| (HISTORY) Board Of Governors |
| Mr. J.S.O. Ogunnaike – Chairman, 1957 – 1969 Mr. Olu Fayemi – Secretary Mr. Oladele Taiwo – Chairman 1970-1970 Mr.G.O Olukoya – Secretary Chief G.A. Onagoruwa – Chairman 70 – 77 Oba Owoaje (Moloda of Odogbolu) – Chairman 77 – 84 Chief G. Onasanya – Secretary |
| Odogbolu Grammar School, Odogbolu has come a long way.The great School has also got a long and interesting history full of actions and noble deeds. It is therefore not possible for me to write all that can be written about the history of the school. To reduce the volume of this write-up, I have limited it to events that occupied ”first” positions in the chronological history of the school. Odogbolu Grammar School, a venture of faith, was founded on Tuesday, 29th January, 1957 at about 0830 hours with a short service held at St. Paul’s Church, Odogbolu. It was founded by the entire Odogbolu Community who were keenly conscious of owning a Secondary School where their children would acquire qualitative education in their beck and call. The first scripture passage read that day by Rev. Adeogun, the Vicar of the Church was taken from Psalm 127 ” EXCEPT THELORD BUILD THE HOUSE……..”The Principal of the school was Mr. V.G. Chinwah, popularly called ”Very good Chinwah” Sixty-six foundation students admitted were present on that great day and were accomodated temporarily in the two class-rooms of the new St. Paul’s School Odogbolu.Their first Staff comprised of the following: 1. Mr. V.G. Chinwah (B.A. Hons) – Principal 2. Mr. J.M. Onifade 3. Mr. V.O. Oyefodurin, an indigene of Odogbolu 4. Mr. D.O. Odubanjo was the school clerk. The first set of 23 boarders were temporarily accommodated in the house of Mr. Oduwole in the town.In the area of sports, the first inter-house sports meeting took place on 2nd of April, 1957; while in academics, the school conducted its first terminal examination on 12th April, 1957. The School appointed the first three school prefects on 2nd April 1957. They were:1. Christopher Ogunlana – Senior Prefect 2. Benjamin Mabadeje – Prefect of supply 3. Mufutau Rabiu – Boarding House PrefectFrom the time of its inception, the school was solely financed by the Odogbolu Community. However, on 5th November, 1958, it attracted the attention of the government which recognised it as a competent secondary school thus qualifying to get financial grant from the government for its maintanance. To encourage the spirit of friendly competition among its students during the time of sports, the school inagurated four houses on 29th of January, 1959. This nomenclature of the houses in the school gave birth to four houses. They were: 1. Nomuye House 2. Dada House 3. Ogunnaike House 4. Onalaja House The school blazed into international limelight when in 1962, it presented its first set of students to take the West African School Certificate Examination.When the result was out, the school registered, a 100% success. The second set in 1963 scored 87.5%. In 1964, knick-named ”the sure-horse of Odogbolu Grammar School” by the pioneering Principal himself, Mr.V.G Chinwah also registered a brilliant 100% success for the school. Since that time, the academic success story of the school has continued unabated. Although the school moved from St. Paul’s School,Odogbolu temporary accommodation to the completed first block at the Oko-oke permanent site of the school on the 13th of Dec, 1957, it did not enjoy electricity there until 7th April, 1964. This clearly underscored the endurance pioneering teachers and students exhibited that time.The briliant performance of the school encouraged philanthropists to come to its aid.This spirit started on 29th of July 1965 when the first Quarters in the School were donated by Late Pastor J.A. Odunaiya, Pastor S.A. Odunaiya and Late Madam Odunaiya. The first magazine of the school ”The Cornerstone” was published on the 29th of may, 1964.This developed in the students, the skill to express themselves on paper. In fact, most of the old students who later become journalists in life started developing interest interest in the from the school. On 12th March, 1970, the school got approval from WAEC to present candidates for Biology, Chemistry and Physics for WASC.The school, conscious of the need to give honor is due in 1977 named a house in honor of the first Principal of the school; Mr.V.G. Chinwah, who conscientiously served for 14 years (January 1957 – December 1970). The launching of the house took place during the 20th Founders Day Celebration of the school. This became the 5th house. From the inception, the school was for boys only.However in 1979, the school got directives from the Government to enroll girls, Hence, the first set of girls came in on the 31st August 1979. The first appeal fund for the building of a Technical workshop was launched on 26th January, 1985 when Mr. B.O. Okutade was the Principal.A giant step was taken by the Board Of Governors, Old Students, Sons and Daughters of Odogbolu when , with the active support of then Principal Rev.O. Osituyo, they launched a special appeal fund for the boarding house in May 1991. This eventually led to the resuscitation of the boarding house in the school in September, 1991.In September, 1996 the Teaching Service Commission of Ogun State transferred Chief Ayo Olusanya to Odogbolu Grammar School as its Principal. He thus in that way became the first old student of Odogbolu Grammar school to become its Principal. In January, 1997 the school marked its 40th Founders day Anniversary. One of the major activities of the great event was the naming of a house of Lt.General Oladipo Diya, (FSS,MSS,DSS,MNI) for being the first old student to become the Chief of General Staff and Vice Chairman of Provisional Ruling Council of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria. This became the 6th House. Other distinguished old students of the school that were honoured at the same time were:- 1. Prince Emmanuel Adekunle Adesanya 2. Prince Yemi Osindero 3. Mr. Abiodun Sobanjo 4. Chief Fatai Adeoye 5. Mr. Kehinde Ishmael 6. Mr. J.A. Awolowo 7. Prince Kayode Okeowo 8. Chief Ayo Olusanya 9. Prince Tola Odulaja 10. Alhaji Moibi Sadiku 11. Chief Olu Agbaoye 12. Mr. Anthony Awoye 13. Commander Femi Taiwo 14. Chief Fatai Arobieke. In November, 1997 the Odogbolu Grammar School Old Students Association renovated the School Assembly Hall, Classrooms and the Staff rooms.In December, 1997, one of the greatest philanthropists of our time, Chief Sam.A. Ogundogba donated a standard mechanized bore-hole to the School. In this way, he had solved for the school the problem of acute drinkable water shortage which had from time immemorial been giving the school constant head-ache. Also, in December 1997, the school change its brown uniform to white in line with the traditional white uniform worn by pioneering students.ow it is very gratifying to note that the school has contributed a great deal to the social, economic and political development of Nigeria. It has produced male and female giants in all different endeavours of life including the academics, Commerce,Law, Civil Service e.t.c. Today, most people talk of lime lights and Highlights radiated by old students of the school. This is not surprising because that is exactly the dosage our powerful motto”Fama Facti Satis Est: written in Latin and translated literarily as ” The Fame of our achievement in various fields of life is asuffient reward for us” At a time like this, it is necessary to send our warm thanks to those who joined Odogbolu Grammar School in reaching for the skies all these years. They were past Chairmen of Board of Governors and their Secretary, P.T.A, Principals and Old students of the School. |