AN OVERVIEW OF METHODIST COLLEGE, UZUAKOLI CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN EASTERN NIGERIA: A KEYNOTE ADDRESS, DECEMBER 9, 2023.

BY

Sir Professor Mba Ogbureke Okoronkwo, DOB, OON

Fmr Deputy Vice –Chancellor, (Academic), National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja

 

1. Protocol
2. Appreciation

I consider it a great honour and privilege to be invited to give the Keynote address at this auspicious occasion of 2023 Homecoming and Centenary celebration of my Alma mater, the prestigious and great Methodist College, Uzuakoli, exactly fifty two (52) years after a successful completion of my secondary school education and obtaining my ‘meal ticket’ (the West African Examination School Certificate). I, therefore, accept the invitation with profound gratitude and deep appreciation to the organizers of this once in a lifetime event.

Let me also acknowledge the work done by UMCOBA National Executive, members of the various committees and sub-committees and those of us at the background providing moral, financial and critical support. Without their efforts, sacrifice, commitment and their insight into this topic, I should say today’s programme could not have taken place. Similarly, I must acknowledge the presence and contributions of my seniors, my dear classmates (1964-1970/71 set) and my numerous juniors. I salute you all and thank God for keeping us alive and well to witness this momentous occasion.

It is pertinent at this juncture, to also remember our classmates, friends and contemporaries who were not so fortunate to be alive to witness today’s event, we say: “May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace with the Lord, Amen”.

It was the late Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, who once said,

“ … for what is the measure of our humanity? How firm is our love and commitment to our fellow man, our neighbour?

The life of a man is sacred; his death, even more so,

Every civilization will ultimately be measured by the discharge of its debt of decorum to the departed;

For in death is man at his most vulnerable state;

Its noblest parting gift remains nothing other than Dignity…”

 

3. Background

• The Role of the Methodist Missionaries in the Founding of Methodist College, Uzuakoli

The establishment of schools in Africa during colonial days was the primary responsibility of the Christian missions because; the missions saw schools as the main avenues for conversion. They used it as diplomatic means and strategy to facilitate their interactions with the indigenous people and eventually expand the frontiers of the missionary enterprise. At the onset, only primary education received a boost from the Christian missionaries because it was used as avenue to woo the children into Christianity. But with time, the missionaries realized that primary school education was no longer adequate for their needs. This led to Christian missions, including the Methodist Church, establishing secondary schools. Secondary education is the midway between primary and tertiary schools.  It is the budding ground for future professionals as well as the foundation for discovery and classification of the specific fields of professions. Other reasons for missions establishing secondary schools then were because secondary schools:

• Provide all primary school leavers with the opportunity for education of higher level irrespective of sex, social status, religious or ethnic background;
• Offer diversified curriculum to cater for differences in talents, opportunities, and future roles;
• Provide trained manpower in applied science, technology and commerce at sub-professional grades;
• Develop and promote local languages, arts and culture in the context of the world’s cultural heritage;
• Inspire students with a desire for self improvement and achievement of excellence;
• Raise a generation of people who can think for themselves, respect the views and feelings of others, respect the dignity of labour and live as good citizens;
• Provide technical knowledge and vocational skills, necessary for agricultural, industrial, commercial, and economic development.

 3(b)The Establishment of Methodist College, Uzuakoli in 1923.

The establishment of our great alma mater was credited to a group of missionaries of the Primitive Methodist Church of Great Britain, who founded Methodist College as Uzuakoli Institute (UI) on 8^th January, 1923. The institution in (1938), was renamed Methodist College and since then, the College, had come under different nomenclature as follows:

• 1923, Ibo Boys Institute;
• 1938, Methodist College;
• 1970, Boys High School; and
• 1976, Methodist College

The school was accorded government recognition on 7^th September, 1923 and the number on roll stood at 60, but had expanded by 1929, with the following four departments:

• A Primary School, (1923);
• Secondary School, (September,1925);
• Infant School, (1925); and
• Teacher Training School, (1926).

At various times also, from inception to 1959, British missionaries administered the college.  According to the records, the founding Principal of the College was Rev.  J. B. Hardy, M.A. (Oxon) 1922-1923; and was succeeded by the ex-soldier, disciplinarian Principal, Rev. H. L. O.Williams (1924-1939). Rev.Williams nurtured the College along the right moral, disciplinary and academic directions, thereby immortalizing his name (Onokala, 1991).   Other Principals were:

Rev. R.S.D. Williams           1939;

Rev. W.J. Wood                   1939- 1953;

Rev. A. B. McGarr                1953- 1954;

Rev. R. Kirkpatrick                1954;

Rev. W.H. Spray                    1954- 1958;

Rev. E. B. Hall                       1961- 1963.

