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.

GCI was not all study and no play. There was adventure too! I remember the day 1 "bolted" out to Scala Cinema along with some accomplices (I only remember Derin Adewunmi and the Late Yomi Agboola) to see a James Bond movie. Of course we had no 'exeat' or permit for a night out but we arranged our beds to look like they were occupied. We got to Scala and who did we see? Our house master Mr Aluko. Unknown to us he had seen some of us.

Taxis were no longer running when the movie ended, so we trekked to J. Allen and hitched a ride on the back of an open truck going to Abeokuta. Surprisingly, on getting to the school gate, the driver did not stop. We panicked. Apparently the driver was having fun at our expense. He finally stopped and we had a long walk to Carr House. Meanwhile, Mr Aluko had an easy ride in his car back to school and was waiting for us.
To our eternal delight, Mr Aluko did not punish us even though he had carefully established our guilt when he took a roll call before we arrived. Having been let off the hook, we were now more concerned about what could have happened if the truck driver had taken us to Abeokuta!

I enjoyed the Inter-house sports competitions. We competed for laurels and trophies. Those of us who were not active athletes also contributed some points to the score of their respective Houses during the season in whatever sport you felt able to Everyone contributed towards the points for the House. The communal spirit was infectious. Up Orange!!

Tags: 

Submitted By: 

ADUROJA Muyiwa
websesame
Design and Development by websesame.