Idia College History

Idia College is an all-girls secondary school that was founded in January 1973 by the then Military Governor of the Mid-Western State, Brigadier (Dr.) S.O. Ogbemudia when the Government took over control of schools in the state from the direct control of Ministry of Education to a Board of Education.

The school was named after Queen Idia, the mother of Oba Esigie who ruled the Benin Kingdom from 1504 to 1550. She played a very significant role in the rise and reign of her son. Queen Idia is described as a great warrior who fought relentlessly before and during her son’s reign. The famous Idia head mask also known as the Festac Head, is the emblem of the school.

Idia college campus is located along Urubi Street by Iyaro, in the Oredo Government Area of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

The school Motto is Honesty, Initiative and Determination. The school colors are purple and pink.

The Idia college campus was previously occupied by Edo College, an all-boys secondary school. When Idia college was founded in 1973, the Edo College campus was moved from from the Idia College premises to its present site along Murtala Mohammed Way, Benin City. Edo state.

Idia College was initially created as a combined Boarding and Day School. Students had the option to be housed as a Boarding Student or attend daily from home as a Day Student.  The school had a 7-year curriculum, a 5-year Ordinary (O) Level from Classes 1-5, and an optional 2-year Advanced (A) Levels, comprising of Lower Six and Upper Six.

From classes 1-5 the students were prepped for the “O” levels examination. This exam was later changed to the West African (WAEC) Exam. This was a uniform exam that was standard across all the secondary schools in West Africa. After WAEC,  students who passed with at least 5 credits (subjects) where eligible to be admitted to a Nigerian University, if they also passed the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams and achieved the required points for their course of study.

Students who had completed the “O” levels had the option to continue the 2-year “A” Levels program. This was an advanced prep for University. Students who completed and passed the “A” levels or Higher School Certificate (HSC) could be admitted directly into the 2-year Level at a Nigerian University.

The boarding school had 7 dormitories and cubicles.  The dormitories housed the “O” level students, while the cubicles housed the “A” level students. The dormitories were named after notable Nigerian Queens and women.

• Amina (Red) House,
• Moremi (Blue) House,
• Adesuwa (Green) House,
• Iden (Brown) House,
• Emotan (Navy Blue) House,
• Omu (Yellow) House
• Iyoba (Pink) House

In 1981 the ‘A’ level program was eliminated when the Nigerian secondary school system was switched from, the 5-year “O” school program to a 6-year Program comprising of a 3-year Junior Secondary level and 3-year Senior Secondary.