# Lagos Baptist Academy

Lagos Baptist Academy is a Baptist secondary school located in Obanikoro, Lagos, Nigeria. The school is regarded as a sister school to Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls' Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos and Baptist Girls' Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos. It is affiliated with the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

## History

The school was established in 1855 by the American Baptist Missionaries and can be traced to the establishment of First Baptist Church Mission in Lagos by an African-American missionary.
The mission was given a parcel of land by Oba Dosunmu and structures were soon built on the land. Educational activities started after the completion of the buildings and the expansion of missionary activities led to a gradual growth in the school's population. By 1886, the school had about 129 boys and 95 girls in the primary section and about 14 boys and 3 girls in the secondary section. Prior to 1926, American pastors of the Baptist Mission acted as principals for the school but in January 1926, Eyo Ita and E.E. Esua joined the staff and in August of the year, Ita became the headmaster.
The initial venue of the school was on Broad Street, Lagos and later moved to a new location along the Ikorodu Road, Lagos. The Primary School section remained at that location but was renamed.
Rather than close the Primary School on Broad Street, Lagos; only the secondary school moved to Ikorodu Road in Obanikoro. The Primary school remained at Broad Street and was renamed W.J David (William Joshua David) Memorial Baptist Primary School after one of the American baptist missionaries that started the baptist Mission in Nigeria. The Primary school remained at the Broad Street location until the late nineteen eighties when its building was pulled down in anticipation of expanding the First Baptist Church (adjacent to the school) to include a high-rise business building. All the students at W.J David were transferred to other Baptist primary schools in the area.

## School motto

Deo duce which means God is my leader.

## School slogan

Up Baptacads

## Baptacads Mobilization Song

We are Baptist Academy boys and We're proud of our dear Alma Mater Where sweet fellowship we all enjoy Where the spirit of Christ is taught Where our captain, God, lead us along We"ll be true to our Alma Mater always.
Up school Up Baptacads

## List of principals

Some of the principals of the school include
* Prof. S.M Harden. 1855
* Miss Lucile Reagan. 1924 – 1937
* Dr. A. Scott Patterson. 1937 – 1940
* Rev. B.T Griffin 1941 – 1945
* Rev. John Mills 1946 – 1951
* Rev. G.Lane 1951 – 1953
* Rev. Dr. J.A. Adegbite(first Nigerian principal of the school) 1954 – 1975
* Mr. Abayomi Ladipo 1976 – 1977(Old boy)
* Mr. Micheal O. Alake 1977 – 1979
* Rev. V.S Adenugba. 1979 – 1981
* Rev. S.O.B. Oyawoye 1981 – 1982
* Mr. Olakunle 1982 – 1983
* Mr. Aiyelokun 1983 – 1991
* Mr. C.O. Oduleye 1992 – 1994
* Mr. A.C. Adesanya. 1994 – 1999
* Mrs. F.O. Ojo. 1999 – 2003
* Mr. H.O. Alamu 2003 – 2009
* Rev. Mrs. B.A Ladoba 2009 – 2018
* Dcn. Gbenga Abodunrin 2018 until date

## Notable alumni

* Mobolaji Bank Anthony
* K.O. Mbadiwe
* Ekundayo Opaleye, former military governor of Ondo State
* Molade Okoya-Thomas
* Olabisi Onabanjo, first civilian Governor of Ogun State
* Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh
* Horatio Agedah, Nigerian lawyer and journalist
* Ahmed Yerima, notable playwright
* Wahab Dosunmu, politician and Senator
* Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Nigerian lawyer, human rights activist, member of 7th National Assembly
* John Momoh, CEO of Channels TV
* Funsho Adeolu, award-winning actor
* Abisogun Leigh, former vice chancellor of Lagos State University
* Samuel Akintola, former teacher at Baptist Academy
* Femi Kuti, musician
* Ademola Adebise, Managing Director/CEO Wema Bank
* Mike Ozekhome, human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria