Meet Methodist Girls High School, Lagos Old Girls

Methodist Girls High School, Lagos has produced many eminent Nigerians in its 144 years of existence. Be it in the legal profession, Medicine, Engineering, Military, politics, business, Methodist Girls High School has churned out many big women.

Like their Mantra, “Where there is a success story, there is very likely to be an old girl maintaining high standards and serving in love”.  Many of these old girls have been seen to have broken the glass ceilings and still breaking it in their different endeavours. Last week Saturday, 29th July was the 80th birthday of one of the old girls, Princess Yewande Onileere and many of these old girls showed up in their numbers to celebrate with her, Amongst the old girls at the party were the former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, Chief Mrs Bimbo, Chief Mrs Nike Onafowora, and many more.

Methodist Girls’ High School Yaba, is the oldest existing all-girls secondary school and the third oldest secondary school in Nigeria after CMS Grammar School (1859) and Methodist Boys’ High School (1878). It was established by the Wesleyan (Methodist) Mission in 1879, a year after the boys’ school was founded. It has remained as an all-girls’ school since inception.

The school has produced many notable women of substance in the society. It is the only school in the country that can boast of having produced more than three first ladies, first Female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), first female chartered secretary in Nigeria, several professors, senior military officers and other professionals.

There is an old girl association of the old girls where they all meet to do reunion. They also have most of their members in the diaspora. The reunion is always an opportunity to network as all old girls’ at home and abroad are expected to attend.

The Old girls continue to make impact within the country and abroad. Testimonies abound about the exploits of current and old girls of MGHS in all sectors; as home-makers, in sports, government, business, administration, engineering, medicine, education, communication arts, finance, politics, drama.

The Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba Old Girls’ Association (MGHS OGA) is an association of old students of Methodist Girls’ High School Yaba and their membership is open to all old girls who enrolled and spent at least one academic year in the school.

The OGA aims to promote the development of the alma mater and the unity and welfare of her members while ensuring the continued reflection of the school motto, ‘In Love Serve One Another’ as well the high moral ethos inculcated in MGHS. The association also remains relevant in the community by supporting causes with values and ideals that she identifies with.

The goals of the Executive Committee are to raise funds and build the MGHS OGA Block, Foster an inclusive sisterhood among old girls at home and in the diaspora, Adopt and Practice of the MGHS OGA Constitution, Advance welfare opportunities for our elderly members, Network to enhance shared interests and collaboration for economic and social well-being of members, Support the school management to elevate the profile and standard of MGHS and all this they have been doing with recorded successes.

Some of the notable old girls are Professor Ibiyinka Fuwape, theoretical physicist, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu, née Oyekan (born 1939), Civil Servant and administrator, Late Dame (Mrs.) Obafunmilayo Johnson –

Former First Lady Of Lagos State, Late (Mrs.) Foluke Mudashiru –Former First Lady Of Lagos State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, DR (MRS) Ibironke Sodeinde (Nee Abari) Acting President of Lagos Medical Wives Association of Nigeria, Dame (Prof.) Ajesola Majekodunmi —The First Female Ophthalmologist In Nigeria, Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett —A Nigerian-Born International Actress, Mrs. Sade Ogunnaike –Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Establishment And Training, Lagos State, Mrs. Betty Irabor –Publisher, Genevieve Magazine.Mrs. Ibukun Awosika – the first female Chairman Of First Bank Plc. And CEO, SOKOA Chair Centre, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde –CEO, Edumark, Mrs. Modupe Oshikoya –An Internationally Acclaimed Sports Icon Of Repute, Mrs. Josephine Oluseyi Williams –Former Head Of Service, Lagos State.

Late Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Awolowo –The Wife Of The Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs Moyo Ajijejidun  the Association past President, Mrs Oluyomi Afolabi, Chairman of electoral committee, Mrs. Esther Benson. Chairman, Fundraising Committee: Mrs Folasade Ogunnaike.

Chairman, Technical Committee: Engr Aramide Adeyoye. The current old girls president, Maj. Gen. Olatilewa Amusu (Rtd), Mni, Oluremi Ajose-Adeogun, Vice President 1, Mrs Bukky Durojaiye Vice President 2 (UK, Ireland & Europe), Mrs Koko Olugbenga.

