(Department of History)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study
The
traditional history of the Yoruba is traceable to the founding of Ile-Ife,
having been acclaimed as the primary dispersal centre of the Yoruba people.
This history claims that the Yorubas are the original settlers of the Ife Area.1The
Yoruba believe that the world was a watery waste. On the orders of the Supreme
God (Olorun), Oduduwa was said to
have climbed down a chain from the sky. He reportedly brought along with him a
handful of earth, a cockerel and a palm nut. He scattered the earth upon the
water and it formed the land at Ile-Ife. The cockerel was said to have dug a
hole where Oduduwa planted the palm nut which sprang up to be a mighty tree
with sixteen branches, each with the ruling family of an early Yoruba
state today, that Oduduwa’s chain is
said to be preserved among other sacred relics of the Yoruba.2
As said above, the descendants of
Oduduwa began to move to reside in various settlements. Some were reported to
have trekked from their aboriginal home to where they presently reside today.
Others moved from Ile-Ife due to conflicts and wars among them, until the
coming of the Europeans to Nigeria, and to Yorubaland in the 19th century
when Lagos was bombarded in 1851 and eventually annexed as a British Colony in
1861.3
Before the coming of the European
missionaries to Nigeria, child education was based on “home training”, which
was the form of education in the pre-colonial period. As documented in early
missionary literature, Africa in general was proclaimed as one of the universal
dens of desolation, misery and crime. Nigeria was believed to have nothing but
moral darkness, and in light of this, Rev. Fr. Francis Liebermann, the pioneer
Holy Ghost Father to Nigeria had urged his missionaries to foster civilization
(through education) as well as religion. This was a vision shared by Anglicans,
especially Henry Venn, the then Honorary Secretary of C.M.S. who advocated for
a self-governing, self-propagating and self-sustaining African Church. These
have encouraged the course of civilization in Africa.4
As
early as the 15th century, Christianity came into Nigeria when
Capuchin monks and Augustinians came from Portugal. The first mission of the
Church of England was established in Badagry in 1842 by Henry Townsend.5
An ex-slave, Bishop Ajayi Crowther (a Yoruba man) was elected as a Bishop in
1864 to become the first black Bishop of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria6.
The planting of Christianity in
Yorubaland seems to be in tandem with the encounter between Christian
missionaries and the Yoruba people. This was a civilising and Christianising
experience which apparently bequeathed some benefits to the latter. These
purported benefits include: the introduction of western education, modern
health system and certain aspects of technology, among others.7
Christianity came in various
dimensions as the (Church Missionary Society) C.M.S. and other denominations
like Baptist Church, Methodist Church and Presbyterian missions were introduced
by the whites into Nigeria.8 At this time (1892) in Ekiti, the
C.M.S. established three churches, namely: Emmanuel C.M.S. Church, Ado-Ekiti,
Christ C.M.S. Church, Ijero-Ekiti, and Saint Marks C.M.S. Church, Ise-Ekiti.9
The Baptist Church was founded on the first Sunday in April 1901 and was first
set in Igede-Ekiti by Charles Ajiro Jemiriye who was trained under the care of
a British official. Ajiro was later handed over to the missionary of C.M.S. for
care and education.10
As said earlier, in the 15th
century, Christianity came into Nigeria through Capuchin monks and the
Augustinians from Portugal.11 Anglicanism was a protestant Christian
tradition that emerged during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th
century which included the Church of England and a variety of others around the
world. They are united by shared doctrines and practices under the Anglican
Communion/Organisation.12
Western education in Nigeria came in the
19th century and was established in 1842 to support the colonial
rule in Nigeria at this time. This was also necessary for the spread of
Christianity, as Christianity began to spread to other places in Nigeria at
this period.13 Christian missions pioneered western education in
Nigeria with their educational programmes such as literacy programmes,
elementary and primary education, teachers training and secondary education
programmes, theological education and training programmes.14 With
the appearance of the Anglican Church acting through the C.M.S, the gospel was
brought to Ekitiland in 1892, with pioneer evangelists who were Ekiti liberated
slaves that had been converted to Christianity.15
With this expansion, Western Education
surfaced with the establishment of Christianity in Nigeria. The first school
was established by Rev Gollmer in Badagry and was named the Nursery of Infant’s
Church, which was later renamed “St Thomas Anglican Nursery and Primary
school”. A host of other schools were also established.16
With this, Christianity penetrated into
Ekitiland in 1892. The first secondary school was Christ School, Ado-Ekiti. It
soon became very competitive, sentimental and politicised. This made it
difficult for brilliant students to gain secondary education. However,
Ise-Ekiti requested for a secondary school in 1957 under the umbrella of Ise
Community and the Anglican churches in Ise and Emure Ekiti and it was founded
in 1958.17
Their aims were: to provide Christian
education to their wards and children, to allow them access secondary education
irrespective of creed, and to attend the school for morals and good academic
performance.18
Christian missionary education and
evangelism gave rise to missionary involvement in the book industry, marking
the beginning of printing and publishing in Nigeria.19The early
schools were funded, managed and staffed by Christian agencies. Thus, the
beginning of western education in Nigeria and Ekitiland is traceable to the
Christian missionaries.20
Hence, this work will be based on the
history of these communities and how war dispersed them to various places
within Nigeria. Their enslavement and return, as well as the active role they
played as converted Christians, to spread Christianity among their people after
they heard that the war (Ogedengbe war) had ended in Ise-Ekiti.21
In continuation, focus shall be placed on
the evolution of Christianity and its trademark (i.e. western education) in
Ise-Ekiti. Secondary education in Ise Ekiti was pioneered by Hon. Z.B.
