A BRIEF HISTORY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIRLS’ COLLEGE, OYO

Shortly after the Nigeria Civil War in 1970, the Federal Government of Nigeria decided to established Secondary Schools that would be evenly distributed all over the country known as “Unity Schools”. The objectives for setting up these Schools among other reasons include

To promote Unity among the Nigerian youths irrespective of ethnicity, creed or status
To serve as centre of excellence for others to emulate.
To enable our youths develop their potentials in various “fields
To lay a good foundation for them as well as to bring them up as worthy citizens and future leaders.

In September 1974, the Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos assigned the responsibility of making preliminary arrangements for the opening of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo to Mrs.  G.B. Eyoma.

Mrs. G.B. Eyoma had to contend with a number of initial problems, the greatest of which was accommodation for the incoming Students.

With the co-operation of His Royal Highness, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba LamidiOlayiwolaAdeyemi III JP, CFR, LLD, SAP and Oyo State Ministry of Education, permission was granted for the School’s temporary site.

On the 21st September, 1974 Mrs. A.G.W. Den Tex was posted to the College as Vice Principal. Later, she took over from Mrs. G.B. Eyoma as the first Acting Principal. On the 24th September, 1974, the Acting Principal paid a courtesy call on the Alaafin of Oyo and the Local Inspector of Education, both of whom assured her of their cooperation.

Later in the day, she met with three members of Staff that had earlier arrived for what she chose to call a “Mock Staff Meeting” at the Merry Time Motel, Owode, Oyo where they were lodged. Their discussions centered on subject allocation and last minute preparations for the opening of the College.

At last, the memorable day arrived. It was Friday, 27th September, 1974, the day the Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo, had its first lesson with sixty-one (61) foundation Students. The Students were admitted on the following criteria twelve (12) on national merit, forty-eight (48) on quota basis, made up of four (4) Students from each of the then twelve (12) states in Nigeria and one (1) extra girl. There were twelve (12) academic members of Staff including the Acting Principal, and five (5) non-teaching Staff members posted to Oyo by the Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos. A few more non-teaching members of Staff were recruited locally.

The College moved to its temporary site, now occupied by the Federal College of Education (Special) Staff Secondary School, Durbar, Oyo, near the Divisional Police Station, along the Ibadan-Ogbomoso Federal Highway. On the 20th October, 1974 the substantive Principal, Miss. Feroze-din assumed duty in the School while Miss. A.G.W. Den Tex reverted to the post of the first Vice-Principal of the College for which she was originally posted to the College.