Rev. E. B.  Hall,  arrived in 1959 to be the last European missionary to serve as Principal of the College and in his final period of service in 1963, Rev. E. B. Hall stepped down to be deputy principal and served under Mr. Udo Udo Okure (OBE), the first Nigerian-born principal of the College in 1963.

In recent history, the following men have similarly served as Principal: Mr. Obiyo Onokala, Mr. Anyaoha, Mr. Howells C. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Nwauche, Mr. Godwin O. O. Uzoechi, Mr. C. N. Ukanwoke, Dr. Chukwumereije and Chief Sir Mike Emezue (D O B), who became the Principal of the College from 2008-2012.

PRINCIPALS OF THE ELEMENTRY TEACHER TRAINING CENTRE (ETTC)

Rev. A. B. McGarr                        1947- 1952;

1. Achinivu           1954- 1959;
2. O. Opoko           1959 – 1964.

PRINCIPALS OF THE HIGHER ELEMENTRY TEACHER TRAING CENTRE (HETTC).

Rev. W. J. Wood                                  1947;

1. S. Halse 1953;

W.H. Spray                                               1954;

1. S Halse 1956;
2. O. Omeoga 1958;
3. A. ClutterBuck 1961.

In admissions, the College extended its spheres of influence to the various tribes and languages in the then Eastern Nigeria and beyond. These included: Igbo, Effik, Ibibio, Opobo, Rivers, Yoruba, Idoma, Sudan, Fernando Po, etc. During the Second World War, some students and staff of Government College, Umuahia were absorbed into the Methodist College, Uzuakoli when Government College, Umuahia became a concentration camp for the whites (Maduka, 2023).

3.(c). Location of the College.

Methodist College, Uzuakoli is located on a large expanse of land in Umuachama Amamba village, Uzuakoli district in Abia State. The land had been branded an ‘evil forest’ (Ohia ojoo), when it was given to the Methodist missionaries. The Evil Forest is an ominous place where shameful people go to die. The Igbo believe it is haunted evil spirits and everything that lives there is cursed. The Igbo think that the Whiteman’s church will be cursed and destroyed in the Evil Forest. Historically, the elders give the missionaries a section of land in the Evil Forest because they believe no sane man would live in it. It is their way of dissuading the missionaries from moving into the village. However, the missionaries gratefully accepted the land, to the shock of the elders instead of rejecting or abandoning the land for fear of attacks by ‘evil spirits’. The Methodist mission has developed it as a citadel of leaning that has earned world acclaim.

On my arrival in the College in January 1964, some features caught my fancy and admiration inside the school premises. These were the well fortified Castle which housed Aggrey House, Williams House, Carver House and Hardy House, I was posted to Achinivu House and Spray House was our immediate neighbor; the quadrangle with a tuft of green space in front; the Chapel which was such an edifice and looked so big to me then (as a Fox); the well equipped laboratories-Physics, Chemistry and Biology; the beautiful football pitch where we used to play soccer; Ilo staff quarters and Obioha Extension; then the streams. The famous AZI stream, which is the headwater of a spring arising from the top of a hill along the ‘slave route’ to Ozuitem,  Azi water, always sparkling and cool. We used to leave the hostel as early as 4.30am to fetch water from Azi. Any time later, there would be such a long queue that will make you miss breakfast. Fetching water from Azi stream was also used as punishment for offenders in the College. A ‘wicked’ Prefect can ask an erring student to fetch ten (10) buckets of Azi water at a time when other students would be enjoying their recreation or participating in one sporting activity or another. There is another mystery stream, ‘hot and cold stream’. These are two streams that are joined together at a confluence point. One is perpetually hot while the other is always cold, hence the name!

3(d) Mission of the College.

The Mission of the College is to rekindle through sound and balanced education, the God-given potentials, talents in our children while imparting in them moral rectitude, academic excellence, accountability, self respect, self-confidence, respect for God and man and restoring the whole human dignity.

3 (e)     Motto of the College

The College motto is: “You First, I Second”.  This easily explains the selfless, accommodating and respectful mien of the average Uzuakoli Old Boy.

The College anthem was selected from Methodist Hymn Book No. 64 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation”.

