Zik's fiery speech in 1949 heralded educational development in Aba Ngwa (part 1) - Onyembi
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Research has it that the emergence of the British officials and missionaries in the East of Nigeria, heralded modern education in Aba. This was around the early 1920s. Old primary schools, such as Government School, CKS School, St. Michael's School, Township School amongst others were established.
At the basic level, Igbo National High School, now National High School, Ngwa High School, Wilcox Comprehensive School, All Saints Secondary School Ehere, Eziama High School, Girls Technical College, Boys Technical College, Osusu Secondary School, Ngwa Trade School, Sacred Hearts Secondary School, Ovom Girls, Girls High School, Immaculate Heart Girls Secondary School, and many others have been established over the years.
Be apprised that these primary and secondary schools, have produced professionals in the fields of medicine, law, politics, pharmacy, education, sports etc. in Aba, Nigeria, North America, Europe, and Asia.
Recalling back to the early 1960s, 1970s, and of course, the 1980s, the products of these schools, were flooding the universities in Nigeria, England, Germany, Italy, India, Russia, the United States of America and many other countries.
This educational rebirth in Aba Ngwa was not farfetched with the presence of men like Jaja Wachukwu, P. U. Ururuka, Mbonu Ojike, (boycott the boycottables), Dennis Osadebay, Dr. K. O. Mbadiwe, Dr. Udo Udoma, Justice Francis Nwokedi, Raymond Amanze Njoku, Jaamike Iwuma, Canon Onyeso Nwachukwu, C. N. Obioha, Chief Frank Owelle and so many other associates of the Great Zik of Africa. These giants, living in the city at the time, were imbued with the finest nationalists credentials. These first class Nigerian Nationalists, had internalized the Zikist argument that education, and only education, would lead to the practicalisation of the Zikist New Africa Philosophy of Political Resorgimento, Economic Determinism, Social Regeneration and Spiritual Balance.
The inflammable and patriotic logic in Zik's speeches when he visited Aba Ngwa during the Igbo State Union Convention in 1949, sent many people into the field of establishing schools, enrolling their children, and attending adult education classes.
Hear one of the touching lines in his speech; "I shall now state the facts which should be well known to any honest student of Nigerian history. On the social plane, it will be found that outside of Government College at Umauhia, there is no other secondary school run by the British Government in Nigeria in Ibo-land. There is not one secondary school for girls run by the British Government in our part of the country. In the Northern and Western Provinces, the contrary is the case. If a survey of the hospital facilities in Ibo-land were made, embarrassing results might show some sort of discrimination. Outside of Port Harcourt, fire protection is not provided in any Ibo town. And yet we have been under the protection of Great Britain for many decades!"
Nnamdi Azikiwe destined to be Nigeria's First President, conveyed the purest nationalistic sentiment that if Aba Ngwa people wanted British colonial rule to end, then they had no other option than to train themselves and their children, to be able to play the appropriate roles, and responsibilities that independence for the country would place on them.
The golden Zikist logic sank in, and all over Aba Ngwa, there was the outpouring of dynamic energy to move education forward, by many individuals, communities, development and town unions. As a result, the Ngwa people were mobilized to set up the Ngwa High School, as a symbol of Ngwa social regeneration.
This led HRH Eze Samuel Azubuike Nwagbara to set up his Ngwa Trade Center, HRH Eze Williams Ukaegbu was about ten years old at the time Zik made the speech in Aba Ngwa, was motivated later on by the same spirit to set up his St. Theresa Nursery & Primary School, more than 30 years later. The St. Michael's Comprehensive School and so many other private educational institutions in and around Aba Ngwa were set up.
This unique dynamism in the Aba Ngwa education has not waned. However up to 1979, there was no tertiary institution in this great city. It needed no less a courageous leader like Governor Sam Mbakwe, to set up the original multi campus Imo State University, with colleges of Business Administration and Legal Studies, based in Aba Ngwa.
From the opinions I have gathered so far, the development above in the education of Aba Ngwa has been considered an outstanding achievement then. And it electrified the city with enlightenment, and educational awareness, the sort you perceive, in cities with great universities all over the world.
But unfortunately, prior to this shine of genuine intellectualism could flourish, the military emergence, and in their traditional holistic myopia, relocated the University campus out of Aba Ngwa, without consultation as to the pros and cons. It was just with their traditional immediate effect and immediate stupidity.
Sadly, the narrative began to dwindle...
We shall continue
By E. V. Onyembi
08/11/2017
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