History

The Making of Baptist Boy's High School, Saki.

With the increase thirst for further education in Oke-Ogun,Oyo State, coupled with the imminent collapse of Elam Memorial Baptist Boarding Primary School, around 1956, the Baptist Community in the area muted the idea of sponsoring the establishment of a Secondary School in Saki to put an end to the painful and rigorous journeys to Oyo, Iwo, Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Abeokuta, Lagos, Benin, Warri etc in search of the proverbial Golden Fleece.

In 1957, Saki Baptist Association, with moral and financial supports from many patriots and neighbouring communities (ATISBO), sent application to the Education Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Ibadan, requesting for permission to establish a secondary school. At the forefront of this crusade were Late Revd. A. B. Togun, Late Deacon Ipadeola, Late Pa Isaiah Adegbola Oguntona, Late Revd. A. M. Olaleye, Late Pa Amao and a host of other eminent figures from both within and outside the Baptist Community. Mention must be made of the supportive gestures of the Saki Parapo Organisation both at home and abroad since the proposed school was the first of its kind throughout Oyo North.

On 2^nd January, 1958, advertisement for the entrance examination into the school were sent to the Nigerian Tribune and the Daily Times, the only two newspapers circulating very well in the Western Region then. The advertisements were carried in what Late Iyanda called “14^th issue and 8^th issue” of the two papers respectively. Responses to the advertisements was encouraging.

The entrance examination was held at Saki, Ede, Ibadan and Oyo on 25^th January, 1958. There were forty candidates in Saki Centre alone. This was followed by admission interview in Saki and Oyo centres on Friday 31^st January while that of Ede came up on Tuesday, 4^th February, 1958 before the Principal returned to Saki on Monday, 6^th February.

In the meantime, the Principal, Mr. E. A. Iyanda and his family finally moved to Saki on Thursday 16^th January, 1958. They welcomed with a short service led by Revd. A. B.Togun at Ajegunle Baptist Church at about 5.00pm. The seven Baptist Churches in Saki were joyfully represented at the ceremony. The following morning, Friday 17^th January, 1958, the turning of the first sod at the permanent site was also performed by Revd. A. B. Togun. With that, the stage was set for the opening of the school.

SCHOOL HOSTEL IN TOWN WHEN THE SCHOOL STARTED 2

SCHOOL HOSTEL IN TOWN WHEN THE SCHOOL STARTED 3

First Set Graduates

The school’s progressive academic efforts were duly rewarded when on Monday, May 20, 1963, it was approved to present candidates for the West African School Certificate Examination. Out of the thirty-three pioneer students, only ten were registered for the examination. They were:

Mr. Victor Akin Adegunwa
Mr. Caleb Ayandare Olaayan
Mr. Moses Oyebamiji Bukola
Mr. Isaac Aderibigbe Koleosho
Mr. Phillip Olujobi Eweoya

Mr. Adejare Elegbede
Mr. Theophilus Oladunni Oyelowo
Mr. Ajebiyi Olaaje
Mr. Okegbami Okeesan
Mr. S. Gbadebo Adeyi

Transformation from Six to Five-Year Course

On 1^st June, 1965, the school was inspected for a five year course. This was approved on the 27^th of the same month. The implication was that 1966 class five would take the final examination with 1966 class six.

Transformation from B. B. H. S to B. H. S.

When on Monday 22^nd January, 1968 the school re-opened for the year, it was “bye-bye” to ‘Baptist Boys High School’, Saki and “welcome to Baptist High School, Saki.” The abbreviation B. B. H. S. lost B and became B. H. S. that was the beginning of another era, the era of boys and girls as students.