A Brief History of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti

HISTORY OF CHRIST’S SCHOOL, ADO-EKITI

Christ’s School was founded as a co-educational institution by Archdeacon Henry Dallimore in 1933 on the site that now belongs to Ekiti Diocesan Anglican Headquarters. A School originally conceived as model Ekiti CMS Central School, it was moved to its present site in 1936.

During the commissioning of the School new premises in June 1936, the Governor Sir Bernard Bourdillon of the then Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria renamed the School as ‘‘CHRIST’S SCHOOL, ADO-EKITI’’. Until 1941, the School was only running a two year Senior Elementary School course.

In 1942-1943, the School was upgraded to Secondary Class status with Ven. Henry Dallimore as the High Master (Principal) and Mr. (Later Bishop) J.A.I. Falope as First Master (equivalent of Vice Principal). In 1948, 7 ‘unofficial’ candidates were prepared by the School and privately enrolled for the Senior Cambridge School Certificate Examinations. ALL PASSED.

As a result of this feat, the Form VI students from 1948 to 1951 officially sat for the Cambridge Senior School Certificate Examinations at Ilesha Grammar School. Subsequent examinations, especially WAEC were held at Christ’s School.

Dallimore returned to the United Kingdom in May, 1947 and Chief E.A. Babalola acted as High Master till December, 1947. Rev. L.D. Mason arrived Christ’s School in January, 1948 and subsequently changed his title from High Master to Principal.

The former Ekiti Anglican Girl’s Secondary School (EAGSS) founded in 1955 and sited opposite Christ’s School was officially merged with Christ’s School in 1966. In 1979, after 13 years, the Union was dissolved by the State Government.

Christ’s School retained its name, but the Girls’ school took a new name as CHRIST’S GIRLS’ SCHOOL. Rev. L.D. Mason retired as Principal in December 1966 and January 1967 ushered in Chief R.A. Ogunlade as the first indigenous Principal.

After the transfer of Chief Ogunlade in 1972, there was a period of relative instability in the headship of the School until Mr. S.O. Agbebi took over as Principal in 1978 and was there till 1984 when he retired. Chief Olusola Bayode, an alumnus succeeded Mr. Agbebi in 1984/85 School year and retired in December 1994.

Mr. Kehinde Ojo, another alumnus took over as Principal in January 1995 till May 2006 when he was elevated to the post of Tutor General in Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission.

With the restructuring of Schools in Ekiti State under Universal Basic Education Programme, Christ’s School was split into two – Senior School and Junior School in September, 2005. Elder M.A. Fasanmade an alumnus took over as Principal of Senior School while Mr. Tanwa Oyebode also an alumnus was Principal of Junior School. Similarly, Christ’s Girls School split into Senior and Junior Schools.

Thereafter, the School operated as four Schools in the Christ’s School Group with the Principals as: Mr. Ade Olomofe (Senior), Mr. C.A. Abe (Junior), Chief Mrs. Bolanle Fasuan (Girls’ Senior) and Mrs. M.I. Olonisakin (Girls’ Junior).

The Management Board of the Schools was also headed by old students. Since 2011, the School has been restructured into 2 Schools within Christ’s School Group viz. Christ’s School headed by Prince W.A.

Akinyede (Principal) and Christ’s Girls School headed by Mrs. O. Ogunrinde (Principal). The School continues to receive positive supports from the Alumni Association, Branches, Class Sets, alumni families, individual alumnus, parents, host community – Ado-Ekiti and the State Government.

– Culled from the school website