MY STORY (FATUNGASE)
Sometime in the year 1971 after the Afolabi brothers had said so much about their school, "GCI", anytime we met in the Bodija neighbourhood where we all lived then, I decided to change from my school - Baptist High School in Iwo, to this much-spoken about GCI of the Afolabi brothers (Dimeji, 1969) and (Lanre, 1971). I spoke all their
words to my mother- Mrs. Olusola Fatungase a.k.a. Iya-Ibeji.
Few days after speaking to my mum, she asked me to drive her to Apata in Ibadan. Little did I know ..... Read More
I am Bowling Sir
In Powell house, the toilets/bathrooms with water cistern (WC) were modern as opposed to the Pit Latrine (aka Bushy) we were hitherto exposed to. We also had dormitories with fans and terrazzo floors all in pristine condition. We had close access to the vendors who serviced the now-out-gone construction workers who built the complex and did not leave until the building was completed. One of them was nicknamed Iya Ibeji (the one selling Rice, Beans and Dodo) and Agataratta the Night watch who ..... Read More
NICKNAMES
Nicknames and slangs were the colourful embroidery which embellished the dreary fabric of school life to give it some semblance of colour. It was near impossible to pass through GCI without earning a nickname. The nickname defined many students while their real names struggled to be remembered. A student's nickname told a lot about his popularity; otherwise, it notified of his notoriety. Most nicknames would merely be a corruption of a student's real name, some subtly exploited a physical ..... Read More
HOUSE PUNISHMENT
The boarding House was about discipline - its acquisition and maintenance. Here in the boarding house, you were stripped of your
• parent's wealth, influence, and social background, and reduced to just a surname and a school House. If there were others in the House who had the same surname as you, then you became further downgraded with an extra title; you became Somebody I, Somebody II, Somebody III, Somebody IV, and so on, depending on your position down the line e.g., Koya I (Fifth form), ..... Read More
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