 

4. METHODIST COLLEGE, UZUAKOLI CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED (100) YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN EASTERN NIGERIA.

Without any doubt, the educational message of the Methodist mission was savory and inviting to many easterners who saw European technological development as the handiwork of secondary education and were willing to make the necessary sacrifice to reap the rewards of European power. Also, secondary education held great promise for the easterners as well. For example, with the consolidation of church control, enormous opportunities were created for well-trained Easterners who were needed to perform minor administrative duties. There was need for teachers, catechists, clerks, accountants, buyers and sales representatives by the missions, schools, government services and the other emerging businesses. As a result, secondary education was seen by many in eastern Nigeria not only as an exciting opportunity, but also as an investment. Consequently, schooling became an integral part of the social fabric of some communities in Eastern Nigeria. In 1965, Foster reported that, the secondary schools, by increasingly functioning as a gateway to new occupations, represented one of the few alternate avenues of social mobility operating independently of traditional modes of status acquisition.

Methodist College, Uzuakoli is marking its 100 years of existence this year, 2023, as a year of special programming, exhibits and activities that celebrate the college’s worldwide impact on teaching and learning; and creating opportunities to advance new ideas that would improve secondary education especially, in Eastern Nigeria in years to come. Education is a huge enterprise that touches lives.

What we are celebrating in actual fact is a rich history of ideas, discoveries and human development; this has shaped secondary education. Our centenary celebration gives us an opportunity to shine a light on this extraordinary past 100 years of the College, while also considering what the future holds. Furthermore, the centennial is a celebration of the power of education, and the role of Methodist College Uzuakoli in advancing learning and teaching in a unique secondary school in Eastern Nigeria.

Moreover, the centenary celebration is also a time to reflect on the great challenges that have, and will continue to confront secondary education in Nigeria.  We hope throughout this period to engage a variety of voices in understanding the complexities of secondary education.  Among these complexities are: inadequate fund; inadequate and decaying infrastructural facilities; inadequate and low quality teachers; negative attitudes of some teachers; indiscipline of students; examination malpractices; low quality students-intake and poor academic performance of students; wastage; and inappropriate curriculum. Our conversations will, no doubt, point to new ideas and actions for inaugurating the next century of work.

As a Methodist institution, led over the years and almost exclusively by Methodist Principals, the students were deliberately and intensively exposed to Christian virtues, ultimately shaping their character and largely defining their conduct in both public and private spheres. (Anyaele, 2023). From 1926, Methodist College began offering an all-round secondary education on lines considered most helpful to the students in their fatherland. The various departments established were indicative of how thorough the education provided by the Methodist Mission was. The College has maintained high standards to date. At its prime, Methodist College offered opportunities for students to grow culturally, socially, in sports and most notably in academics. The curriculum was also adjudged to be comprehensive as it included a variety of vocational subjects like woodwork, carving, molding, painting, rural science, etc. With time, expansion continued to take place.

Students had opportunities to participate and lead in the Arts and Debating Society, Science Club, Scripture Union, Society for the Promotion of Igbo Language and Culture, Horticultural Society, Theatre and Dramatic Society, Press Club etc. These programmes and activities attracted students from all over the eastern region of Nigeria and beyond.  At the College, the games taught included hockey, cricket, Table tennis, and football. Some of the accolades bestowed on our Collage included winner of the Eastern Nigeria Regional Phensic Soccer Cup in 1964, the West African Table Tennis Championship won by the College in 1965, Imo State Debating Championship 1978, National Quiz Championship 1980, and many others.

The College provided leadership training for students. In this regard, Abernethy, (1969), reported that Rev. H. L. O. Williams developed a students’ government that combined traditional and English patterns of government. The students lived in a large rectangular compound divided into four houses,(the Castle), each headed by a “Captain,” and the equivalent of the Senior Prefect was known as a “Chief.” The Chief, the Captains, and a few boys elected by the students themselves formed a “Cabinet,” which held court sessions fortnightly to try those charged with offenses. Trustworthy students called “Police Constables” served as prosecutors in these cases. In the College also, history was taught in order to stir interest in national affairs. Civics provided interest in government and created self-awareness.

There was a scout troop with 30 on roll in 1926, officially recognized by the government and registered in Lagos. Moral and character training were enhanced in the school by membership in the Boys Scout.  Accordingly, the Boys Scout emphasized character-building, organization, cleanliness, truthfulness, readiness to help others as well as hardiness. Furthermore, team work, esprit de corps, moral training, inter-group competition and cooperation among students were enhanced by games, sports and athletics in the school.   This was how in 1951, in the Eastern Nigerian House of Assembly elections, Uzuakoli Old Students had ten members elected to the State House of Assembly. Other Uzuakoli ex-students elected included a premier, a minister of education and four members in the Federal House of Assembly in Lagos.

