Blogs

"GCI Made Me"

Reflections of a Sixth Former (Arts) 1970-1971

STAFF LIST 1964

1. D.J. Bullock B.A. (Durham) Headmaster - Literature
2. JE. Oni B.A. (Durham) Vice Principal - Geography
3. M.O. Alafe-Aluko B.A. (Wales) - Mathematics
4. N.O. Oyetunji B.A. - Latin/English
5. AA. Badmos B.A. (London) - Mathematics
6. L.A. Banjo B.A. (Glasgow) - English
7. M.L. Brachet (Miss.) B.A. - French
N.J. Minnis B.A. (London) - English
9. J.M. Akintola B.Sc. (London) - Biology
10. P.A. Oguntunde B.Sc. - Mathematics
11. DA. Hardcastle (Mrs.) B.A., Dip. Ed. - English

SAMPLE LETTER OF ADMISSION

Ref No. GCI. 7/63 Vol.11/78
Government College
Ibadan
19th October, 1963

Name & Address of Parent/Guardian

Dear Sir/Madam,
Government College, Ibadan:
Admission to Class I January 1964

Government College Of My Time

I was admitted to GCI in 1970 for the Higher School Certificate. The subjects I choose made me a right candidate for the Arts Class. I was placed in Carr House. Up Orange! There, I became a House mate or Roommate of the likes of Derin Adewunmi, Late Yomi Agboola (RIP), Bayo Bello, Niyi Ademola (my Lord). Sola Cole, and Segun Oshinyimika.

Coming To Government College Ibadan

For me, coming to GCI for my Higher School in 1970 was a Revolt against a system that kept some sets of students in some special schools tagged Government Colleges/schools at States or Federal levels. These fortunate students were over pampered, provided with the best of everything from learning facilities including the crème-de-la-crème of teaching staff, to sports to feeding and boarding only for a peanut as school fees compared with what the larger proportion of the remaining unfortunate students that ended up in far less standard schools paid.

Grier House of Our Time

Prior to our time (1965) Grier House had the greatest number I of rascally boys which earned us the notorious nickname of Grier Mugs. DJ Bullock, the Principal decided to put the very small boys in Grier House where the average height in Grier was 4 feet as against other Houses that had boys who were big enough to husband wives. The move as laudable as it was, of course reduced rascality to the barest minimum but equally had serious effects on our performance on the field of sports.

GCI AS A LEVELLER

Even the youngest of us in 1965 turned Diamond well ahead of 2015. But by the timeless ticking clock and ageless calendar of GCI, we are all only fit to be Golden...and Boys for that matter. It's fifty years since we entered the Great School, and that's all that matters now. We may be in our 60s, have become GrandPas or even choose to call ourselves Boyz, but Boys we will forever remain by the evergreen traditions of GCI.

AN AWESOME PRIVILEGE

Those early days in the year 1965 were quite wonderful as we were all young and innocent. Our backgrounds were as I varied as our faces, very divergent socially, economically, and culturally. But there was a common denominator: our goal was to obtain the best secondary education from a premium school under the masterful leadership of DJB and his fantastic team of teachers and administrative staff.

The Historic Baton Change

The Historic Baton Change

The year was 1968 and the Class of 65 was in Class 4. We were by now senior boys and were well versed in the GCI traditions. In the outside world, Nigeria was in the pangs of a raging civil war. The radio jingles had started to ring loud:

"To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done"

Escaping JBO's cane

Escaping JBO's cane -

Pages

websesame
Design and Development by websesame.