mr Oluwole Oladokun, Dr Junaid Ogundiran, Dn Toye Ogundiya and others. Chief Timothy Amao used his influence and the General Manager of Cultural Centre in Ibadan to fix our meeting venue there; with Ibadan members always footing the bill of our entertainment. Long after his retirement from active service, the meeting continued at the venue until it was suggested that it be brought back to the home base in Saki. That singular effort by the Ibadan members brought us together the more, and birthed the current successes being recorded by the Association.

Internet facilities coming on the scene assisted a great deal in these successes today, in addition to the passion of some members and groups, home and abroad. Mention must be made at this junction of the invaluable contributions of Prof. Dejo Afolayan both at his base in the Diaspora and even here at home. The documentary produced by Prince Remi Adegbola, tittled – “B.H.S SAKI – THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF MORAL AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE” – is a valuable reference material for this school. We love and deeply appreciate these efforts. The love that brought members together is so strong, such that a new wave of movement has emerged in the running of our Association.

The Association had been headed in succession by Dn. Okegbemi Okeesan (1963 set), Mr Caleb Olaayan (1963 set), Chief Isaac Koleosho (1963 set) and currently Dn Sola Togunde (1969 set). The efforts of Mr Isaac Adeduntan as National Secretary under the leadership of Pa Olaayan and Chief Koleoso cannot be quantified. So was Mr Bamji Aiki at the same period decided sending messages to individual members, notifying them of meetings, at his own expenses! Thanks to them all.

The Association had been involved in assisting the school at various times in several spheres such as provision of metal doors and windows, painting, roofing for school buildings, reconstruction of Principal’s office with furnishings, the Library, Administrative block and the Laboratory, a befitting gate, Krebs hiring school roads which is ongoing, frontal fencing of the school which is also ongoing, supply of computers, chairs and desks. The Association also facilitated the construction of a CBT Centre near the School 2 Principal’s office, e-library building, as well as bore-hole. Other assistance include procurement of School bus, two pavilions beside the School field, grass cutting machine and many more, to testify to the relevance of the Association to her Alma Mata. The ongoing creation of this website is another landmark in the history of BHS Alumni’s readiness to give back to her School in the area of exposing the School to the world.

Great thanks therefore to the creators of this noble project.

Brief History of the School Establishment

Great credit is given to Prince Remi Adegbola who did an indepth work on the school history from 1958 to 1993 as published in “B.H.S. SAKI, THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF MORAL AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE” to mark the first thirty-five years of the school’s existence. Resources from the work form the basis for this write-up.

By 1957, ninety-nine (99) Secondary Grammar Schools with sixteen thousand, two hundred and eight students (16,208) were available in Western Region, with none of this is Okeogun sub-region. This was what prompted the Baptist Mission in association with other patriots to rise to the occasion of establishing a secondary school in the area, more so, with the expectant population explosion coming from the products of Free Primary Education Scheme, that will be streaming out as from 1960.

It was in this 1957 that Saki Baptist Association along with many patriots from neighbouring communities decided to send application for its establishment to the Education Secretary in the Ministry of Education at Ibadan. Championed by Rev A.B. Togun of First Baptist Church, Saki, a delegation compromising Baba Dn. Ipadeola, Pa Isaiah Oguntona, Rev. A.M. Olaleye, Pa T.A Amao and other eminent personalities carried out this assignment with great support from Saki Parapo (home and abroad).

The delegation to the Okere of Saki Land, Kabiyesi Ladosu for land acquisition request included Rev.A.B. Togun, Pa James Koleoso (Saki District Council Secretary), Pa Ipadeola. Over one hundred acres (100) of land was granted by the Okere in conjunction with the Bagii of Saki, Basorun Ajao Adeagbola at Idiaraba on Saki-Aha road.

          Mr. E.A. Iyanda was appointed the pioneer school Principal by the Nigerian Baptist Convention on the 20th of September, 1957 but declined the offer against all enteritis. Through the intervention of the Convention President, Rev S.A. Lawoyin after a long delay, the Principal accepted the offer on 12th December, 1957.

