In two years, she will be 70. But Mrs Olutobi Iyabo Reis, one of the pioneer teachers at Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School, Ogun State; seems to have run a life’s race that bellies her age.
She completed her secondary education at Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu Remo, Ogun State at age 14 in 1972.
Though she had wanted to train as a Nurse, her elder sister, a teacher by profession would not allow her because she believed her temperament was not suitable for the profession. She insisted she must be a teacher too.
So, Reis started off as an auxiliary teacher at age 15 at Ode Remo Primary School also in Ogun State.
While in the school she enrolled as one of the pioneer students of the Universal Primary Education programme which was a nine-month crash course to train for the Grade 2 Teachers certificate.
But she had barely spent three months after earning her Grade 2 certificate when she was transferred from the primary school to Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School. That was where she cut her teeth as a teacher.
Experience at Ijebu-ife
Before getting to Ijebu-Ife, Mrs Reis who was then known as Miss Iyabo Idowu did not enjoy teaching. But the narrative changed at Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School which was just open to students in 1975 when she was posted there.
She was a house mistress for girls in the hostel and also taught some subjects in the fledgling school.
She recalled there was only one-storey building in the school apart from the principal’s residence.
One side of the top floor of the building was a girl’s hostel the other side was boys’ hostel. The classrooms were on the ground floor. She was living in a small apartment near the girls’ hostels of two rooms. She worked for 24 hours so to say because her job was to look after the welfare of the girls even when they were asleep. She had to respond to midnight emergencies.
The population of the pioneer students was about 120 according to her. But the intriguing thing is that she was about the same age as some of the students. Some were even older than her.
“If not for the uniform, you won’t know the difference between me and the students. There was another House Master for the boys called Mr. Akinyele. He too was a young man.
Progress in the school
The first principal of the school was Mr. Deinde while Mr Kujore was the Vice Principal. Later when the population of the school increased and expatriate teachers mostly Indians and Ghanaians joined the school, Reis had to relocate to town because her apartment was used as part of the hostel to accommodate more students.
More buildings however were being built. There was the Olotu Oyemade Boys Hostel, Otunba Olajide Adebanjo hall and so many other apartments and residential quarters were being constructed.
The school began to have a strong presence in the community and indeed in Ogun State. At a point the school hall which was donated by Otunba Olajide Adebanjo was rated as one of the best school halls in Ogun State.
Impact of Adebanjo
Reis still holds a nostalgic feeling about her first year in the school. “My initial experience in the school in 1975 changed my orientation about the teaching profession. We were like a family.
Otunba Adebanjo would come to school almost every Saturday from Ibadan to engage the students in random quizzes on science and current affairs. As soon as they get the answers to his questions, he would give them money. He also gave scholarships to many of the students.”
The students were also exposed to extra-curricular activities like drama; music and all kinds of sports. Both the Principal, Mr Deide and Mr Kujore the Vice Principal were quite very friendly.” Reis stated.
The coming of Sosanya
But by the second year of her stay in the school, the atmosphere changed with the coming of Mr Segun Sosanya as principal.
“He was a good man but tough and firm. We worked together. But it got to a point that I had some personal issues with him which made me decide I was leaving the school. I reported him to the Education Board because of my misgivings which were personal. Because of the issue I was transferred to Adeola Odutola College as House Mistress.”
But Sosanya who joined the school from another school in Ibadan would not let her be. He begged her and urged her to come back to the school. When the pressure was too much, Reis had to return to Ijebu Ife. That was during the 1978/79 set.
Names in her memory
But then that year was the climax of her stay in the school. Looking back, she could still recall the first Head Boy of the school was Emmanuel Asuquo. She said the school attracted people from all over Nigeria though it was built by the Ijebu-Ife community.
Some of the students she still remembers are: Tinu Odulana, Kunle Afolayan, Ayedun Badejo and Ogunfuwa Oladele, who was her school son but now late.
