NIGERIA'S PIONEER SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A PRE-INDEPENDENCE LOOK (173 SCHOOLS) Introduction Ever wondered when formal education truly began in Nigeria? We've compiled a definitive list of 171 schools.
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AFRICAN PRINCIPALS CONFERENCE INITIATIVE
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NIGERIA'S PIONEER SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A PRE-INDEPENDENCE LOOK (173 SCHOOLS)
Introduction
Ever wondered when formal education truly began in Nigeria? We've compiled a definitive list of 171 pioneer secondary schools established before Nigeria's independence in 1960.
Check out the full list and detailed coverage on our blog at www.africatopschools.com.
Send your school's news and updates to [email protected]
Pioneer Secondary Schools (Established Pre-1960)
|
Year |
School Name |
Location |
|
1859 |
CMS Grammar School |
Bariga, Lagos |
|
1878 |
Methodist Boys High School |
Victoria Island, Lagos |
|
1879 |
Methodist Girls High School |
Yaba, Lagos |
|
1885 |
Baptist Academy |
Obanikoro, Lagos |
|
1895 |
Hope Waddell Training Institute |
Calabar |
|
1896 |
St. Anne’s School (Old Kudeti Girls’ School) |
Ibadan |
|
1897 |
Oron Boy’s High School (Old Oron Training Institute) |
Oron |
|
1900 |
St. Paul’s College |
Iyenu, Awka |
|
1905 |
Wesley College of Science (Old Wesley College) |
Elekuro, Ibadan |
|
1905 |
Methodist Boy’s High School |
Oron |
|
1908 |
Abeokuta Grammar School |
Idi-Aba, Abeokuta |
|
1909 |
King’s College |
Catholic Mission Street, Lagos |
|
1909 |
St. John’s School |
Bida |
|
1910 |
Alhuda-Huda College (Old Govt. Sec. School) |
Zaria |
|
1913 |
Ijebu-Ode Grammar School |
Ijebu-Ode |
|
1913 |
Eko Boys High School |
Mushin, Lagos |
|
1913 |
Ibadan Grammar School |
Molete, Ibadan |
|
1914 |
Government Secondary School |
Ilorin |
|
1915 |
Government College |
Katsina-Ala |
|
1915 |
Etinan Institute |
Etinan, Akwa-Ibom |
|
1919 |
Ondo Boys High School |
Ondo |
|
1919 |
Duke Town Secondary School |
Calabar |
|
1920 |
Government College |
Kaduna |
|
1921 |
Barewa College |
Zaria |
|
1923 |
Baptist Boys High School |
Abeokuta |
|
1923 |
Methodist College |
Uzuakoli, Aba |
|
1923 |
Ibo Boys’ High School |
Uzuakoli, Aba |
|
1925 |
Dennis Memorial Grammar School |
Onitsha |
|
1927 |
Queens College |
Yaba, Lagos |
|
1927 |
Abdul Aziz Attah Memorial College |
Okene |
|
1927 |
Rumfa College (Old Govt. Sec. School) |
Kano |
|
1928 |
United Memorial Grammar School |
Ibadan |
|
1928 |
St. Gregory's College |
Ikoyi, Lagos |
|
1928 |
St. Thomas College |
Ibusa |
|
1929 |
Government College |
Apata, Ibadan |
|
1929 |
Government College |
Umuahia |
|
1929 |
St. Charles College |
Onitsha |
|
1930 |
Methodist Girls Secondary School |
Ovim |
|
1931 |
Aggrey Memorial College |
Arochukwu |
|
1932 |
Igbobi College |
Yaba, Lagos |
|
1932 |
St Theresa College |
Oke-Ado, Ibadan |
|
1932 |
Oduduwa Grammar School |
Ile-Ife |
|
1932 |
Enitonna High School |
Borikiri |
|
1933 |
Christ the King College |
Onitsha |
|
1933 |
Christ’s School |
Ado-Ekiti |
|
1934 |
Ilesha Grammar School |