Furthermore, Anyaele, (2023), noted that Methodist College, Uzuakoli groomed and prepared young minds then, for good governance and professionalism in state, national and international affairs; prominent among whom are:

1. Late Dr M.I. Okpara, first premier of then Eastern Nigeria;
2. Late Ambassador Dr Edwin Ogbu, former Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Nations, who hailed from Benue State;
3. Late Justice Udo Udoma, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and former Chief Justice of Uganda;
4. Late Dr Clement Isong, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, and past Executive Governor of Cross River State;
5. Late Prof O. K. Ogan, first Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and former Chairman Federal Public Service Commission of Nigeria;
6. Justice Augustine Nnamani, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria;
7. Rev. Dr. Egemba Igwe, first Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church Nigeria;
8. Late Chief Justus Jokotomi Paul, one of Nigeria’s foremost chemists and founder of the renowned Paul & Paul Chemist in Lagos;
9. His Royal Highness, Alabo Reginald Abbey-Hart, former MD/CEO, African Continental Bank Plc and former Vice Chairman, Nigeria Stock Exchange;
10. Sir Chief Edet Amana, Chairman Amana Consulting, and former Presidential Candidate;
11. Sir Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, former Chairman NDDC;
12. Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzor Raphael Opoko, His Grace, Archbishop of Umuahia and former Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church Nigeria;
13. Sir Chief Ukeje Eloagu, former Federal Director
14. Sir Ogala Osoka, former MD/CEO, Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation and NICON Insurance Plc.

Many went on to provide leadership in corporate and public organizations including renowned Medical Doctors, Lawyers, some in Nollywood project, and National and International Sportsmen.

 

5. Interruption of Academic Activities by the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970.

Academic activities became suspended in 1967 due to the Nigerian civil war. The Biafran army tapped into the scientific prowess of the College as the cradle of Education in Igboland. This led to the fabrication of the Biafra petroleum Refinery, the molding of aircraft parts, and the building of armored tanks, Ogbunigwe, and the refining of salt. All was made possible due to a collection of highly knowledgeable Students of the institution as well as others working in the well-equipped laboratories of Methodist College. However, the Civil War of 1967-1970 completely destroyed and ruined the College. At the end of the war, it came under Government control, When hostilities ceased, the college like all other faith-based schools, was then taken over by the government of East Central State, only to be handed over back to Methodist Church, Nigeria in 2012 with attendant erosion of discipline and degradation of critical infrastructure. Methodist Church Nigeria has since then struggled with limited resources to return the College to its past glory, albeit against the backdrop of financial constraints.

Looking forward, the Old Boys of Methodist College Nigeria are overly optimistic that in the foreseeable future, they will work more closely with Methodist Church Nigeria to harness the enormous energy and capacity in the Old Boys so the College can be transformed into a modern, technology-driven and highly competitive institution in Nigeria. (Anyaele, 2023).

 

