Tribute to The Revd Allen Angus – Part 2

The name Igbobi was contracted from the Yoruba Igbo Obi (Kolanut Forest) the College was indeed referred to as the school in the forest or the school in the bush. There was no Orthopedic Hospital, Army Hospital, Higher College now called Yaba College of Technology, no WAEC office, no Myhoung Barracks. There were no roads in the vicinity, the Ikorodu Road was not in existence. The nearest
buildings were the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Magistrate Hagley and Barrister Kayode’s houses. There was no electric power supplies.

The terrain of the College then is better imagined in its tropical magnificence. The honour of turning such terrain to the cultured and controlled grass, flora, hedges, trees, orchards, buildings, lanes and lawns belong to Reverend Angus and his pioneering colleagues. They set the foundation building blocks.

Igbobi College legend has it that “all the pupils with the Masters and the Principal took part in destumping and weeding of the playing field every Monday afternoon and within a short time Igbobi College was able to boast of two full-size football fields and a cricket pitch.”

In the beginning students in form two, equivalent of standard six in Nigerian secondary schools, were obliged to take the first school leaving certificate examination but Angus did not agree with the education authorities and his stand was vindicated by the results of the 1932 examination. Therefore, Igbobi College boys were not required to take this examination. The academic success of Igbobi College was spontaneous from the beginning with pupils performing exceptionally well in all examinations, Junior Cambridge and Senior
Cambridge. Sports, Games, Crafts, Literary and Debating Societies were all part of school life for every child. The spirit of philanthropy and benevolence were incorporated into the students by the weekly collection of Self Denial Fund (SDF) in class for support of charitable activities from whatever pocket money the boys had. Discipline was
not only by the staff but also by the prefects and senior boys. All of these contributed to the environment in which the Igbobi College tradition of high standard of liberal education combined with moral training was developed.

Angus translated all those noble intentions of the proprietors into reality. The outbreak of the Second World War with its attendant economic depression, social dislocations, restrictions, impacted on the development of Igbobi College as the need to provide accommodation for soldiers caused the relocation of the College to lbadan and also the prolonged absence of Angus. He relinquished the office of the principal in 1944 when I was only two years old. His tenure was a period of laying the solid foundation on which the college stands to date. It was a foundation that anchored it against the storms of later
developments that almost threatened its existence.

The College was originally established on 32 acres about 15 hectares parcel of land which was first conscripted into war efforts as barracks for soldiers during the Second World War. Later, it was one of the schools taken over by government in a compulsory acquisition as the premises was converted to serve about six secondary schools. It was the period of Igbobi I, Igbobi 2, Igbobi 3 to Igbobi 6. In addition, the College was converted into a multi-sex institution. When the school was finally returned to its original proprietors, only seven out of the original 15 hectares was returned. The foresight and diligence of the pioneering staff led by Reverend John Angus assisted in the re-creation of the College after its vicissitudes.

After leaving Igbobi College, Angus was elevated to become the supervisor of schools in the Western District of the Methodist Church between 1944 and 1946. After which he was promoted to be the Secretary of the Christian Council of Nigeria and Missionary Committee Representative 1946 to 1952.

In 1948, the Angus gave up his status as a bachelor when he married Miss Ada Poole of the Methodist Girls High School who became his life companion. She was a pillar of support to him in his failing health due to the repercussions of the mustard gas attack encountered during the First World War.

Between 1952 and 1957, he was the chairman of the Western District of the Methodist Church. The services rendered by our man, Angus,
was noted and rewarded during the 1956 birthday celebrations of the Late Queen Elizabeth Il when he was conferred with the honour of Officer of the British Empire (OBE). He returned to England in 1957 and spent his time touring even with his failing health and impaired sight sharing his experiences in Nigeria and the need to create a Conference of the Methodist Church in Nigeria.

He died in 1959 and bequeathed One thousand five hundred Pounds Sterling each to Igbobi College and Methodist Boys High School in Lagos Nigeria.

The 70/72 set of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association has wisely thought it fit to define the College foundation through its first principal in commemoration of the 50th/52nd Thanksgiving Anniversary of graduating from the College. This fitting memorial to the selfless missionary will also serve as evidence of the love and gratitude of we Nigerians who appreciated the life of dedication of Angus to the development of mankind.

It is only fitting that I end this tribute with the last two stanzas of this song composed by William G. Tarrant (1853-1928) when he wrote: Praise we the peaceful men of skill,
Who built the homes of beauty,
And, rich in art, made richer still
The brotherhood of duty.
Praise we the glorious names we know,
And they whose names have perished,
Lost in the haze of long ago,
In silent love be cherished.
In peace their sacred ashes rest,
Fulfilled their day’s endeavor,
They blessed the earth, and they are blessed
Of God and man forever.

• Concluded.

• Professor Akinyemi, CFR, Fassn, Fniia, president and fellow of the Academy of International Affairs, was former Minister of External Affairs.