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 GCI. I was the first from Grange School and a few follower thereafter.
Looking back, I was lucky to have been called for the interview and offered admission which I actually had no choice but to accept, considering father's insistence on GCI. I was very unhappy and went crying to my late mother, but she had no say in the matter. You can imagine the fear and trepidation with which I walked into GCI and most thankfully into FIELD HOUSE! UP GREEN!
Little did I know that I was entering undoubtedly the best secondary school in Nigeria and indeed one of the finest in the world. Many may argue this statement but as they say, "to each his own" and as arrogant as it may sound, I cannot afford the argument. Over the years and while in university, I have had the opportunity to watch, observe, interact, discuss and argue with old boys from other schools and I find my statement holds true.
Some of the best boys' preparatory or primary schools will inform on how an abundance of space and the grounds to roam, run and play, is fundamental the development of a boy. The founders of GCI got this right! These were great educationists/colonial administrators that worked in Nigeria and other West African countries. These include: ER Swanston, SM Grier, Captain HTC Field, Henry R Carr, and VBV Powell.
The school compound was to the little boys we were at the time, simply huge. It was dark in many parts, virgin forest and huge trees with sounds at night to catch the attention and scare the imaginative mind of a young boy especially one who had come from the city. Some parts especially at night would have passed for a scene in the film "Lord of the Rings". There were many stories and fables told by the older boys of snakes, demons and all sorts including past events. Night time scared me but as I grew older, I got used to it (a little) especially when I was in the company of friends out on one of our many escapades.
Modelled after top public schools in the United Kingdom, the House was the school, and we only met usually in class and during games period (after the compulsory afternoon siesta) to interact with one another. The adventure, the excitement, the games, the annual treasure hunt, the inter-house sports the end of year sing-song attended by some old boys, are best imagined and bring fond memories. Along with this comes the truancy, the escapades by the bold and adventurous and the fights among the boys, amongst other things. This was of course followed by discipline, punishments, detention by the senior ones and the school authorities to put the boys in line always.
The fact that there were hardly cases of suspensions and expulsions was proof that the system of boarding about 650 boys in GCI worked.
It is interesting how whenever GCI old boys especially classmates meet, and after their discussions about current affairs, they will always fall back to their time and life in GCI. We would recount so many events and stories to the minutest detail, such that our wives and other people around would ponder aloud "where and how can you boys remember all these stories to the tiniest detail". This is because of those fond memories are forever etched in our minds and hearts.
During my stay I was relatively quiet but very playful, quietly enjoyed many escapades, attended many parties because like many my age, I had become aware of the female sex and did not want to miss out on any fun or "boogie'. To ensure I joined the sports-men's table in the dining hall, and enjoy extra portions of food, I found my way into the basketball team.
In the academics, GCI is an excellent institution, but it is not just about the pursuit of academic excellence but more importantly about character building. A reputable secondary school I have the opportunity of knowing, quote as their mantra and ethos: "Give us your boy and we will give you back a Man". I went into GCI a young fledgling boy and like many of us, left GCI a young man reasonably prepared to face the next stages of my life ahead, like many others who had trod the same path before us.

UP GCI!

Culled from: It Began In January (1971 set 50th anniversary yearbook)
Submitted by: Sobo Onasanya (2318, FIELD)
Former Set Captain.