About Us
Ologafe History
The Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) had established and staffed a secondary school for boys, St John’s Grammar school, but they were keen to open a school for girls, recognising the need to educate women who would play their part in the building of the nation. A Scottish woman, Mollie Stuart, had been accepted to start the school. She made it clear from the outset, however, that her task was only a temporary one while a more permanent solution was being sought. Fr. J Baron asked the Daughters of the Holy Spirit (DHS) to undertake this task. Sisters Yvonne Coutouy, Albertine, Veronica Hanrahan, and Therese Patty arrived in Apapa, Lagos on 10th October 1964 from England and travelled down to Ile Ife driven by James, Baba Gear, to a great welcome by the students. Three of the sisters were to work in the school, among whom Sr. Yvonne was appointed the school Principal, while Sr. Therese Patty, a nurse, was to work in the clinic in Ipetumodu.
The new school had a population of about one hundred students and was expanding fast. A new block of dormitories had just been completed, much of the work done by the students themselves. This meant that the boarders no longer had to trek to and from St. Francis Primary school, Modakeke, where they were originally housed. There was, however, a scarcity of teachers; this meant that the Sisters had to start work immediately, and to add to the problem, there was a general inspection in the offing. The Sisters had to teach a wide range of subjects. Sr. Yvonne was the principal and taught French and Bible studies. She also laid the foundation of Our Lady’s School choir. In the meantime, Sr. Albertine, a science teacher, was busy with geography and biology. As yet, there was no laboratory, so she requested the use of an empty dormitory, there surrounded by jars and containers of all sorts and sizes, prepared to meet the science inspector. Sister Veronica Hanrahan was kept busy teaching Mathematics, but it was her work with the boarders and sports that introduced her to life in Nigeria. Netball was the game of the day, and Sr. Veronica had arrived with a book of rules. She undertook very serious coaching of the school team. Unfortunately, other schools took a much more liberal approach to the game. This caused serious problems during a tournament. She was asked to umpire a match, but the constant blowing of the whistle angered the opposing team and their supporters, who invaded the pitch. Our Lady’s group took to their heels and ran for their transport, a big mission lorry. The girls climbed up the side and quickly sped out. Shortly after that, Mr. Omilabu was appointed as games teacher, and Our Lady’s team became a force to be reckoned with.
The school had emerged successful in the first inspection of the school (11th-15th September, 1965) by the Ministry of Education, all thanks to the assiduous preparation of both the sisters, students, and the few lay staff who were present then. Such a great achievement brought rapid growth to the school.
December came quickly, the end of the school year, with the usual activities – exams, sports. Christmas carols and plays. The audience entered into and reacted to the activities on the stage. Those who refused a room to Mary and Joseph were greeted with boos and jeers. At the birth and washing of the baby, the entire hall resounded with the beating of drums and the singing of the welcome song: A ti bi Omo Olorun!
There was an ever-present problem of water in the compound. In a nearby stream, Br. Mooney constructed a dam and installed a pump and some pipes; all that was needed was rain, and a great downpour came, but someone had stolen the pump, so the girls had to use buckets only to fetch the water.
More sisters were added gradually to the workforce in the school as the school grew rapidly. Srs. Mary Catherine, Hillary Dale, Theresa Buckley, and Johanna Treacy arrived in 1965. Sr. Theresa Buckley, another science teacher, helped to set up the science department in the newly completed science block in the school. Sr. Joan Harrison, christened “Sr. Paintbrush” by Br. Wolf Gang, WF, launched a well-equipped and high-standard Art Department. Sr. Joan Harrison played an important role in promoting young Nigerian artists, especially in Ile-Ife and Osogbo, through her contacts and support.
In 1972, Sr. Yvonne Coutouy stepped down as the school principal after eight good years of labour of love and attended to the spiritual growth of the girls instead. Her simplicity and humility did not go unnoticed by all and sundry. Srs. Ita Durnin, Johanna Treacy, and Kathleen O’Sullivan were also appointed to join the beautiful team of great educators in Our Lady’s. They arrived at a time when the school calendar was changing from January-December to September-August. Sr. Ita Durnin joined the science department and hostel supervision while Srs. Johanna Treacy and Kathleen O’Sullivan formed a team of Religious educators with Sr. Yvonne. The school was fully established by this time and flourishing, attracting students from many parts of the country.
GREAT BLOWS TO THE SCHOOL
In July 1975, Nigeria experienced a coup when General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown and General Mohamed Muritala became the Head of State. He barely served for six months when he was assassinated in another coup, which ushered in General Olusegun Obasanjo. There was a sudden turn of events in the history of Nigerian education as the new general declared all schools as state schools overnight and with immediate effect.