“I remember Ramota Adetugbobo, Lukanmi Olatunbosun who was a friend to my school son. I remember Seun Oyemade who is now bearing Tunde Oyemade. I remember Billy Obisanya, Ola Bash, Akeem Adetugbobo, Omotoye Seun who was almost living with me in the hostel. I recall Kunle Adelaja, Oluwole Onafujabi who is a lawyer now. I remember Yemisi Ajumobi and David Fashola whom I met when I became principal in Lagos. I also recall Godonu who was also the head boy at a point in the school. I remember Remi Osifowora and Hassan Tawakalitu.
“I can’t forget Prof. Denloye Abiodun who incidentally helped to mentor my son who finished with a First-Class degree in Lagos State University.
“The man who started this Chrislamherb faith at Oke-Tude in the Ketu area of Lagos Samsusideen Saka is also a product of the school. I once met him. I remember Kamoru Owode, Olanrewaju Lukan. Many of them have changed. But I still remember Rotimi Omoniyi and Ola Clement. I remember Mukaila Adedayo, I remember Taiwo and Kehinde Kukoyi. I also remember Taiwo and Kehinde Obisanya. I remember Adeyege Oyenuga, Tunde Onamusi and Ronke Oluyadi . Those are the people I can recollect for now.
“People like Dr. Adejinle Babalola and Engr. Niyi Afolabi who have made the school proud in their chosen careers demonstrated that ability while in school. I am also grateful to God that the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu is a product of the school.”
Expatriate teachers
On the preponderance of expatriate teachers then, she said “there was an arrangement between the education board in the state and counties like Ghana and India to bring in those teachers. It was believed that foreign teachers were better.
“The expatriate teachers were well taken care of. Many students even got influenced by their intonation especially that of the Ghanaians. The Indians on the other hand were not communicating well enough because of the way they speak. But many students still enjoyed their classes. Mr. Krishna for instance was outstanding. Many of the students loved him though he too was quite strict.”
Reis who taught literature, English and a few other subjects in the school recalled that students were ready to learn. “We had preparatory classes which were compulsory. The school was involved in various external competitions I remember we acted the Gods Are Not to Blame written by Ola Rotimi and Efunsetan Aniwura. Tinu Odulana and Remi Osifowora I can recall acted in those plays. Mr. Sosanya was good in English and Literature. He loved acting. He encouraged us in that regard and we had a good time together.”
Bye bye to Ijebu-Ife
Reis eventually left the school in 1979 to further her education and came back to continue teaching in another school in Ogun State. She taught in a couple of schools. By 1991 she transferred her service to Lagos as soon as she got married.
In the process she earned her first degree in Religion at the University of Jos.
She taught in a couple of schools in Lagos until her retirement in 2010 as principal of Ijegun Junior High School.
What teaching did to me
Reis believes teaching shaped her perspective about life. “Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School made me love teaching. I developed a deep passion for the students and we bonded quite well. Despite the discipline we subjected them to, they would still come around us.”
On the 50th anniversary of the school which comes up in September, she said, “I will like to congratulate the old students for being alive to witness the anniversary. I believe those alive now will be alive for many more years. Many of them have turned out to be what we expected them to be. They have not disappointed us.’
Reis who made available photographs of some of the activities and students during her time in the school, stated, ‘We were bringing them up then with the conviction that they had a bright future. And they have not disappointed in that regard”
Teaching in her words, “has humbled me and made me appreciate people. I used to live a solitary life. I was the last born of the family of 6. My immediate elder brother was 14 years older than I. That gap did not allow for an easy relationship. It took me a while to know my elder sister that I loved with was not my mother. She was 20 years older. My mother gave birth to me when she was 55. So I was a recluse while growing up. But with the teaching profession, I am able to see life differently and appreciate humanity better.”
Life as a retiree
At retirement, Reis took to pure water and kunu production business. That was what engaged her time until recently when it became obvious, she could no longer continue with the stress of running the business.
Blessed with three boys successful boys, Reis believes God has been good to her. “I was overwhelmed when I saw the number of people who attended the wedding of my first born which took place recently.
She confessed, ‘I have started eating the fruit of my labour even before I retired. My children are doing well and I am happy for the gift of life. I am particularly happy that the products of Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School are doing great out there.”
One thing that stood out from the encounter with Reis was the energy and her sense of recall. She still carries in her memory events of 50 years ago delivering them with the precision of a clinician. She is a teacher indeed.
