By CHARLES IWUOHA

The alumni association of the Methodist College, Uzuakoli, Umuahia, Abia State, has said that all is set to celebrate the100 years anniversary of the school.

The college, the first secondary school in South-East Nigeria, established in 1923, has produced prominent personalities not only in Abia State but across the globe.

A statement signed by the National President, Uzuakoli Methodist College, Old Boys Association (UMCOBA), Mazi Ugochukwu A. Okoroafor, stated that in the past 100 years, the school has helped to bring development and enlightenment.

He said in a recent press statement, a copy of which was made available to News Express: “We are very proud of our antecedents and we are hopeful that the next century will bring even more blessings and glory to our society through the activities of the products of Methodist College, Uzuakoli.

“The Primitive Methodist Mission came into South East Nigeria in 1870 and in its maiden Synod in Eastern Nigeria, the Council took the first step towards introducing secondary school education in Nigeria.

“It took a very important resolution which led to the establishment of the Uzuakoli Institute, which was eventually renamed Methodist College Uzuakoli.

“According to the Council’s declarations, ‘Our objective, is in general terms, the spread of specifically Christian education for the Africans and Africa.”

Okoroafor stated that the school has to provide education not merely as an independent good, or as a means to material ends, but also in definite relation to its spiritual foundations of life as exhibited in the teaching of Jesus Christ, and, at the same time, to relate the instruction to African life so that the product may be truly African as the native material provided.

“With the foregoing in mind, it was clear that the Methodist Church wanted to use ‘Christian education’ to expand its reach in Eastern Nigeria and help bring development in the wake of the devastation of the First World War and the Anglo-Arochukwu War.

“With this modest step, the Methodist Church, in 1923, launched an ambitious mission of establishing a secondary school and this initiative marked the beginning of secondary school education in the South East of Nigeria and the birth of Methodist College Uzuakoli.

“As we celebrate the glorious achievements of the initial and subsequent initiatives that were sustained, we must acknowledge some of the great products of the institution.

“While we have a whole year to acknowledge these men and women, we request that you pardon our immodesty by naming just a few of them.

“The great Michael Okpara, was a product of the College, and so were Udo Udoma, Edwin Ogbu, Clement Isong, Anaezi Okoro, the famous novelist, O.C. Nwana, Bob Ogbuagu, the Opokos, the Achinivus, the Ogans, the Nnamanis, the Onokalas, Rufus Obi, the renowned pharmacist, Justus O. Paul, Reginald Abbey Hart and many more.”

According to the statement, among these great young men and women of the alumni are those who have distinguished themselves in science, medicine, military, arts, business, politics and more.

“Our alumni are found in all parts of the globe making contributions to the societies in which they find themselves,” Okoroafor said, noting that some of the alumni were also in the Dr Alex Otti team, helping to restore Abia State.

He said that that, at least, seven members were students of Methodist College Uzuakoli.

The centenary celebrations would commence with a Home coming event; feature a Lecture on Saturday and a church service on Sunday. The highlight of the weekend will be the planting of the Centenary tree by Governor Otti.

Another major centenary event will be the participation of UMCOBA in the Ila Oso Uzuakoli, the biennial cultural festival for which the town of Uzuakoli is renowned. It will mark the first time an institution is participating in Ila Oso. The event will be on December 23 this year when the finale of the Ila Oso Uzuakoli festival will take place.

“It will be a great opportunity for all stakeholders in the Methodist College adventure, to thank the people of Uzuakoli, for being such wonderful landlords and hosts.

“We use this opportunity to call on everyone to come and celebrate with the Old Boys, the School, and indeed, the good people of South East, Nigeria in celebrating this epoch making occasion,” Okorafor said.