Life taught me that a greater part of our sojourn here is often not by choice but by design. I also remember that the choice of my secondary school was not really determined by me but by fate. After sitting for several entrance examinations into secondary schools, I was called for admission interview into the following: Loyola College Ibadan, Igbobi College Lagos, International School Ibadan, and St Gregory’s College Lagos; all boarding schools, but none gave me admission.
Life taught me that a greater part of our sojourn here is often not by choice but by design. I also remember that the choice of my secondary school was not really determined by me but by fate. After sitting for several entrance examinations into secondary schools, I was called for admission interview into the following: Loyola College Ibadan, Igbobi College Lagos, International School Ibadan, and St Gregory’s College Lagos; all boarding schools, but none gave me admission. I was, however, successful alongside my twin brother and we were admitted to Methodist Boys’ High School (MBHS) Lagos, a day school in 1971. And I can say that most of my lifelong friends to date had been from MBHS. Hence, being admitted to the school was a blessing.
I remember clearly my first day in school Monday 18th January 1971, a cold Monday morning with the harmattan breeze gently moving the leaves on the branches of the fully grown big trees (a mixture of Indian almond trees and the white skinned lemon- scented gum trees.) They provided a lovely shade to classrooms that are close to the fence.
The gum tree could highlight anything written on them permanently, thus students had inscribed their names on the trunk of these trees. This I noticed as I walked past. These trees lined the entire perimeter fence of the Broad Street side of the school.
Walking through the freshly painted old iron gate of MBHS Lagos was the beginning of the moulding into what I am today. In sparkling white shorts, shirt and a stripped school tie of blue, yellow gold and maroon and white jacket, brown stockings and scandals. (I learnt to perfectly knot a tie in a week like most of my other mates). Carrying an overloaded school bag with books of the thirteen subjects I was to be tutored on was an unforgettable experience.
An elderly man in white trousers and a shirt and black beret holding a cane took charge at what was to be a constant morning pre-assembly drill and pep talk, which included an inspection parade of the entire school. We were arranged in queues according to the classes. The elderly man introduced himself as Mr. Kobina Creepy, the music teacher, who we later got to know to be the disciplinarian who all other teachers send students to with a little note stating the number of strokes of the cane he will apply on our behind once we err.
After the inspection, where students not meeting the accepted standard of neatness were singled out for punishment, the others were then marched into the school assembly hall. Our names were already pasted on the door of our various classrooms in alphabetical order; 1A, 1B, & 1C.
At closing time at MBHS, all students converged in front of the school gate, which was right opposite the popular St. George’s Masonic Hall. (a freemasonry temple). This building used to scare the hell out of us as kids. Seeing both black and white men in black suits walking in and out late evenings looked so sinister and occultic. But Papa Creepy allayed our fears that those men were honourable O men in the society, civil servants and businessmen coming together in brotherhood and teaching each other to making a good man better.
Leaving school in 1975, ten years after, I was initiated into Freemasonry. Thirty-five years later, having served as District Grand Secretary, Substitute District Grand Master I rose to the position of the Provincial Grand Master, Provincial Grand Lodge of Nigeria (Western) Pa Creepy, as he was fondly called, was loved and feared. He was a man full of wisdom with lots of daily nuggets, which he doled out on the preassembly ground. Some of his unforgettable quotes included “God is not responsible for anyone’s calamity”, “You can take the animal out of the bush, but you can’t take the bush out of the animal”, “You don’t only go through school, you need to endeavour to make sure school goes through you” MBHS then was situated in the heart of a corporate high street in the capital city of Nigeria, agos called Broad Street. It was later changed to Yakubu Gowon Street honouring the then Head of State upon his marriage which took place on 19th April 1969, but was reverted to Broad Street in 1976 after the death of General Murtala Mohammed in a failed coup d’etat in which Gowon was implicated.
The school premises were situated about a kilometre from the beginning of Broad Street, a beautiful boulevard of well-spaced giant Iroko trees. On the street were legendary institutions such as the Presidential Guest House with its State House church.
Our Saviour’s Church, the American Embassy visa office next to the skyscraper Western House. There was the General Hospital Lagos with the popular Lagos mortuary opposite Her Majesty’s Prison (now Freedom Park). The Island Maternity, First Baptist Church Lagos, and Federal Government Printing Press were also noticeable. MBHS, with an ancient architectural design, added beauty to that section of Broad Street. The parallel street was the Marina. The beautiful view of the Apapa wharf from our classes and the cool breeze from the Lagos Lagoon were unforgettable.
Culled from my book - The Pursuit of Patriotism. My Life, Philately & My Country.
By Bayo Fadairo