The story begins with Miss E. A. Adebonojo, a Nigerian educator from Ode in Ijebu country, Yoruba land, Western Nigeria. In 1946, she appeared at Marlborough Senior Girls School, Isleworth, during a geography lesson, where she pointed to a map of Yoruba country she had drawn on the blackboard.
She was not there as an observer. She was already a trained teacher, confident in her subject and grounded in her identity.
Her training had taken place at the United Missionary College, Ibadan, one of the important teacher training institutions of its time. By then, she had already taught at a girls’ boarding school and had earned the Nigerian Teacher’s Higher Elementary Certificate. Her time in Britain formed part of a year long general training course, expanding her experience and strengthening her role as an educator.
Training, Discipline, and a Commitment to Girls’ Education
Her path reflects the discipline and structure of early teacher training in Nigeria. The system emphasized both academic preparation and moral responsibility, shaping teachers who were expected to influence not only the minds of their students but also their character.
Working within girls’ education placed her at the heart of an important movement. Schools for girls were growing, but the need remained strong. Educators like her helped strengthen these institutions by teaching, mentoring, and setting standards that students could follow.
Her work in a girls’ boarding school meant living within the rhythm of school life, guiding students beyond the classroom, and contributing to an environment where learning and discipline went hand in hand.
EXPLORE NOW: Military Era & Coups in Nigeria
From Eva Adebonojo to Eva Adelaja
In later years, she became known as Mrs Evangeline Adebayo Adelaja. Through marriage to Archdeacon Benaiah Adeleke Adelaja, who served as principal of CMS Grammar School, she remained closely connected to the educational world.
Her life continued along the same path, shaped by schools, students, and the steady work of teaching.
The Founding of Girls Secondary Grammar School
On 27 January 1964, Girls Secondary Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, was established under her leadership. The school was created to provide structured and serious secondary education for girls within the locality.
From its beginning, the school carried a clear purpose. It was not simply an institution, it was a response to the need for stronger opportunities for girls in a growing city.
The early leadership of the school included Mrs Victoria Abimbola Onafowokan, who served as the first principal and helped shape its early direction.
A School That Grew Beyond Private Ownership
The school began as a private institution but soon became part of a wider educational system. In 1969, it became grant aided by the Lagos State Government, and by 1974, it was fully taken over by the government.
This transition marked its expansion from a privately founded school into a public institution serving a broader community.
Originally known as Girls Secondary School, it was later renamed Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School in February 1987, preserving her name within the life of the school.
A Legacy That Continues in Classrooms
The impact of Eva Adelaja’s work is found in the continued existence of the school and in the lives shaped within it. For decades, students have passed through its classrooms, carrying forward the discipline, knowledge, and values that defined its foundation.
Her story reflects a life built through steady work. From teacher training in Ibadan to classroom experience abroad, and from there to founding a school in Lagos, her journey remained consistent in purpose.
She did not build her legacy through public attention. It grew through classrooms, students, and an institution that continues to stand.
EXPLORE: Nigerian Civil War
Why Her Story Still Matters
Eva Adelaja’s life connects two important moments in Nigerian education, the training of teachers in the mid twentieth century and the expansion of girls’ secondary education in Lagos.
Her work shows how education moves forward, not only through policy or government action, but through individuals who commit themselves to building and sustaining institutions.
Her legacy remains present wherever the school continues its work and wherever former students carry forward what they learned.
Author’s Note
Eva Adelaja’s story is a reminder that lasting impact is often built quietly. Through teaching, discipline, and the founding of a school, she created something that continued to grow long after her own time, a living legacy shaped through education and the opportunities it gives to others.
References
Imperial War Museums Photo Archive, Colonial Students in Great Britain, 1946.
EAGSGS Old Girls Association UK, school history.
Business Post Nigeria, Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School anniversary report.
CMS Grammar School historical records.