Ilesha |
|
1934 |
St. Patrick’s College |
Calabar |
|
1935 |
Holy Rosary College |
Enugu |
|
1935 |
Government Secondary School |
Owerri |
|
1937 |
Edo College |
Benin City |
|
1938 |
Ibadan Boys High School |
Ibadan |
|
1938 |
Kalabari National College |
Buguma |
|
1940 |
Baptist High School |
Bodija, Ibadan |
|
1940 |
Okrika Grammar School |
Okrika |
|
1941 |
Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School |
Yaba, Lagos |
|
1942 |
Queen of the Rosary College |
Onitsha |
|
1942 |
College of Immaculate Conception |
Enugu |
|
1943 |
African Church School |
Kajola, Ifo |
|
1943 |
Lisabi Grammar School |
Abeokuta |
|
1943 |
Offa Grammar School |
Offa |
|
1943 |
Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girl’s School (ACMGS) |
Elelenwo, Port Harcourt |
|
1943 |
Zik Grammar School |
Sapele |
|
1944 |
Immaculate Conception College |
Benin-City |
|
1944 |
Boys Secondary School |
Gindiri, Plateau State |
|
1944 |
Hillcrest School |
Jos |
|
1944 |
St. Francis College |
Oturkpo |
|
1944 |
St. Patrick College |
Asaba |
|
1945 |
Olivet Baptist High School, Olivet Heights |
Oyo |
|
1945 |
Adeola Odutola College |
Ijebu-Ode |
|
1945 |
Government College |
Ughelli |
|
1945 |
Kent Academy |
Mango |
|
1945 |
Anglican Girl’s Grammar School |
Lagos |
|
1945 |
Priscilla Memorial Secondary School |
Oguta |
|
1946 |
Urhobo College |
Effurun |
|
1946 |
Remo Secondary School |
Sagamu |
|
1946 |
Ansar–Ud – Deen Comprehensive College |
Otta |
|
1946 |
Imade College |
Owo |
|
1946 |
Merchant of Lights School |
Oba |
|
1947 |
Victory College |
Ikare, Ondo |
|
1947 |
Hussey College |
Warri |
|
1947 |
Emmanuel College |
Owerri |
|
1948 |
St. Augustine’s Grammar School |
Nkwerre |
|
1948 |
Ahmaddiya College |
Agege, Lagos |
|
1948 |
Stella Maris College |
Port Harcourt |
|
1948 |
National High School |
Aba |
|
1949 |
Government College |
Keffi |
|
1949 |
Molusi College |
Ijebu-Igbo |
|
1949 |
Baptist High School |
Borokiri, Port Harcourt |
|
1949 |
Oriwu College |
Ikorodu |
|
1949 |
Bishop Shanahan College |
Orlu |
|
1949 |
Holy Ghost College |
Owerri |
|
1950 |
Osogbo Grammar School |
Osogbo |
|
1950 |
Ago-Iwoye Secondary School |
Ago-Iwoye |
|
1950 |
Ijebu Muslim College |
Ijebu-Ode |
|
1950 |
Our Ladies of Apostle Secondary School |
Yaba, Lagos |
|
1950 |
St. Peter Claver’s College |
Sapele |
|
1950 |
Egbado (Yewa) College |
Ilaro |
|
1951 |
St. Thomas’ Aquinas College |
Akure |
|
1951 |
Titcombe College |
Egbe |
|
1951 |
St Louis Secondary School |
Kano |
|
1951 |
National High School |
Arondizuogu |
|
1951 |
Trinity High School |
Oguta |
|
1952 |
Kiriji Memorial College |
Igbajo |
|
1952 |
Queen’s School |
Ibadan |
|
1952 |
Government College |
Afikpo |
|
1953 |
Oyemekun Grammar School |
Akure |
|
1953 |
Ogbomoso Grammar School |
Ogbomoso |
|
1953 |
Maryknoll College |
Okuku |
|
1953 |
St Micheals’s Secondary School |
Aliade |
|
1954 |
Ekiti Parapo College |
Ido-Ekiti |
|
1954 |
Queens’s School |
Enugu |
|
1954 |
Loyola College |
Ibadan |
|
1954 |
St. Bernadine’s Grammar School |
Oyo |
|
1954 |
Our Ladies of Apostle Secondary School |
Ijebu-Ode |
|
