Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo

Oyo, Nigeria

Oyo is a city in Oyo State, Nigeria, founded as the capital of the Oyo Kingdom in the 1830s and known to its people as 'New Oyo' to distinguish it from the former capital to the north, 'Old Oyo' ) which had been deserted as a result of rumors of war. Its inhabitants are mostly of the Yoruba people...

, Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

 (formerly Oyo Baptist Boys' High School), located on a hillcrest named Olivet Heights, was founded by American Southern Baptist Mission on 29 January 1945 on its original site in the premises of the old Baptist mission house at Oke-Isokun, Oyo, Oyo State

Oyo State

Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin....

 (now occupied by Baptist College of Theology, Oyo) where Rev. Pinnock, the first Baptist missionary to the ancient empire of Oyo

Oyo Empire

The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...

 established a mission post.

History

The profile of Olivet witnessed a remarkable rise in the 60s when the school was noted for all-round excellence in academics and sports, the school had facilities for O'level and A'level (HSC) candidates at that time. The A'level program was abolished in 1989. The school was one of the few schools in Nigeria outside Lagos

Lagos

Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...

 equipped with hostel facilities, staff quarters, excellent laboratories (sciences, home economics/food & nutrition, fine arts, music), workshops (metal work, wood work, technical drawing - mechanical/building), agricultural center with poultry/fish pond and sports facilities. As a result Olivet Heights was a domineering force in the western part of Nigeria in inter-school academic competitions/projects as well as sports: soccer, basketball, hockey, handball and athletics. Also available in the school were facilities for Lawn Tennis, Cricket, Squash, Badminton, Volleyball, Chess and Table Tennis. Most of the facilities witnessed a steady decay from the 90s.

Organization of School Houses

Olivet Heights is a predominantly residential high school. The hostel structure was organized into four "houses" named after two indigenous and two American Baptist pastors - Atanda, Odetayo, Locket, and Pinnock. In addition to the residential arrangement for boarding students, non-residential students were also assigned to the 4 Houses for annual inter-house (intramural) quiz, debates & sports competitions which are used to unearth promising talents for regional and national competitions. In recent years, two new houses were added - Homer Brown and JBP Lafinhan - in honor of the last American (missionary) Principal and the first Nigerian Principal.

Principals

• Mrs. J. C. Powell, 1946
• Deacon T. A. Okanla, Headmaster 1945-1952
• Rev. Carl F. Whirley, 1948
• Rev. W. Joel Fergeson, 1948-1951
• Rev. J. B. Durham, Acting Principal 1951
• Rev. M. L. Garrett, Acting Principal 1952-1953
• Mr. E. A. Iyanda, Acting Principal 1955-1957
• Rev. Homer A. Brown, 1957-1962
• Rev. J. B. P. Lafinhan, 1962-1972
• Chief R. F. Fasoranti, 1973-1975
• Chief S. O. Omitade, 1975-1977
• Chief J. I. Popoola, 1977-1982
• Mr. I. A. Adisa, 1982-1989
• Mr. A. A. Adeniran, 1990-1994
• Mr. A. A. Adeniji, 1994-2000
• Mr. S. O. Okegbenle, 2000-2002
• Mrs. F. M. Taiwo, 2002-?

Alumni

The school has a versatile alumni association. The association has been particularly helpful in providing facilities for the current students of the school. A massive perimeter fence and a well-equipped health center were built in 1985 to mark the school's 40th anniversary, while a memorable 60th anniversary in 2005 was marked with an overhaul of the physical structures of the school.

Notable Olivet Alumni - Olivetians

• Ayodele Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti State
• Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, former Governor of Oyo State.
• Dr. Benjamin Abimbola Adigun, retired Insurance Professional, Past National President, Olivet Baptist High School Oyo Old Students Association
• Tokunbo H. Ogunbanjo, Author
• Dr. Emmanuel Adegbola Olarinde, Clinical Psychologist and Neuro-Psychologist
• Rev. Dr. Solomon Adeniyi Babalola
  Solomon Adeniyi Babalola
  Rev. Dr. Solomon Adeniyi Babalola is a retired Nigerian Baptist pastor. Born in Oke-Ila, Nigeria, he graduated in December 1949 from the three-year theology course of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho...
  
  , retired Nigerian Baptist pastor and former missionary to the then Gold Coast (now Ghana)
• Ayoola Oba Otudeko
  Oba Otudeko
  Ayoola Oba Otudeko is an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Going by the name of Oba, he is a highly successful Nigerian entrepreneur...
  
  , Investor/Entrepreneur, President of Nigerian Stock Exchange.
• Benjamin Titilayo Oluokun, Expert in Personnel Management
• Late Isaac Adebiyi Adisa, First Old Student to be a Teacher (1955), Vice Principal (1978 -1979) and Principal (1982 - 1989) of the School
• Revd. E. A. Akinleye, Nigerian Baptist pastor
• Gbadebo Omoni, Lawyer
• Owoade Omoni
• Dr. Ayo Ojo, Physician and President of Alumni Association
• Michael Akintola Abidoye, Chartered Accountant
• Dr. Philip Ademola Togun, Consultant Psychiatrist
• Prof. Emmanuel O. Omojokun, Computer Scientist and University Professor
• Dr. Nelson Aderemi Alawode, MD, Physician and Specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Kehinde Dawodu, Mechanical Engineer
• Dr. Taiwo Dawodu, Physician
• HRH Dr. Olufemi Oladapo Babalola, The Obalumo of Isedo (Oke-Ila Orangun), Petroleum Geophysicist
• Dr. Olufemi Emmanuel Babalola, Physician & Ophthalmologist
• Late Dr Olayinka Olla (rtd MD Port Harcourt Refinery)
• Chief B. A. Lala.
• Late Jonathan Folaranmi Akinola.
• Rt. Hon. Kehinde Olatunji Ayoola(Speaker Oyo House of Assembly 1999)
• General Ajibola Kunle Toguin
• Hon Maroof Olawale Atilola (speaker Oyo House of Assembly)
• Dr Femi-Babalola (Dentist)
• Engr Adedayo Agboola (Sokoto) 1994 set

Anthem

1.
The foresight of God's own People
A new school created
Where the truth of God
And all academic knowledge
Shall future noble men
And heroes of our land make
As the motto re-echoes
Cum Christo Progredere

2.
By the highway stands the school
Clearly visible to passers by
Breaking, Moulding, Preparing, for the future
Olivet Heights my school, oh my school

3.
My school Olivet, (Olivet)
My school Olivet, (Olivet)
My school Olivet
May the Lord bless thee
Olivet Heights (Olivet Heights)
Olivet Heights (Olivet Heights)
O L I V E T !!!

Music: By Revd. E. A. Akinleye
Words: By Revd. E. A. Akinleye, Mr. Gbadebo Omoni and Dr. Ayo Ojo