Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, Ogun State, may not be famous but it occupies a place of pride in Africa’s educational development as it regarded as the first truly comprehensive high school of its kind in the continent.

As the school located in Nigeria’s South-West and popularly called Compro turns half a century, the alumni, students and staff have rolled out the drums preparatory for a celebration scheduled to start from next week Wednesday, February 13.

“The celebration, which will take place in the expansive and well laid out compound at Ayetoro, will feature various interesting educational, cultural andsporting events. The grand finale will be a gala night in Abeokuta, the state capital, where distinguished alumni will be honoured with deserving awards of excellence for their outstanding and immense contribution to the development of the school and for championing the aspirations of the alumni association,” said Otunba ’Deji Osibogun, National President of the school’s alumni association.

He disclosed that Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, “and other distinguished members of his cabinet, are expected to grace the occasion,” adding that “the alumni will also use the opportunity to intensify and reiterate their efforts at returning Compro to its past glory through their ‘Take Back the School’ campaign.”

News Express reports that Compro was established in 1963 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ford Foundation and the defunct Western State Government, through the ideas of the founding fathers – Chief B. Somade and Dr. Adam Skapski.

“It was conceived as a special school; a model which would be in a class of its own, different from the conventional British grammar schools,” said Osibogun. “It was set up to be a school where students express their individual aptitude and potential.”

•Photo: Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun is one of the dignitaries expected at the event.