          A meeting held on 23/12/1957 at First Baptist Church, Okeadagba, Saki between the Education Secretary, Mr J.O. Fagbemi and the new Principal had in attendance the Saki Baptist Association delegates. A sum of one thousand, five hundred pounds (€1,500) was delivered to the Principal by the Association for the building of a three-classroom block at the Permanent site of the school. Advert for entrance examination into the school was published in the dailies available in the Western Region then (the Nigeria Tribune and the Daily Times) on 02/01/1958, to be held at Saki, Ede, Ibadan and Oyo on 25/01/1958. Forty (40) candidates applied for admission at the Saki centre alone. The Principal conducted the interview on Friday 31/01/1958 in Saki, Tuesday 04/02/1958 in Ede and returned to Saki on Monday 06/02/1958. The Principal earlier moved his family down to Saki on 16/01/1958, with the seven Baptist Churches in Saki joyfully welcoming them, led by Rev.A.B.Togun.

          The foundation set of students were thirty-three (33) in number, drawn from Okeogun, Kaduna, Minna, Kano, Benin, Port Harcourt and Lagos. Twenty-five (25) of them arrived at the boarding house on Monday, 10/02/1958 with a divine service held on Tuesday 11/02/1958 at the Baptist Day School, Ajegunle Assembly ground. About four hundred (400) people, including Saki Baptist Association (that later split into Saki, Araromi and Alafi Oluwa Baptist Associations) delegates were in attendance. At the establishment of the school in February 1958, the pioneering staff included Mr E.A. Iyanda (the Principal), assisted by Mr A.F.Kilanko, with Mr O. Oyetunji (the Bursar).

          The thirty-three (33) pioneering students include;

  1. A. Abegunde
  2. A. Adegunwa
  3. A. Adeniji
  4. Adeniji
  5. Adebayo
  6. Ola Adeyi
  7. Adeyi
  8. Akindele
  9. M. Akinwale
  10. Alao
  11. O. Eweoya
  12. F. Karimu
  13. Kolawole
  14. Koleosho
  15. O. Laoye
  16. A. Lawal
  17. Latilo
  18. S. Okunola
  19. Olapade
  20. O. Oyelowo
  21. O. Ojedapo
  22. A. Olakojo
  23. I. Oke
  24. O. Osuntoki
  25. O. Raji
  26. Alimi
  27. Aremu
  28. Bello
  29. F. Lagbenro
  30. Okeesan
  31. Okeyinka
  32. Olawoyin
  33. B. Yusuff

 

School teachers at the onset were Grade II, HSC and School Certificate holders but were highly dedicated with most of them obtaining their degree in various fields later in life. They were usually into correspondence course like Rapid Results College and the like while teaching their students. The pioneer Principal, Mr. E.A. Iyanda and Rev.A.M. Olaleye were the two graduates at inception. The second Principal, Dn. S.L. Akinokun came in as the only graduate before being joined by the Vice Principal Mr Alao later. Mr.A.O. Afolayan and Mr. Bayo Oguntona joined as graduates in 1966 while Mr. and Mrs. Nash came in from the United States of America as Peace Corps members. Rev.W.R.O. Ojo came from America to join the team in 1967. Graduate teachers were ally a scarce commodity in those days.

         

BOARDING HOUSE SYSTEM

From inception in 1958 till 1967, the school operated Boarding house system in private residences, notable among them being Pa Agbo Oshuntoki, Pa Durojaye, Pa Agboola, Pa Bamimore, Alhaji Akande, Pa Oladokun, Pa Owolabi and Mama Chief (Mrs) Grace Oke houses. The pioneer Housemaster – Mr. A.F. Kilanko (a.k.a Angle AFK) was a firm and disciplined teacher. By 1968 however, with the coming on board of female students and commencement of two streams of classes, occupying abandoned Elam School property became a necessity.

         

TRANSITING FROM SIX TO FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME

The first three sets of the school passed out in 1963, 1964 and 1965 in Form Six. However, with WAEC approval after inspection, Form Five and Form Six students passed out in 1966 setting the pace for a five year course in the school, which obtains till today.

 

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERMANENT SITE

Chief E.A. Olu & Sons of Fiditi was contracted to construct the first block of three classrooms in 1958 with Chief D.G. Adeleke as Supervisor. The contractor was assisted by Pa Abel Oladokun as carpenter and Pa S.A Owolabi as bricklayer. Saki Baptist Association members as well as the pioneering students worked assiduously in clearing the site for the building as well as the school field. The keys to the building were handed over to the Principal by the contractor on 11/07/1958, with the students moving in in 1959 along with the staff – Mr. E.A. Iyanda (Principal), Rev. A.M. Olaleye, Mr. A.F. Kilanko and Mr.G.O. Asalu.

 

THE SCHOOL RUNNING INTO FINANCIAL CRISIS

The school was soon in critical need of funds to run it as some neighbouring members developed feet dragging. It got to a climax when the Education Secretary, Mr. J.O Fagbemi instructed them at a meeting held in First Baptist Church, Saki that they either provide the fund or lose the approval to Ejigbo Baptist Association! This forced the Association to start seeking for loans. A loan of one thousand pounds (€1,000) was got through the assistance of the same Education Secretary at 2% interest, out of two thousand pounds (€2,000) required for the building of a second block of classrooms.

Rev.A.B.Togun wrote letters to Saki indigenes in Upper Volta, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kaduna, Ibadan and so on, pleading with them to come to the aid of the young school in the name of God. One of the few people that promptly responded to his clarion call was Pa. J.A Agboola, a successful baker in Kaduna. He, upon receiving the letter, boarded a vehicle the following day for Saki from Kaduna, defying the rains in Saki then. He came along with Mr. Emmanuel Adigun. He brought along three hundred pounds (€300), with two hundred pounds (€200) as interest free loan and one hundred pounds (€100) as his personal donation to the school. On getting back to Kaduna, he started traveling far and wide, even as far as Funtus, but unfortunately, met with cold response. He again raked in another one hundred and fifty pounds (€150) which he instantly remitted to Rev.A.B.Togun.

At the home front, in a meeting called with Saki Parapo members from French speaking West African Countries in attendance, Pa Agboola’s gesture was relayed to the delegates. This spurred a prompt response of one hundred and eighty pounds (€180) as follows;

  1. L.L.Lakunle €50 loan,      €30 donation
  2. Samson Owolabi €30 loan,      €20 donation
  3. Abraham Bamimore €30 loan,      €20 donation

It was at this junction that Rev.A.B. Togun and the Saki Baptist Association could breathe a sigh of relief for a progress accompli.

 

TIT BITS

Right away from inception the school had been noted for discipline, moral instruction and academic excellence. Out of the thirty-three students admitted in 1958, ten were able to be registered for West African School Certificate examination (WASC) in 1963, the major culprit being finance, as witnessed in the school establishment above, so was it with parents. The ten graduating students in 1963 were;

  1. Victor Akinade Adegunwa
  2. Caleb Ayandare Olaayan
  3. Mrs Moses Oyebamiji Bukola
  4. Isaac Aderibigbe Koleosho
  5. Philip Olujobi Eweoya
  6. Adejare Elegbede
  7. Theophilus Oladunni Oyelowo
  8. Ajebiyi Olaaje
  9. Okegbemi Okeesan
  10. S. Gbadebo Adeyi

 

The first three sets of the school passed out with 100% with some of them who read Health Science as their only science subject ending up in science related careers. Some of these include Mr. O. Okeesan who read Biology and Library Science and Mr. Caleb Olaayan who read Engineering and Information Technology and is an IT giant today. Many of them taught themselves science subjects.

The school was blessed with many co-curricular activities such as Dramatic Society, Geographical Society, Historical Society, Student Christian Movement, Young Writers Union, Agricultural Club, Royal Ambassadors and so on, that sharpened the outlook of the students later in life. For instance, the President of Young Writers Union in 1966, Mr. Lade Bonuola, while with the dominant Daily Times of Nigeria in the seventies, maintained a column “Cut-Out by Ladbone”, where he used to corrects errors in all Nigerian dailies then. He rose to become the Editor of Sunday Times before moving on to be the pioneering Group Editor of The Guardian newspapers, which used to be more of a book than dailies.

For many years at inception, students in the school enjoyed the Western Regional Government Scholarship of fifty pounds (€50) year, usually granted the first three students leading in the entrance examination. It was tagged Scholarship for Educational Disadvantaged Areas. Thanks be to God.

The first school dining hall near the laboratory was built by students through punishment, with proud inscription on the ceiling – “Chief Contractor – Omoloyin Jonathan”, confirming dignity of labour then.

The School Principals in succession are Mr.E.A. Iyanda, Dn. S.L. Akinokun, Mr. S.O. Ogundiran, Rev. Canon Lapese Ladipo, Mr. J.A. Aderounmu, Mr.V.A. Adegunwa, Dn. E. Ade Ojo, Mr. M.O. Abokede, Mrs. A.E. Koleoso, Dn. M.K. Ogunkunle, Mr. M.A. Ojo, Mr. M.M. Ogunjimi, Mr. J.A. Adejumobi, Mr. S.A. Adelakun, D. E.A. Ogundiran, Mrs. E.A. Akanji, Mr. F.A. Oni/Mrs. C.F. Oyeniran