Vice President 3 (North America), Folake Segun, President (UK/Ireland/EU), Mrs Ope Orukotan, General Secretary, Ifeyinwa Okolo, Assistant General Secretary, Mrs Opeoluwa Ishiekwene, Social Secretary, Toyin Idowu, Internal Auditor.

Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, Publicity Secretary, Olubunmi Ayanbadejo

Treasurer, Mrs Oyindamola Oyelese, Financial Secretary, Mrs Modupe Omololu, President (1955 – 60 Set), Mrs Rahmat Adebisi Ayoka Salako President (56 – 61 Set), Mrs Adebisi Oluremi Sule

President (61 – 66 Set), Prof Olubunmi Abiola Magbagbeola, President (64 -68 Set). Mrs Olufunmilayo Owoade.

President (66 -70 Set). Mrs Abiola Agoro nee Agusto, President (1968 -1972 Set. Ms Adeola Atinuke Sogbetun, President (69 -73:75 Set) Ms. Funmi Folorunso, President (71-75 Set), Dr Mrs. Oladele Abiodun. President (76:77 Set), Kemi Onasogun

President (75-80 Set. Dr Aderonke Dawodu nee Adeyemi, President, Centenary Set (1974-1979.Ibitola Ogunmefun nee Giwa

President (1976-1981 Set), Oluyosola Ogundairo (nee Holloway), President (78-83 Set). Mrs Vinuyon Ayobami Olanrewaju Buhari (nee Wusu), President (85:86 Combined Set. Ope Orukotan, President (1987 -1993 Set), Dr Yetunde Oludare (nee Williams), President (1992 -1998 Set), Amarachi Umezurike, President (2013 -2019 Set. Mrs Oluyomi Afolabi

Immediate Past President.Mrs Anne Oseni, games captain and prefect, Pastor Mrs. Tinu Odugbemi, former Chairperson of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Executive Director of Head High International Organisation, Kate Chinonye, Abiola Ogunbiyi, Dele Kuku.

Elizabeth Iyabo dawodu nee fisher welfare officer for North America ’84 set and many others.

The story of the oldest girls school in Nigeria goes thus,: The Wesleyan Methodist Mission came to Nigeria in 1942 based on the request for missionaries by ex-slaves who returned from Freetown, Sierra Leone. The Mission had taken giant strides towards impacting the lives of the populace through socio-economic and spiritual interventions. Their keen interest in education led to the establishment of the Wesleyan Boys’ High School, now known as Methodist Boys’ High School in 1878.

In order to make secondary education accessible, not only to boys, but to their female counterparts as well, the mission tried to establish a girls’ school as well in the same year. This was unsuccessful as Miss Smith, the missionary who came from England to establish the girls’ school, took ill and was compelled to return home.

Despite this setback, the Mission was not deterred, as another attempt was made, in 1879. This saw the establishment of the school on 27th October 1879 with Rev E.W. Williams, a Nigerian, as her first Principal. Administrative activities began at the Mission House on Broad Street, Lagos and was moved to a more central and spacious location along the Marina a few months afterwards.

On July 26, 1896, the foundation stone of a new school building was laid within the premises of the Wesleyan Mission House. Unfortunately, this building did not go further than the outer walls, which eventually collapsed some years later.

On April 22, 1912, the new buildings of the school were opened at Hamburg Street, now Broad Street, Lagos, by the then Deputy Governor of the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, Mr. Donald Cameron, and his wife.

In 1919, the school was the first to introduce a Girl Guide Club, through the efforts of Mrs. Stacey. In 1929, the House system was introduced, first in the Boarding House and later, in 1930, to the whole school.

The houses established then were Cavell (Red) after Edith Louisa Cavell, Livingstone (Green) named after Mary Livingstone, Nightingale (Purple) after Florence Nightingale and Slessor (Blue) named after Mary Mitchell Slessor.

The two other houses Obasa (Pink) after Charlotte Olajumoke Obasa and Walker (Yellow) after Lucy Katherine Walker were added after the centenary celebrations in 1979. The school moved to Commercial Avenue Yaba, in 1942 during World War II and back to her original location on Broad Street in 1945. The school finally moved to her current location in Yaba in 1951.

Higher School Certificate (HSC) was introduced in 1969. In 1980, the Lagos State Government took over the school from the Mission and handed it back in 2001.

The school has over the years has carved a niche for herself and contributed in no small measure to the development of the girl-child as an individual as well as development of family and the society.

-TAYO OYEDIJI

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