As School Celebrates 60 Years
Over the years, Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School (FGGS) has proved to be one of the best schools in Ondo State and South-west, Nigeria. The school, which was established in 1960, is one of the leading government-owned, secondary schools in the Sunshine state and it has produced generations of great, bright and outstanding persons who are doing fine in their respective professions in the country and abroad.
It was designed for girls to come and learn and also acquire skills and values that will enable them to be successful in life. The school is located in the heart of the state capital, Akure in Ondo State. Between when the school was established till date, Mrs. Taye Bola, the current principal of the school, is the 12th, principal at the helm of affairs. The first principal was the late Ms. Pelly, who was approached them by CMS Missionary, Miss Joyce Herklots for the job. Pelly was 28 years old then. She started the school 1960, and served for 13 years and Yellow house was named after her.
She was succeeded by Ms. Shelia Davies. Mrs. V.M Kolawole, the first indigenous principal of the school in 1979, was on the seat till 1982. Mrs. Alakuro was also a principal among others. The first two principals were missionaries from Britain. In the last 60 years, the school, has produced more than 4,000 students. Fiwasaye Girl’s Grammar school, it was learnt, has the largest student population in the Sunshine state and its standard of education is high as that of Queens College, Lagos.
The school was established back then to promote female education in Nigeria. It endeavours to prepare girls to excel in a public sphere that is normally dominated by men. The vision was to continue to teach and inspire its students to be unique, develop a strong character in excellence and to strive to live a life of integrity and purpose every day. The history of Fiwasaye Girl’s Grammar School would not be complete without mentioning the input of the founding fathers like the late Bishop Falope, Late Bishop Okusanya, late Chief B. F.A Adinlewa, with his wife who approached the Anglican Communion on the need for a girl school. Chief R.F. Fasoranti is the only living founding father.
In celebrating the diamond jubilee of the school, the old Girls association of the Fiwasaye Old Girl’s Association (FOGA) headed by Mrs. Tawio Kolawole, the Chairman, Anniversary Committee Planned a week-long activities for the celebration in style. The activities started on Monday, 27th January 2020, with a condolence visit to her Excellency, Arabirin, Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu. On Tuesday, 28th January, 2020, they paid a courtesy visit to Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo and it was the day the diamond jubilee was officially declared open by the Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Hon Olufemi Agagu, after which a symposium took place at the school hall.
29th January, 2020, was the schools inter house sport and inter school activities which took place at the school field, while on the 30th January, 2020, there was a novelty match between the Fiwasaye Old Girls Association and Oyemekun Old Boys Association.
The match ended in 3-2 as the FOGA defected the Oyemekun Boys. On Friday, 31th January, school projects were commissioned by the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwartimi Akeredolu (SAN). It is also on record that every anniversary at Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, there is always a project to showcase.
It’s on record that during the 40th and 50th anniversary, the school compound was fenced with a befitting school gate among other projects. During the golden jubilee celebration Fiwasaye Old Girls association (FOGA) donated 50 computer systems to boost the school’s Information Communication Technology (ICT).
So, for the Diamond Jubilee, the star project was the construction of internal road network. 300 members contributed, but it was sponsored by the state government. That was why the fund raised for the star project was later used to complete other structures in the school. The one-week event ended with a dinner/award nite on Saturday, 1st February 2020 and anniversary thanksgiving on Sunday, 2nd February, 2020.
The Old Girls association literally shut down the state for one week as over 300 old girl came. Some flew in from USA, UK, Canada, while representatives from various state were not left out.
Celebrities who attended Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School include Mrs. Taye Bola the current principal, Mrs. Taiwo Kolawole, Chief Mrs. Kosemani Kolawole former Ondo State Head of Service and she is the first female to become Head of Service and Chief Mrs Olufunke Oke, Mrs. Alake Ibitoba, Mrs. Dayo Adewunmi, Mrs. Foluso Onabowale.
