For four decades between the sixties and nineties, African Church Grammar School (Afrograms), Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta, was not just a school—it was a marketplace of values, where discipline, character, and excellence were “sold” daily to every student who failed to cross its lawns but walked through the pathways to the early morning devotion field having respected the one minute silence bell. With unforgettable teachers like the Late Monsieur Ogunwemimo and the school Principal, Chief Thomas Duro Oluyemi, we learned lifelong lessons that shaped our academic success and professional achievements.
What we gained at Afrograms remains priceless.
History will not erase the path and contributions of African Church Grammar School (AFROGRAMS), Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta, a school renowned for its disciplined environment and high academic standards, for the roles it played in the lives of its passers-by. Going by the school’s profile, it is a disciplined co-educational secondary school, famous and noted for its high standards.
Founded in 1955 with a vision of “high-quality secondary education grounded in Christian ethics, discipline, and community service Afro-grams quickly earned a reputation for academic discipline and structured learning. By 1970, each set of class consisted of 3 arms of about 30 students in a class. Education researchers agree that the school possessed a well-disciplined school climate that is conducive for sound academic performance, and this earned the school a reputation for “academic discipline and structured learning, which stood as a bastion of discipline, academic excellence, and uncompromising values. To many of us who passed through its gates during those years, the school was more than an institution—it was a supermarket of life lessons, values, and wisdom
Each time we walked through the aisles of this metaphorical supermarket, which was not a grand building or air-conditioned store, we often picked up commodities of character such as: Integrity – Honesty– Discipline – Respect – Courage – Gratitude and Responsibility – all of these have today shaped the rest of our lives.
The supermarket was in the classrooms where chalk met blackboard; the assembly ground where we stood in lines to learn punctuality and on the school field where we cut grass for wrongdoings, in the words and presence of our teachers who gave not just lessons and discipline but life-long values — all these supermarket products and events have today remain a manifest in our conducts.
The loud ring of the school bell usually reminds us that the supermarket attendants are always on the watch and that “Major,” and other market watchmen are always on duty. That was the Afrograms supermarket—unseen, unspoken, but fully alive in our everyday experiences. And today, we realize it stocked the most important things: character, courage, resilience, and purpose.
In short, Afro-grams was a “supermarket” of character-building, a place where every rule and routine taught us tough lessons, yet as students, we absorbed core values of honesty, respect, hard work, and faith. These core values were not optional – they were part of our daily regimen. For example, we learned to stand in orderly lines in our white and yellow school uniform, address elders politely, and complete even the most tedious tasks on time. Such discipline bred perseverance and teamwork.
Afrograms were different. We knew it. We felt it. We knew at that time that this supermarket only existed at AFROGRAMS, and we often wondered why contemporary schools were not ringing the same bell or selling the same commodities.
But today, many decades later, the “products” we purchased are still invaluable in our lives. Thanks to those teachers—whose names memory may not allow us to recall—who spent their valuable time and sold us everlasting commodities, which today are no longer found in many school supermarkets.
Every teacher at Afro-grams had a distinct style wrapped in firm discipline that ensured lessons stuck to our memories like gum to a shoe. In those days, teachers were “demi-gods,” molding both knowledge and character. Take for instance, Monsieur Ogunwemimo, our no-nonsense French teacher. His drilling methods were effective, unforgettable, and enduring. Every accent, conjugation, and pronunciation was stamped into our brains, not just by repetition, but through a structured style that demanded attention and respect. One couldn’t forget his classes—even if you tried.
Then there was Principal Duro Oluyemi—a man of authority, vision, and principle. He did not hesitate to wield the cane when it was needed, but more often than not, he handed the culprit over to Major, the unforgettable disciplinarian who never used the cane. Major’s style was military—offenders were marched to the school field to cut grass or clean drains. His methods taught obedience, orderliness, and reflection. We learned that consequences weren’t always about pain—they were about correction.
Looking back, we had no idea what “Emotional Quotient” meant. The term didn’t exist in our vocabulary. But in practice, Afrograms was EQ in motion. We were taught patience by enduring punishment, empathy through shared responsibilities, and resilience through the rigors of academic and moral demands. Every rule, every assignment, every punishment shaped our ability to handle future challenges—in academics, in relationships, and the workplace.
The results are all around us. Today, Afrograms alumni excel in every professional field—law, medicine, engineering, business, public service, and more. Our foundations were built not only on knowledge but on character. We are who we are because of what we bought from that great supermarket called Afrograms.
We give thanks to those teachers—some names still vivid, others lost in time—who gave of themselves, their wisdom, and their strength. They didn’t just teach subjects; they modeled life. They didn’t just write on blackboards; they wrote on our hearts.
And for that, we remain forever grateful.
Bola Badmus is a passionate writer and communicator with a strong focus on business development, cooperative movements, and community empowerment. Bola blends insight, clarity, and authenticity in every piece. Bola’s work seeks to inspire dialogue and promote impactful action.
