Methodist College Uzuakoli

The Methodist College of Uzuakoli is a college in Abia, Nigeria.

History

The Church Missionary Society (CMS) of Great Britain founded Uzuakoli Institute (UI) in 1923, which later in 1931 was renamed Methodist College. Available information indicates that a group of missionaries led by Rev. Herbert Lewis Octavia Williams was the first principal of the institute.

At various times from inception in to 1959, British missionaries administered the college. These included Rev. Hardy, Rev. Carver, Rev. Aggrey, Rev. Woods, Rev. McGarr, Mr. William H. Spray, and Mr. B. Hall, who was the last missionary to serve as principal. The first Nigerian-born principal of the college was Mr. Kanu Achinivu. In recent history, the following men have served: Mr. Onokala, Mr. Anyaoha, Mr. Chukwu Ogbonnaya, Mr. Nwauche, Mr Godwin O. O. Uzoechi and Dr. Chukwumereije.

Methodist College is located on approximately 93 acres (38 ha) of land in Umuachama Amamba village, Uzuakoli district in Abia State.

The history of the college will not be complete without mentioning the world-renowned Uzuakoli Leprosy Research Center, which was run and overseen by some of the same missionaries who served at the college. Rev. (Dr.) T.F. Davey from Great Britain led the foundation for the research center.

Mission

Founded fundamentally on strong Christian principles, the schools motto is “You First, I Second”. The college anthem was selected from the Methodist Hymn Book No.64 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creations”. By 1953, Methodist College had expanded into three academic centers comprising the Secondary, High School and Teacher Training Centers. The Teacher Training arm of the school was later relocated outside the main college campus, while the high school program was terminated in 1973. The “Castle” a square shaped block of living quarters was constructed in 1930 to board 150 students at a time.

While there are roughly 400-day students attending the college today, in the late 1970s there were about 1,500 boarding students in the college. During this period, students were accommodated in twelve houses grouped by their locations on campus as follows:

Crescent Group

• Achinivu
• Nwanna
• Okpara

Castle Group

• Aggrey
• Williams
• Hardy
• Carver

Obiohia Group

• Spray
• Ibiam
• Niger

New Territory

• Ukpabi
• Imo

At its prime, the institution offered opportunities for students to grow culturally, spiritually, socially, in sports and most notably academically. 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, Theater and Dramatic Society, etc. Some of the accolades bestowed upon the college included winner of the 1980 National Quiz Championship and 1978 Imo State Debating Championship.

Methodist College consistently graduated its students with complete High School Certificate (HSC) papers and credits in the West African School Certificate (WASC), which was equivalent to the British General Certificate of Education (GCE).

Notable alumni

• The Rt. Hon. Dr. Michael Okpara (Former Premier of Eastern Region, Nigeria)
• Prof. Anezi Okolo (Professor of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka)
• Dr. Edwin Ogbu (Former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations)
• Dr. Edward Ikem Okeke (Former Deputy President of the PRP Party, and Presidential Special Adviser, Nigeria's Second Republic)
• Dr. Ernest Ukpaby (Former Dean of Students Affairs, University of Nigeria Nsukka)
• His Grace, the Most Rev. Rogers Uwadi (Archbishop of Umuahia Archdiocese of the Methodist Church Nigeria)
• The Rt. Hon. Sir Justice Egbert Udo Udoma (Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Chief Justice of Uganda, Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Chairman of Nigeria's 1978 Constituent Assembly)
• Dr. Clement Isong (Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, and Governor of Cross River State (1979–1983)
• Chief Onyema Ugochukwu (Former Director of Daily Times of Nigeria and former Chairman of Niger Delta Development Corporation)
• Prof O.C Onwudike (Nigerian University Commission Abuja and former Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia)

References