The list also include Mrs. Welola Atandeyi, she was the first Math Treasurer, Mrs. Nike Omoyajowo, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke, Mrs. Nike Oladunni-Omorodion Nigerian Custom, Mrs. Dupe Dinyo, Mrs. Olotu Olufunmilayo Olufunke nee Ige, Professor Mojisola Atalabi she is a professor of Radiology, Professor Omolade Oladele she is a professor of Veterinary Medicine, Mrs. Jibola Salami, Dr. Mrs. Dairo She is tha National Vice Chairman of FOGA, Mrs. Dunni Fagbayibo she is the National President Fiwasaye Old Girls Association, Mrs. Jibola Francis, Mrs. Olamide Falana 2016 Ondo guber aspirants,
Mrs.Busola Ademiluyi,Mrs. Remi Olu-Akerele, Mrs. Yemi Oricha CEO ICONMART, Mrs. Olayinka Samuel Adeyeoluwa (Adeyefa), Bala- Gbogbo Omolola nee Archer, Erelu Oluwaseyi Michaels nee Olofindayo CEO Excelle Group of Companies, Mrs. Deke Ajibade nee Adajayan, Mrs. Olajunmoke Oladoyinbo nee Fagbemi,
Mrs. Margaret Akingbade, Mrs. Kike Omotosho nee Oniya President FOGA USA, Erelu Nihinlola Oluwole nee Okelola Secretary FOGA USA, Mrs. Esther Ajibola Secretary FOGA UK, Mrs. Jibola Franklyn nee Adun President FOGA UK, Chief Mrs. Bimbola Eke she was the First Female Mining engineer in Nigerian, Mrs. Beatrice Oluwadare,
Miss Toyin Aturu, Mrs Bose Ajayi, Chief Mrs H.O. Ige, Mrs Nike Omoyajowo, Mrs O. T. Ojoge, Mrs. Adeola Caroline Bosede, Mrs. Abosede Ige-Akintade,Mrs. Adewale Funmi, Mrs Yinka Samuel, Mrs. Aina Olabisi,Mrs. Kehinde Abegunde, Mrs Adeniran Oluwaseun, Mrs. Akintinde Bukola, Mrs. Funnwa Agbi, Mrs. Toyin Awotoye, Chief Mrs Kemi farotade, Mrs Tope Ojoge, Mrs Adekanbi Awonusi, Mrs. Bobola Akinwumi, Mrs Lolade Ogungbe, Mrs Dolapo Feyi-Akinribide and Mrs Ajike Osanyinbi.
The list will not be complete without mentioning Mrs. Bola-Dennis Olajumoke, Mrs. Yetunde Olawale, Mrs. Itunu Akingbade, Mrs. Abimbola Awoniyi, Engr. Bunmi Ajayi, Mrs. Gbemisola Aigbiro, Mrs Olagunju, Mrs Ayo Anjorin, Mrs Ireti Abimbola, Mrs funke Elutilo, Mrs Yetunde Taiwo, Mrs Titi Olofinbiyi,
Mrs Tinuke Adedipe, Mrs Foluke Omokuwajo Akinbi, Mrs Lola Gbogbo, Mrs Nike Shobowale, Pastor Mrs Funke Kolawole, Mrs Finmi Owoyemi, Pastor Mrs Ojo, Mrs Sola Adejuyigbe, Mrs. Dupe Omidiji, Mrs. Ronke Litan, Mrs. Ologundare, Mrs Yemisi Adurogboye, Mrs. D.A Ojo, Mrs Yinka Ogunmola, Mrs Falade Felicia,
Mrs. Ohwofasa Oluwasola, Mrs Funmi Olotu, Mrs Kemisola Isinomen Akintokun, Chief (Mrs.) Ibilola F Alao she was the 3rd Senior prefect in 1967, Arch Sola Oni among others. There is no doubt that Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School has achieved a high level of academic success over the years and it is still soaring till date. Its alumni include judges, doctors, engineers, lawyers, administrators, etc, spread all over the world including the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Fiwasaye old girls are all over the globe making impaction the world in accordance to the school’s motto “Fi iwa se aye re” is a watch word for all FOGA .
–Adeola Shittu