1954 |
St. Anthony’s Grammar School |
Ijebu-Imusin |
|
1954 |
Manuwa Memorial Grammar School |
Iju-Odo |
|
1954 |
Fiditi Grammar School |
Fiditi |
|
1954 |
National High School |
Arondizuogu |
|
1954 |
Iheme Memorial Grammar School |
Arondizuogu |
|
1954 |
St. Louis Secondary School |
Ondo |
|
1954 |
Gboluji Grammar School |
Ile-Oluji |
|
1954 |
Ngwa High School |
Aba |
|
1955 |
Badagry Grammar School |
Badagry |
|
1955 |
African Church Grammar School |
Abeokuta |
|
1955 |
St. Catherine’s Girls Secondary School |
Nkwerre |
|
1955 |
Ibara Anglican High School |
Abeokuta |
|
1955 |
Doherty Memorial Grammar School |
Ijero- Ekiti |
|
1955 |
St Patrick’s College |
Asaba |
|
1955 |
St. Monica Girls’ School |
Ondo |
|
1955 |
Ife Anglican Grammar School, Arubidi |
Ile-Ife |
|
1955 |
Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School |
Surulere |
|
1955 |
Pilgrim Baptist Grammar School |
Issele-Uku |
|
1956 |
St. Catherine’s Anglican Girls School |
Owo |
|
1956 |
St. Finbarr’s College |
Akoka, Lagos State |
|
1956 |
Methodist High School |
Okiti Pupa |
|
1956 |
Mayflower School |
Ikenne |
|
1956 |
Isonyin Grammar School |
Isonyin |
|
1956 |
Ebenezer Grammar School |
Abeokuta |
|
1956 |
St. Joseph College |
Ondo |
|
1956 |
Yejide Girls Grammar School |
Molete, Ibadan |
|
1956 |
Saint Peters College |
Olomore, Abeokuta |
|
1956 |
Oyan Grammar School |
Oyan |
|
1956 |
Ekiti Baptist High School |
Igede- Ekiti |
|
1956 |
Imesi-Ile High School |
Imesi-ile |
|
1956 |
St. Anthony’s College |
Ubuku UKWU |
|
1956 |
St. Pius X College Bokka |
Gokana |
|
1957 |
Odogbolu Grammar School |
Odogbolu |
|
1957 |
Notre Dame College |
Ozoro |
|
1957 |
Government College |
Makurdi |
|
1957 |
Holy Rosary College |
Idah |
|
1957 |
Anglican Grammar School |
Iju-itaogbolu |
|
1957 |
African Church Grammar School |
Oka-Akoko |
|
1957 |
Igbo Elerin Grammar School |
Ibadan, Oyo State |
|
1957 |
St. Augustine’s College |
Kabba |
|
1957 |
Annunciation Secondary School |
Ikere-Ekiti |
|
1957 |
Birabi Memorial College |
Bori Ogoni |
|
1957 |
General Murtala Mohammed College (Old Govt. Sec. Schl.) |
Yola |
|
1957 |
Sacred Heart College |
Aba |
|
1957 |
County Grammar School |
Ikwerre Etche |
|
1958 |
Okemesi Grammar School |
Okemesi-Ekiti |
|
1958 |
Lagelu Grammar School |
Ibadan |
|
1958 |
Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School (Old Niger Baptist College) |
Minna |
|
1958 |
Anglican Grammar School |
Igbara-Oke |
|
1958 |
National Grammar School, Nike |
Enugu |
|
1958 |
Girls’ High School |
Gindiri, Plateau State |
|
1959 |
St. Patrick’s College |
Oka-Akoko |
|
1959 |
St. Maria Goretti Girl’s Grammar School |
Benin-City |
|
1959 |
Ondo Anglican Grammar School |
Ondo |
|
1959 |
Premier Grammar School |
Abeokuta |
|
1959 |
Anglican Grammar School |
Otan, Aiyegbaju |
|
1959 |
St. Thomas Secondary School |
Kano |
|
1959 |
Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw |
Enugu |
|
1960 |
Fiwasaiye Girls’ Grammar School |
Akure |
Updated by Africa Top School Awards Team on October 30, 2025. www.africatopschools.com
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