6. THE FORMATION OF UZUAKOLI METHODIST COLLEGE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION (UMCOBA)

 According to Anyaele (2023), Uzuakoli Methodist College Old Boys Association (UMCOBA), was formed by a group of old students of the College, who usually gathered at the residence of the late Dr. Michael I. Okpara, at No. 35 Wakeman Street, Yaba, Lagos in 1948. Dr. M.I. Okpara then became the first President of the Association in Nigeria while Mr. I. B. Osoka was the first Secretary. Some of the other notable Old Boys who championed the cause of UMCOBA (not in any particular order) were Chief Howells C. Ogbonnaya, Chief Obiyo Onokala, Chief Henry Kanu Offonry, Chief Dick Omeoga, Prof. O. K. Ogan, Chief Bob Ogbuagu, Dr. I. N. Chima, Chief Alfred Nwanmuo  Ofo, Chief Alison Ogbonnaya, Dr. Lawrence Utaegbulam,  Barrister Timothy Nnadi, Chief Sunday Ujoh, Hon. Justice Udo Udoma JSC, Hon. Justice Dr. Augustine Nnamani JSC, Mr. Ekukinam Bassey, Dr. Clement Isong, Chief N. C. Okoronkwo, Nze Obiete Chiemeka, Elder Kalu Ogwo, Chief M.O.D. Ososanwo, Dr. Odoziaku Ekpo, Chief Okon Akpan Una, Chief Ukeje Eloagu, HRH Eze Ikonte, Prof. Anezi Okoro, Prof. Agu Ogan, Dr. Onyike James Onyike, Chief Reginald Abbey-Hart, Chief Barrister Emmanuel E. J. Okereke, Dr. Albert Barde, Justice B. B. Pepple, Mr. Anab C. Oji, Pharm. Nwosu Igbo, Chief Effiong Philip Akpan, Mr. L. Jegede, Chief Justus Paul, Chief R. A. Iwe, Chief Engr. Oteh, Mr. John Nwabueze, Chief T. C. K. Chiori,  Chief P. G. Warmeth, Engr. O. B. Epele, HRH Ekeke, Prof. Ralph Ohuamabo, Engr. I. O. Orunta, Elder Roland Ichenku, Chief Chikwendu Atuonwu, Chief  E. N. Igbokwe, Chief Hope Onyekwere, Engr. Ben Obialo, Dr. S. O. Alozie, Dr. C. C.  Agomuo, Chief O. C. Onyekwere, Engr. E. J. Amana, Engr. Okezie Okeugo, Rev. Engr. E. O. Ekekwe, Engr. O. C.. Nkama, Mr. O.C. Okorafor, Hon. Justice Okezie, Elder  Ajunwa, Engr. Chima Orji, Hon. Justice Ihiekire, Prof. Sunday Nwosu and many others. Other prominent pioneers include late Chief Kalu Okorie, Chief Nath Akobundu, Mr. Moses Nduaka, and Dr. Edwin Ogbu. Overtime, UMCOBA spread to other parts of the country. Lagos branch boasts of being the cradle of the UMCOBA and always sets the pace. Truly, Lagos branch leads and others follow. Lagos branch had gone far before other branches came into existence. It was in the 70s that branches sprung up in several parts of the country especially, in the South-East and South-South, Nigeria.

 

7. ROLE PLAYED BY UMCOBA IN THE LAST 100 YEARS

• Scholarship

We provide scholarship packages for students and intending students who meet the requirements as a way of encouraging them and giving back to the society.

• Help Current Students

UMCOBA provides proper support to students struggling through proper one to one guardian and counselling programs as was in the old days of this institution.

• Help UZUMECO

As Old-Boys, it is our responsibility to revamp, rebuild and preserve the academic, intellectual and infrastructural glory of Methodist College Uzuakoli.

• Build Our Community

Building our own UMCOBA community, reuniting all living members since 1923 till date. You First, I Second.

 

Conclusion

In 1923, the Primitive Methodist established the Methodist Boys’ Institute at Uzuakoli (now Methodist College, Uzuakoli). In 1924 the school was described as “the highly successful institute for Eastern Nigeria”. The school was accorded government recognition in 1924 and the number on roll stood at 60, but when the school reopened in January 1927, the enrolment figure had raised to 256 students, of whom 186 were borders, the figure making the institution the second largest boarding school in Nigeria. The institution attained the status of training college when a Normal Training Department for teachers was added in January 1926 (Okpo, 1985).

Indeed, Methodist education has served as an integrative force, in that it provided a trans-tribal bond uniting individuals of different and formerly hostile traditional communities. Methodist College provided a link among students from different ethnic groups and a new basis of loyalty in which ethnic origin became less relevant. The Methodist mission rejoiced for having such an institution, making great impacts on the social and religious life of the youths. The founding fathers deserve commendation for their enduring labour.

The generations of Nigerian elite that were products of the church-based schools had moral tone that stood the country in good stead in the struggle to build a sovereign state. The struggle for independence demanded selflessness, commitment, and something beyond mere acquaintance with the historical development of the various nation state of the world of the time. Both moral high grounds on which those who built the College stood gradually began to diminish with the Nigerian Civil War, fizzled out by the end of the military interregnum, a new generation of Nigerians emerged, a generation of corruption and falsehood!(Anim, 2005)

Methodist College Uzuakoli is marking its 100 years of existence this year, 2023, as a year of special programming, exhibits and activities that celebrate the college’s worldwide impact on teaching and learning and creating opportunities to advance new ideas that would improve secondary education especially, in Eastern Nigeria in years to come.

From all indications, Methodist College, Uzuakoli has creditably carried out its mandate of providing quality and all-inclusive secondary education in Eastern Nigeria within the last 100 years.

 

Thank you for listening.