Baptist High School Benin Alumni in Diaspora (BHSBAID) is an organization that seeks to promote personal and professional development of members and provide.
Infrastructural development for Baptist High School, Benin City, Nigeria. Drawing strength from our collective talents, skills, resources, and diversity from around the world, we seek to establish a thriving, engaged and visible BHSBAID community worldwide, while providing a platform for engaging in activities designed to sustain personal, professional, and infrastructural development for our alma mater.
The History of BHS Benin City
BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL BENIN CITY – OUR STORY
Baptist high school Benin was founded as a school to cater for the needs of student whose schools were occupied by Biafran soldiers in 1967 during the Nigeria civil war. These students were hurriedly sent home by their school authorities, in the lbo speaking area of the then mid-west region, in most cases without having the opportunity of travelling home with their books, clothes and mattresses.
In the state of despondency and the hopelessness of the displaced students, the then military administrator of Mid-West region Col. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia,
caused an announcement to be made by Chief E.K. Clerk who was then Education Commissioner, for the affected students to report in Baptist High School. Following that announcement, the affected student reported at the defunct Baptist Teachers Training Collage, along West Circular Road, Benin City on September 1967, which was during the third term of the school calendar year. The school had no co-educational in order to accommodate boys and girl whose schools were occupied by the Biafran troops.
The students picked up their lives in 1967 were spread across classes 1-3 at inception. Baptist High School, Benin looked like a house that was hurriedly built. Foundation laid, building rushed to roofing level, cemented and completed at once!
In real life, situation, building a house in this manner would lead to defects. The defects manifested in the attendant, issues of lack of adequate accommodation for boarding houses and classrooms. There was also the issue of inadequate staff complement for teaching and administrative duties. As if these issues were not daunting enough, the principal and teachers had to work assiduously to get the science laboratories approved for the science student, who were to write their final examination the following year.
Having lost considerable months pf study before location to Baptist High School, Benin, student had to source for materials and work extra time with their teachers to be able to write their West African School Certificate examination even at the same time with students whose schools were not affected by the war. The student took their destiny in their hands and did not lament or moan. They believed in themselves, worked hard as directed and moved on. It could be recalled that the art students who majored in History and Government had their subjects taught at night by the Principal, who was the subject teacher. Perhaps it is instructive to mention that as the student who become victims of the Biafran war they picked up their lives in 1967 and thereafter marched on to rise from ashes to beauty. Those who today are still sitting down where they were fifty years ago and refusing to let go, must learn to let go as the students of this great school did and arrive at where they are today.
The school taught us how to be competitive on all front, using the Bible as the basis for all our actions. Our first principal the late S.O Pela reminded us that we needed to apply Bible passages to succeed not only in school but also outside school. Our code of conduct was predicated on the following
Biblical passages.
- Proverbs 10:5 (KJV) He that gathereth in summers is a wise son, but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame
- Proverbs 6:6 (KJV) Go to the ant you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise
- Proverbs 30:25 (KJV) The ants are a people not strong yet they prepare their meal in the summer
- Remember the son of whom you are. The implication of these Bible passages to us meant that what could be done in the morning should not be delayed till evening. We were also reminded that we should remember our roots as our people cherished their family names. By necessary implication we were expected to bring honor to our school parent and by extension our region as it were then.
Students were trained to be their brothers and sisters’ keepers. This was made possible by the choosing of valentines every 1st – 14th February every year, during the valentine’s season. It was possible for a student to have chosen not less than 25 persons either as a school val class val, house val room val and hall val before the conclusion of their studies. These persons have continued to have contact with each other, even with their friends who have now formed circle of friends after leaving school. This has set Baptist high school apart from other schools. This is the basis of our friendship and close knits, we have even to date. When birthdays were celebrated, gifts were given to celebrants by friends. It was a time to enjoy double piece of meat during launch time and birthday songs were rendered by the whole school while the celebrant stood up in the dining hall. On the moral or disciplinary sides, students were not spared when they broke the school’s rules. Assizes were normally conducted by the Principal with affected students punished publicly to server as deterrent to others. No one wanted to be publicly disgraced and served as a caution to students. Added to that, after about 4 periods or so of study on daily basis, student went to the school’s chapel to listen to the word of God for spiritual development and guidance.
Baptist High School produced great athletes of which the late Paul Osagbemwarrhue Omoregie of blessed memory was part of the 1988 Seoul Olympics footballer who represented Nigeria. Then, sporting activities took place mid-week to divert the student minds away from the vices now pervading our schools. You will no doubt agree with me having regard to our history, where we are coming from, where we are now, that we have cause to God Almighty for these past years. We also remember the souls of other student who have passed on that the lord should grant them eternal rest.
By its nurturing of students, the school has been able to contribute its quota to the quality of citizens of the state. The school has produced numerous professional both home and abroad in Medicine, Academia, journalism, engineering and Sciences, Art and social services.