Olokesusi who died at the age of 38.22 Furthermore, this discourse
examines the competitiveness of school admission for applicants. As such, even
at the expense of their excellent performance, they were being denied of
admission. These have made the people to realise that there was a need for a
secondary school.23 Moreover, this project work will give in details
the general impact of Ise-Emure Grammar school and its contributions on the
community; particularly its negative and positive effects on the economic,
political and social structures.
1.2
Objectives of the Study
It is pertinent
to note that Christianity played a vital role in the introduction of Western
Education into Nigeria, with the maxim “Education is the greatest legacy given
to a child”.24 However, this research work is done to achieve the
following specific objectives among others (i) to bring into details the
origins, basic and cordial relationship that has existed before and during the
establishment of the school between these two communities in a way that will
serve as concrete educative document. (ii) To see the impact of the school on
the communities and how it has favoured them both positively and negatively,
(iii) to know how this joint venture has produced Ise-Emure Grammar School
through the Anglican Christians and people of the communities. (iv) Furthermore,
it also hopes to investigate how the increase in the number of Secondary
schools in these Communities has depopulated the number of students of
Ise-Emure Grammar School.
1.3 Scope of the Study
This study covers majorly Ise and
Emure communities of Ekiti State. The period of this study covers from 1958
-2005, whereby 1958 marks the birth of Ise-Emure Grammar School, while 2005 is
relevant to this study because the School ceased to exist from then.
This study
focuses on the basic formation of these communities and their relationship
before the establishments of Ise-Emure Grammar School; to know the importance
of Anglican Christians and the communities that surround the founding of this
school, and how the love between Ise-Ekiti and Emure has culminated in the
establishment of a Grammar School in 1958. It is good to study the mutual
relationship between these communities and how the establishment of the school
facilitated their coming together which has fostered unity between these
communities.
1.4 Research Methodology and Problems
This study will
be based on historical research method which will help in compiling various
materials that are relevant to this work. Available resources to be used for
this Research work are on the history of Christianity and western Education on
how they find their way into Nigeria, Ekiti and Ise/Emure-Ekiti to be precise.
What brought this school into being is the
civilization in the world (Christianity and Western Education). However, there
are no much written documents available on the history of Ise-Emure Grammar
School. As there is few documented material in this work, this work will rely
on oral interviews for relevant information to be compiled. Basically
therefore, both primary and secondary sources would be relied upon as
appropriate.
As there is no
work without its challenges, in the course of this research, the researcher has
encountered problems in the area of gathering of materials. Since the school
has ceased to exist and the students merged with other schools,25
this made it difficult for the researcher to meet with students or teachers for
interview, as there are neither present students nor teachers to be
interviewed.
The major
problem faced was lack of keeping proper record by our Government, for most
information’s are not well documented. Besides, another gray area is the lack
of audience by some of the individuals to be interviewed as some information’s
are regarded as confidential or off record.
1.5 Significance of the Study
Christianity and
Western Education are two things that cannot be forgotten in the history of
these communities, as the best legacy given to a child is Education.26
This study will provide detailed information that can be used by other
researchers to know the roles Christianity and Western Education have played in
the history of Ise/Emure-Ekiti.
Besides, this
work will show how Ise-Emure Grammar School was founded, what led to its
creation and how it has impacted the community as it has given secondary
education to Ise and Emure communities, and how it has contributed immensely to
the development of the towns.
This work will
give the people of Ise and Emure Ekiti appropriate information to know more
about their history and the collaborative efforts of their forefathers. The
dissolution of this school has brought some setbacks for the people of these
towns. This research would add to the government knowledge on the development
of the academic institutions in Ekiti especially the public ones. This work
would also be significant to students of history, education, sociology,
psychology and others.
