Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys Association (LAGSOBA)
Lagelu Grammar School is a public co-educational secondary school located in the Agugu area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Established on 27 January 1958 as a boys-only institution by the defunct Ibadan District Council, it is recognised as one of the oldest public grammar schools in Ibadan, and has produced two Governors of Oyo State.[4][2] The school transitioned to co-educational status in the mid-1970s.[5] The school is named in honour of the legendary ancestor, Lagelu, the founder of Ibadan.[6] The school's motto is the Latin phrase Semper Optimum (English: "Always the Best").[4]
The institution operates an urban day campus of approximately 25 acres in the Oremeji Agugu neighbourhood, primarily serving day pupils.[2] Lagelu Grammar School has maintained a strong reputation for academic resilience and community engagement, serving as a key educational institution in the Oyo State public school system, with its infrastructure largely maintained by its active alumni association.[7][4]
Namesake
The school is named after the legendary ancestor, Lagelu, a military generalissimo from Ile-Ife widely recognised as the founder of the original settlement of Ibadan in the 17th or 18th century.[6]
Lagelu is associated with the epithet Oro a pata maja ("The potent word that cuts like a razor blade"). This epithet symbolically represents a powerful and legendary figure who embodies the spirit and bravery of the Yoruba people.[6] His legacy is closely tied to the history of the city, including the founding of the initial settlements, and is celebrated through the annual Oke Badan Festival.[6]
History
Founding and Early Years (1958–1970)
Lagelu Grammar School was founded on 27 January 1958 with an initial grant from the Ibadan District Council, a local government body in the former Western Region of Nigeria. The school's establishment was part of a major educational expansion programme aimed at broadening access to post-primary education.[4]
Operations commenced at a temporary site within the Agugu District Council Primary School with an initial cohort of 33 male pupils.[2] The founding principal, Chief Ayo Labiyi, an accomplished educationist, led the school from 1958 until 1968. He is credited with coining the school's motto, Semper Optimum.[8] The permanent 25-acre campus in Oremeji Agugu was generously donated by the Mato family of the Kobomojo area, with the campus structures completed around 1960.[2][9]
Transition and Growth
The school transitioned to a co-educational institution in the mid-1970s, aligning with national policies promoting gender-inclusive education.[5] Throughout the 1980s, the school’s enrollment expanded significantly, serving thousands of pupils from across Ibadan and surrounding areas. Its academic reputation was solidified by a consistent record of graduates gaining admission to highly competitive tertiary institutions, including the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University.[10]
Anniversaries and Modern Development
The school has regularly marked its heritage with significant anniversaries, which are often spearheaded by the alumni association. The 60th Anniversary in 2018 featured the launch of a major infrastructure rehabilitation campaign, which included a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan.[4] The 65th Anniversary in 2023 included academic events such as a schools' debate, a symposium, and a keynote lecture by Professor Emmanuel Ajala of the University of Ibadan.[1]
Campus and Facilities
The school’s 25-acre campus is located along Agugu Road in the Oremeji Agugu neighbourhood. It features several named academic blocks and recreational areas.
Infrastructure and Alumni Projects
The Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys Association (LAGSOBA) has been consistently active in infrastructure development, notably undertaking a major refurbishment campaign around the school's 60th Anniversary in 2018, which saw over ₦200 million injected into upgrading facilities.[4][11] This commitment has continued in recent years through contributions from various alumni sets.
Key alumni-funded facilities include:
The Ayo Labiyi Hall: A reconstructed, multi-purpose school hall dedicated to the school’s founding principal.[11]
The Osuntokun eLibrary: A fully equipped modern electronic library.[11]
Science and Computer Laboratories: Comprehensive renovation of the physics, chemistry, and biology labs was completed in 2018.[4] In 2024, the 1983 Set completed a significant project that refurbished a building housing the examination hall, staff room, and laboratories, and provided new chairs and desks.[12] Alumni sets have also provided essential laboratory equipment and computer units.[13][14]
Sanitation: Provision of new boreholes and modern toilet facilities, commissioned by the 1983 set in 2020 to improve hygiene and welfare.[14]
School Life
Academics and Curriculum
Lagelu Grammar School adheres to the national 6-3-3-4 educational system, operating a three-year Junior Secondary School (JSS 1–3) and a three-year Senior Secondary School (SSS 1–3). The Oyo State Ministry of Education fully regulates the curriculum. It is structured in alignment with the standards set by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).[5] It prepares pupils for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) examinations, focusing on the sciences, arts, and vocational subjects.
