SCHOOL CULTURES AND TRADITIONS (1970)
Records would indicate that from inception in 1929, GCI was a boarding House orientated secondary school. Forty-one years later, in 1970, its boarding House facilities quartered more than six hundred students. The school compound also accommodated most of the school's teachers and junior staff. The students lived in clustered dormitory blocks. There were four of such clusters each defining a
"House". Thus, there were four Houses: Carr, Swanston, Field and Grier. Each new student would be ..... Read More
15th JANUARY 1970
15th January, 1970, wasn't just an ordinary day for him and other members of his family. It was the day he would go to a boarding house. His parents had always considered Government College, Ibadan, the nation's premier secondary educational institution, and on this day, they eagerly supervised his preparation. Before this resumption date, all his school uniforms, khaki shorts, white shirts and shorts, sandals, tennis shoes and other stuff had been purchased and labeled. His initials had been ..... Read More
Boys Must be Boys: Chivalry of the 1971 Class
Reliving our experiences and escapades while in GCI is one of the joys of our fellowship. The bonding over the years has increased and we all look earnestly forward to the next meeting and events being hosted by any of us to felicitate with one another. We were young teenage boys when we started 50 years ago, but in our interactions with one another today, we still remain "Boys" despite the fact that many of us are fathers and even grandfathers. Many of the Young Girls look forward to those ..... Read More
Message from the Treasurer
Greetings Great Classmates;
I was co-opted into this position by the great Blade (Bolade Oyebolu) who remains my "Oga" till date. The experience has been very rewarding (even though with quite a bit of stress, especially getting our classmates to redeem commitments!!!). But one case I wish to bring to the fore is our Golden Jubilee Project Circa three years ago, we set a tentative Budget of N15m to cater for:
• Our Anniversary Project
• Hosting of classmates during the Reunion week.
I ..... Read More
On my term as Set Captain, Thank you!
I'd like to thank my wonderful and super 1971 colleagues for the opportunity to captain them in 2017 and 2018. It was indeed an unforgettable experience. Seye my vice, was very supportive, and no doubt his tenure as set captain was a huge success. Soji, my past President, was very caring as he made it a policy to check on me always. For this, I am grateful.
we Our set is blessed with fantastic people who showed up with their families in large numbers at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja during 2017 ..... Read More
My short memoir as Set Captain
I took over the reins as set captain in 2007. My predecessor was Wale Babalakin who did very well steering the set in the right direction.
Secretary and Bolade Oyebolu as Treasurer.
I was blessed to have worked with an EXCO comprising of very committed and dedicated members. They are, Kayode Olotu as Vice Captain, Wale Ajomale as private sector experiences, prepared me well for the assignment as Set Captain.
My Invaluable GC exposure alongside my undergraduate experience at UNIE.N, my ..... Read More
Government College Ibadan- How Great Thou Art.
Imagine a 10-year-old being dropped off in Ibadan for the first time away from his parents, then you will appreciate what it's like to be thrown into the deep end a swimming pool without knowing how to swim. This is what it was like for me in January 1971. No one prepares you for such an ordeal. It was to be an invaluable experience in later years. It prepares you for what is to come. Going to boarding school in England for 6th form was a piece of cake, the tears still flowed, but it was easier ..... Read More
My Days in GCI
My father singularly decided that I would not be attending secondary school in Lagos but would be going to Government College Ibadan (GCI). It obviously a school he would have loved to attend, having met some old boys of GCI during his early life.
I had little or no knowledge of the city of Ibadan and had only visited once with my father on our way to Ekiti, my first trip beyond ljebu Ode. I attended Grange School, Ikeja, Lagos where very few of my mates had also been to Ibadan or heard of ..... Read More
A Visionary Silenced Before His Hour - Nigeria’s Forgotten Digital Pioneer
In the 1960s and 70s, when computers were still a novelty in most parts of the world, one Nigerian academic was already laying the foundations for the nation’s digital future. Professor John O. (O. J.) Fagbemi, Nigeria’s first Professor of Computer Science and a pioneer of informatics, combined brilliance, vision, and international stature to establish computing as both a discipline and a practical force in the country. His untimely death in a motor accident in 1975/76 cut short a ..... Read More
A Visionary Silenced Before His Hour - Nigeria’s Forgotten Digital Pioneer
In the 1960s and 70s, when computers were still a novelty in most parts of the world, one Nigerian academic was already laying the foundations for the nation’s digital future. Professor John O. (O. J.) Fagbemi, Nigeria’s first Professor of Computer Science and a pioneer of informatics, combined brilliance, vision, and international stature to establish computing as both a discipline and a practical force in the country. His untimely death in a motor accident in 1975/76 cut short a ..... Read More