I am more than glad I finished from Queen’s College, Yaba. Many people have comments and opinions about the school, but the truth is whether or not these things are true, I know for sure that the school impacted a lot in me. Things I wouldn’t get anywhere else but in Q.C. Things I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
You become a student of Q.C; you are welcomed into a family. A community; a place where everyone shares your laughter and tears. At first you hate the school because of its many rules, but later you take the pride. You become happy to be a member of such a community.
There are only two schools in Africa; Queen’s College and others
You may say that the school lives on past glory, but the reality of it is that it has produced, is producing, and will keep producing strong, reliable, and confident women. The school has gone through lots of challenges from over population, strikes caused by government irrationality. I mean after Obasanjo’s girls had passed through the school, he called for privatization of Federal Government schools.
Another truth is that because it is so great a school doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have the black sheep. Every school no matter how good will produce the good and the bad.
It baffles me when people say that Q.C girls are bad. When people ask me what school did you finish from and I say Q.C, the person will then say ‘It means you are a bad girl. Q.C girls, we know your gist.’ Excuse, what gist? No! Queen’s College girls are not bad. The girl is bad. Society is bad. If the girl did not let the school pass through her, then it’s her cup of tea. Who are we anyway to judge bad from good? Like you are any better?
Queen’s College has become a provision for girls who aren’t born royalties (like me) to become actual royalties.
Queen’s College hopes to sustain excellence in girl child education. It has succeeded in molding prominent Nigerian women, and won’t stop.
Education in Queen’s College was and IS an all-round education. Queen’s College, like any other government school takes just 5000 Naira as actual fees but gives quality training.
We were taught to walk heads up, shoulders high. When walking, we were taught to sway. To behave in a seemly manner at all times. We were taught not to eat with our uniforms on outside school. We were taught to dress appropriately. Not to shout like Oshodi market women. We were taught respect. To sit like queens- Upright, legs crossed together to the side. We were taught to be punctual. In the harshest conditions, Queen’s College made you look for alternatives for survival- Like during water scarcity. We learnt different languages and cultures- acculturation, cultural night. Like any other government school, we learnt how to relate with people from different social backgrounds. We were taught to pray in everything- Prep prayer, school prayer, general prayer before food, at the mosque- for Muslims, in church- Catholics, and Protestants. Queen’s College girls are the best marchers. We were taught not to be shy. Taught to dance, sing- Lara George is one of them. The school encourages social activities. The community knows very well how to do a grand celebration- 80th anniversary (anticipating when the school will be 100!). We were taught cleanliness. We had to do morning duties before classes. God bless you, you do not do it mehn Mrs. Obi will get you. The truth is the teachers loved us. We cared about other things and did not actually see that love.
The disabled weren’t/ aren’t left out. In being our brother’s keeper, we were taught to help them. I did not have any ‘special student’ in my class though.
Imagine. Mrs Ogunnaike wanted us to pass mathematics. She knew that if we did not pass it, there was no way we could enter university. So, she organized a 3-day maths seminar that was honestly boring, but for our own good. We had teachers repeating words so that we would appreciate one day- “Solve one math a day, and get an A”- Mrs. Ebo. The staff of Queen’s College could organize seminars die -_-. They invited successful people to talk to us. To give us lessons we couldn’t get for free outside, free of charge. Today, I know the importance of Cisco. We had to pay JUST 2000 naira for Cisco training (this was probably done in other government schools) but as usual, most of us did not take it seriously.
The best thing we were taught was how to be sisters and friends forever.
So even on past glory, it still tries to train girls in the proper way. We were the ones who chose not to learn because we taught they were punishing us. Society, home training, lack of priority had made girls do what they weren’t meant to do. Not the school.
It amazes me how the tradition never changes. The things that the class of ’97 did, class of ’11 found themselves doing. The slangs- school life in general. The school motto; Pass on the Torch is so befitting, no one can opt for an adjustment.
So whether or not Queen’s College is living on past glory, I have noticed that truly it isn’t a competition which school you attended. As long as it had impacted something tangible inside you. You are fit to walk and talk anywhere, in any society, with any social background. Just as Q.C taught me.
Pass On the Torch!
Oh and a very big thank you to my models, whose permission I did not seek before posting these pictures 😀 I love you all to pieces!!!
Joanna Bome Kure 
Leave a reply to Landon Penderel Cancel reply