Junior Secondary Curriculum (JSS 1–3)
The curriculum at the Junior level (JSS 1–3) serves as a compulsory basic education phase focusing on foundational literacy, numeracy, and pre-vocational skills. Pupils typically study between 12 and 14 subjects, including:
English Studies
General Mathematics
Nigerian Languages (Yoruba is the regional language)
Basic Science and Technology (integrated Basic Science, Basic Technology, Information Technology, and Physical & Health Education)
Social & Citizenship Studies
Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA)
Business Studies
Agricultural Science
Religious Studies (Christian Religious Studies or Islamic Studies)
Senior Secondary Specialisation (SSS 1–3)
In the Senior Secondary phase (SSS 1–3), pupils specialise in a career-focused stream, usually starting from SSS 1. Candidates for the WASSCE and NECO exams are required to offer a minimum of eight and a maximum of nine subjects, a structure mandated by the examination bodies and the national educational policy.[15][16]
Core and Compulsory Subjects
All SSS pupils, irrespective of their specialisation stream, must offer five core, cross-cutting subjects:[16]
English Language
General Mathematics
Civic Education
Digital Technologies (or Computer Studies/ICT)
One Trade/Entrepreneurship subject (as mandated by the government)
Specialisation Streams and Subject Combinations
Pupils then select 3 or 4 additional subjects from their chosen field of specialisation. The school offers four primary streams:
Senior Secondary School Specialisation Streams
Specialisation Stream
Key Subject Groupings (Compulsory for the Stream)
Common Elective Subjects
Science
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Further Mathematics (often taken by high-achieving pupils)
One Nigerian Language (Yoruba), French, Christian Religious Studies (CRS), Islamic Studies (IS), Visual Arts
The Technical/Technology stream is specifically designed to blend scientific principles (Physics, Further Mathematics) with technical and practical vocational skills (Technical Drawing, Trade Subjects) to effectively prepare pupils for engineering and technology-based careers, reflecting the national focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education.[16]
Support for Academic Achievement
The commitment to academic excellence is significantly boosted by the alumni association. The Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys Association (LAGSOBA) regularly provides financial support, including scholarships and the payment of NECO examination fees for financially disadvantaged pupils, ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity to complete their certification.[17][14] Furthermore, the donation of the Osuntokun eLibrary and the comprehensive renovation of Science and Computer Laboratories directly support learning in the core academic fields.[11]
Competitive Activities and Achievements
Lagelu Grammar School has a strong track record of active participation in prestigious academic and co-curricular competitions across the state and nation, fostering excellence in its pupils. Notable participation includes:
Mathematics Competitions: The school is a recognised participant in major contests, including the highly competitive Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Competition and the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN) Mathematics Competitions, consistently fielding students to test their speed, accuracy, and knowledge at rigorous state and national levels.
Literary and Debating Contests: The school maintains a tradition of competitive excellence in the arts by participating in various Literary and Debating Competitions across the region to foster public speaking, research, and critical thinking skills.
Sports: Lagelu Grammar School fields teams in various sports, most notably the National Principals' Cup, one of the country’s premier secondary school football competitions, symbolising the school's commitment to sporting tradition.
The school's anniversary celebrations often feature competitive schools' debates, lectures, symposia, and cultural displays.[1]
The school publishes its annual magazine, Optimus, which serves as a record of school activities and achievements.[3]
School Anthem
The official school anthem is:
Stanza 1
Who are students bright and gay
Here they are in Lagelu
Diligent and Disciplined
Here they are in Lagelu
Chorus
Wherever I go, whatever I be
I always uphold your name
Hold you near, Hold you there
To my heart, Lagelu
Stanza 2
In classroom work, in field of play
Social life and everything
Lazy drones, cheats and idlers
Have no room in Lagelu
Governance and Affiliation
Lagelu Grammar School is a public secondary school operating under the direct authority of the Oyo State Ministry of Education. While the state government manages staffing and overall policy, the School Governing Board (SGB) works in close partnership with the Old Boys Association (LAGSOBA) to oversee local development, maintenance, and welfare initiatives.[4]
Adebayo Adelabu – Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (2014–2018) and current Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2023–present).[19][18]
Adesoji Akanbi – Former Senator who represented Oyo South in the Senate.[18]
Abisoye Fagade – Entrepreneur, Brand Strategist, and current Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).[20][21]
↑ Olanrewaju, Tunde. "Public vs. Private Schools in Ibadan: A Comparative Study". The Sun. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
↑ "Lesson 7 – Interesting Facts About Oga Labiyi". Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association (IGSOSA). 14 August 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
↑ Adesina, Femi. "Mato Family’s Contribution to Education in Ibadan". The Nation. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
↑ "University of Ibadan Admission Records: Historical Data". University of Ibadan. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
1 2 3 4 "Lagelu Old Boys inject N0.2bn into school infrastructure". Oyo State Government on Medium. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2025. (Details Ayo Labiyi Hall and Osuntokun eLibrary construction.)
1 2 Oladele, Yinka. "Alumni Support Drives Lagelu Grammar School Development". The Sun. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
1 2 3 Akintola, Bayo. "LAGSOBA Upgrades Lagelu Grammar School Facilities". Vanguard. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
↑ "Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal". National Examinations Council (NECO). Retrieved 13 October 2025. All candidates must offer the 4 cross-cutting compulsory subjects. Candidates are to offer 3-4 subjects from their area of specialisation and 1 elective... The minimum number of subjects is eight (8) and not more than nine (9).
↑ "Lagelu Old Boys inject ₦0.2bn into school infrastructure". Oyo State Government (via Medium). 18 January 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2025. The Key Note address at the event will be delivered by the distinguished alumnus and international business man, Mr. Kase Lawal.
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