CMS Grammar School, Lagos, secondary school in Bariga-Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
CMS Grammar School is a secondary school located in Bariga, Lagos, and is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The campus includes modern classrooms, science laboratories, a library, sports facilities for football and athletics, and spaces for student clubs focused on debating, music, drama, chess, and robotics.
The school was founded in 1859 by the Church Missionary Society to teach boys Western subjects such as English, Latin, and mathematics. It grew under the leadership of Reverend Babington Macaulay and became a center for training Nigeria's early leaders and professionals.
The school's name reflects its origins with the Church Missionary Society, and Christian values remain central to how the school operates today. Walking through the campus, you notice how discipline, respect, and moral education shape the daily interactions between students and staff.
The school is located in Bariga, a busy neighborhood of Lagos with vendors and shops scattered throughout the area. Plan your visit with the school's schedule in mind, as students and staff move through the neighborhood in large numbers during peak hours.
The school's motto is 'Nisi Dominus Frustra,' meaning 'Without God we labor in vain,' reflecting its founding principles from nearly 170 years ago. Herbert Macaulay, a leader in Nigeria's independence struggle, and Justice Taslim Elias, the first Nigerian to serve on the International Court of Justice, are among its notable alumni.
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