‘Up School
Up Boys’
This remains the sing-song as members of the Old Grammarian Society (OGS) and members of the Founder’s Day Planning Committee of CMS Grammar School, Lagos begin a week-long celebrations.
It started with glee and glamour with the assertive claim by the old boys of the school that CMS Grammar School in Bariga, Lagos is Nigeria’s first secondary school. Chairman of the Founder’s Day Planning Committee, Dr. Dipo Arigbede while briefing the Press says this year’s celebrations will be ‘one of the best’ in the school’s history, with so many projects to be commissioned .
OGS President, Mr. Olu Vincent waxed enthusiastically about the Olympic- size swimming pool (donated by an Old boy); the four-floor hostel accommodation (being constructed by the proprietors), the State of the art e-library; the multi-million naira Digitization programme for the school and the air-conditioned Hall as the pride of a school fondly loved by the alumni who are desirous of giving something back to the institution that nurtured them.
‘’You can now understand why the old boys are so passionate about their Alma Mater and no sacrifice or contribution would be considered too big or great’’, he says .
The pride of CMS is also obvious in the way names and achievements of old students including the highly respected, Mr. Akintola Williams, the first African to qualify as a chartered accountant and Prof Oladipo Ogunlesi, Nigeria’s first Professor of Medicine are mentioned.
Vincent does not mince words in saying that CMS Grammar School, established on June 6, 1859 will always take a prime position in the scheme of things .
The week-long celebrations continue today with a Career Talk , then a Students’ Feast.
Students who excel academically will also be celebrated , according to the programme released by the Founder’s Day Committee.