The immediate change in Our Lady’s was that the boarding school had to be phased out and a day school which only catered for students from Ife and Modakeke at that initial stage. The new Policy seemed to aim at creating confusion as Muslim teachers were sent to Christian schools and vice versa. This meant that the sisters’ influence in the school was greatly diminished. In February 1977, the first entrance examination organized by the new government was held, and the new intake posted to Our Lady’s exceeded the school’s capacity. This singular action would have an adverse effect on the future of the school. However, it was the Ife-Modakeke crisis that dealt the most serious blow to the survival of the great citadel of learning and accelerated the fall in its academic standard! Our Lady’s High School was gradually absorbed into the conflict. On the evening of the election of the PTA executive, the Modakekes arrived in great numbers, and the election was neither free nor fair. The Modakeke parents dominated the association and could, therefore, exercise power within the school. Life in the school turned sour, and all the Ife students and staff left the school. Little by little, the traditions of the school were eroded. Despite many threats, the sisters remained at their post, but it required great wisdom on their part to navigate the tough period. The sisters were forced to watch helplessly as the standards of such a great school began to crumble.
Yet in the midst of all the turmoil and sorrows, there were signs of new life. The fact that the sisters were neutral made them acceptable to the community, and their presence then and now had a very positive and powerful influence. Yes, the school might have experienced physical death, but the many good seeds sewn in the lives that have been touched by the sisters’ mission in Our Lady’s could never die! OLOGAFE IS A LIVING WITNESS TO THIS! HURRAY!!
The older generation of the congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, especially in England and Ireland, would never forget the wonderful presence and loving gestures of OLOGAFE during the 90th Birthdays of Srs. Veronica Hanrahan and Theresa Buckley in Dublin and England, respectively, and later, at the funeral rites of Theresa Buckley. The DHS continues their mission of love in Modakeke (even if not presently involved in Our Lady’s school), and in all the places in Nigeria and elsewhere, where they are inserted.
Who could have imagined that Our Lady’s High School could ever be restored to its past glory?? In a few years, the school has undergone serious and capital-intensive renovations, reconstructions, as well as welfare of current students through scholarship and sponsorship, by OLOGAFE. This wonderful group, touched and ignited by the love and power of the Holy Spirit, through the mission of the daughters of the Holy Spirit, continues to spread the same love received in their respective milieu and especially to the current students and staff of Our Lady’s. The school, though a public school, is emerging into the great STAR it used to be, all thanks to OLOGAFE!
A LIST OF SOME STAFF OF OUR LADY’S AT THE EARLY STAGE
- Mollie Stuart: 1964-1965: The founder of the school
- Maureen Seils: 1964-1965: Teacher and Pastoral Worker in the church
- Sr. Yvonne Coutouy: First Principal: 1964- 1972; French, Music & CRK teacher
- Sr. Theresa Buckley: Second Principal: 1972- 1978; set up science department
- Mrs. Oyedeji: Third Principal and first Nigerian Principal of Our Lady’s
- Sr. Albertine: 1964-1970: Geography and Biology teacher
- Sr. Veronica Hanrahan: 1964-1988: Mathematics and sport teacher, Hostel Mistress
- Mr. Omilabu: 1965: Games master
- Mr. Ojeniyi: Yoruba Teacher
- Miss. Luchizska: 1965: lay teacher
- Sr. Mary Catherine: 1965: CRK teacher
- Sr. Hilary Dale: 1965: CRK teacher
- Sr. Joan Harrison: 1965: 1st Art teacher, who set up the Art Department
- Sr. Ita Durnin: 1972-1981: Science Teacher and Hostel Mistress
- Sr. Johanna Treacy: 1972: CRK teacher
- Sr. Kathleen O’Sullivan: 1972: CRK teacher
- Mr. Alawode: 1972: lay head teacher
NB: Srs. Veronica Hanrahan, Ita Durnin, and Johanna Treacy are still alive as of the time of the compilation of this ‘Short History of Our Lady’s.’
Compiled by
Rev. Sr. Ita Durnin, DHS
Dublin
June 2025
Our Founders
These are Reverend Sisters from the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, on Missionary work in Nigeria.
Three living sisters tell the story of Our Lady’s High School from Oct 10, 1964, when they arrived in Lagos, Nigeria till the present, with pride to seeds they sow blossom in OLOGAFE association–a true testament, very exciting to read the story through the living legends.
Rev. Sr. Johanna Treacy, Dhs (2025: 100years old), England
Rev. Sr. Veronica Hanrahan, Dhs, Dublin, Ireland
Rev. Sr. Ita Durnin, Dublin, Ireland
