Government College Lagos was founded on the 23rd of September 1974 by the then Military government of Brig. General Mobolaji Johnson with the late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya as the Commissioner in charge of Education in the State.

The college which was founded along with four others viz; Government Colleges Ikorodu, Ketu , Epe, Agege and Ojo to represent the then five divisions of Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Badagry and Epe of Lagos State.

On resumption, the school started with xxxxx number of students who were mainly boys resplendent in their white uniforms with brown socks, belts and leather sandals, it was this set of students who laid the foundation of what was to become the hallmark of privileged education up until the 80’s when the then administration of Alhaji Lateef Jakande introduced not only the free education policy but multi school system including a daily shift system of morning and afternoon sessions.

Government college was sited on a vast parcel of land along the industrial estate of Surulere which by itself is an extension of the Lagos Island commercial center. The School as was told at inception was created to compete with the unity schools of the Federal Government known as the Federal Government Colleges as well as the prestigious Kings College Lagos.

The college remain a pride of the high and middle income earners within and outside the civil service who struggled competitively to enroll their children such that we had families whom all their boys attended GCL.

Our school had a good legacy and with pride, we flew the flag.

Lyrics of the song that the pioneer students sang on the opening day of GCL in 1974.