1.6 Literature
Review
“A History of Ise Emure Grammar School and its Contributions to
Ise-Ekiti” is a contemporary history that promises to bring Ise-Ekiti to
limelight. After the introduction of Western Education in Ekiti State,
Secondary education was introduced by Hon. Z.B. Olokesusi, as the children of
this community were taken out of this community to acquire secondary education.27
Though much has not been written on the history of Ise-Ekiti, but there are
written documents on the advent of Christianity and Western Education across
different levels in Nigeria.
One of the books reviewed is Ise-Ekiti:
A Cradle of Honour by Kolawole L.B.28This book contains relevant
information on the history of Ise-Ekiti. It provides information on important
historical events such as the introduction of Christianity and Western
Education. As the author rightly observed, “Education
dispels the poverty of mind and spirit; deprive a man of formal education you
will make him inevitably, the slave of those more fortunate than himself.29
Another book reviewed is History
of St. Marks Anglican Church (CON) Ise-Ekiti (1892-2012).30 This
is a book published to celebrate a landmark of 120 years of Christianity in
Iseland. This book contains invaluable information on how Christianity came to
Ise-Ekiti and how this had grown round the neighbourhood, it gives information
on how Western Education began in Ise-Ekiti up till the days of Ise-Emure
Grammar School.
Peoples and Empires of West Africa History, West
African History 1000-180031 by Stride
G.T and Ifeka C.O, is a book that gives account on how the Yorubas trace their
descent to Oduduwa. As it was in the history of Ise people, they claimed they
were original descendants of Oduduwa, this book reveals how Oduduwa’s
descendants spread all over Yorubaland. On this account, we have various
accounts from different scholars, but this work has made it clear that
genealogy, from time immemorial, is cherished and preserved in Yorubaland.
The Baptist Mission in Ekiti land, 1901-200532 contains relevant information on how
Christianity was brought into Ekiti land in 1892 by the liberated slaves from
various wars that were fought within Ekiti that led to their dispersal.
Christianity in Nigeria Part 133
by Bulus Y.G and Yusufu T.S. also reviewed how Christian Missions have
pioneered Western Education. This gives information on how educational programmes
were handled by the pioneer Christian missions through western education, which
helped in spreading formal education and literacy across Nigeria.
Growth and Development of Christianity in Africa34
by Jegede G.G. shows the effect of the encounter between Christian missionaries
and the Yoruba people; particularly in light of civilization, and how it has
benefited them in certain aspects like Western Education and technology. It
illustrated how easily Christianity was accepted in Yorubaland; how the
populace benefited greatly and Western Education spread.
Christian Missionaries and
Civilization in Southern Nigeria 1841-196035 by Kanayo N. reviews how Rev .Fr. Francis urged his missionaries to
foster civilization, especially in terms of Western Education. Africa was
proclaimed as one of the universal dens of desolation, misery and crime, but
was believed to have moral darkness because of its devastated forms of slave
trade, imposing distortions and fighting wars as a reprisal for abducting and
obtaining captives for slavery. According to this thesis, in their fervor to
foster civilisation in Nigeria through various ways, Christian Missionary
education rose to be involved in the book industry, and funding of schools.
Although, there are written documents on the incursion of Christianity
and Western Education in Nigeria, there have not been any written document on
the history of the defunct Ise-Emure Grammar school. The creation of this
school has given the children of Ise community secondary education, and this
has brought Ise-Ekiti to the limelight of sending their children and wards to
school. It is therefore on the basis of this that the researcher is driven on
this research about the contribution of Ise-Emure Grammar School to Ise-Ekiti.
Notes and References
1)
Abiola, E. Ola, A Textbook of West African History, A.D 1000 to the present day, Omolayo
Standard Press and Bookshops,1975 p. 37.
2)
Stride,
G.T. and Ifeka. C.O., Peoples and Empires
of West Africa, West Africa history 1000-1800, Evans publisher,1971, p.
288.
4)
Kanayo,
N., “Christian Missionaries and
Civilization in Southern Nigeria 1841-1960”.Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities, Department of Religion and Human relations, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Awka, pp. 176-178.
6)
Ibid.
7)
Jegede,
G.G., “Growth and Development of
Christianity in Africa: A
Retrospective/Perspective Appraisal”.
Journal of Humanities and Social Science,
Department of Religion, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Vol.3 No.1 Jan 2013, p. 211.
8)
Ibid, p.209.
9)
History
of St. Marks Anglican Church (CON) Ise-Ekiti, 1892-2012, Anniversary Committee,
2012, p.6.
10) Jemiriye Charles
1851-1941, https://dacb.org/stories/nigeria/jemiriye-Charles/. Retrieved, 29th September 2017.
11) Ibid.
Retrieved 29th
September 2017.
13) Ibid.
To download the complete project go here
No comments:
Post a Comment